City of Summerside Electric Smart Utility Grid Pilot Project
Type of initiative
FCM Green Municipal Fund - Plans, Studies, Pilots
Sector
Energy
Project value$1,000,000
Project Type
Pilot Project
Sub Sector
Energy Management – Other
Grant amount$350,000
Program type
GMF
Municipality
City of Summerside, PE
Status
Fully Disbursed
Population
16,001
Project timeline
2010 - 2012
Project number
10394
Description
The City of Summerside will work with the Summerside Electric utility to test and evaluate a Smart Utility Grid in 70 households. The test will allow the city to assess whether variable rates and smart grid technology combined with distributed energy storage can help it reduce peak-time use of electricity generated from fossil fuels or purchased from other utilities, and increase the use of electricity generated by its own wind farm — much of which is currently exported to other provinces.
The test will involve installing smart meters and energy storage units in consumers’ homes, and a fibre optic network to connect the equipment to a central office. Participants in the project will be provided with devices that can store heat during off-peak hours. The network will give the utility non-intrusive control over these devices, enabling it to match electricity consumption with variable supply from wind turbines. The utility will also introduce on- and off-peak rates and install a web-based system that will allow consumers to monitor and manage their energy use.
If the pilot project is successful, the city plans to install the Smart Utility Grid throughout Summerside. The full scale implementation of the Smart Utility Grid technology is expected to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 46% from 60,986 to 28,138 carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e) Tonnes per year. This approach will also help the utility to expand its wind farms, reduce fossil fuel use and improve the city’s energy security.
The pilot project is aligned with the goals of the city’s Sustainable Community Plan, which includes cutting greenhouse gas emissions to six per cent below 1990 levels by 2010, complying with Prince Edward Island's Renewable Energy Act, lowering its dependence on imported electricity, and stabilizing electricity costs.
(Project description from original funding application)
Applicant
City of Summerside, PE