Skip to content

Sault developing utilities planning tool

The Sault Ste. Marie Innovation Centre (SSMIC) will receive $265,250 in funding from the Ontario Smart Grid Fund program to develop software that will analyze smart grid investment options for local utilities.
soo_innovation
Provincial funding will allow the Sault Ste. Marie Innovation Centre to develop a geomatics tool to help utilities plan, finance and build smart grid energy projects. (FILE PHOTO)

The Sault Ste. Marie Innovation Centre (SSMIC) will receive $265,250 in funding from the Ontario Smart Grid Fund program to develop software that will analyze smart grid investment options for local utilities.

SSMIC’s project will develop a Smart Grid Financial Analytics and Geomatics Tool that will provide utilities with the ability to plan, finance, visualize and build smart grid projects with confidence. The SSMIC project’s electricity utility collaborator is Sault Ste. Marie PUC.

The announcement comes in conjunction with the innovation centre’s Energy Opportunities Conference taking place in Sault Ste. Marie from Nov. 4-6, providing an opportunity for participants to network with community partners and energy stakeholders.

“Advancing smart grid technologies is an important component of our community’s Smart Energy Strategy,” Tom Vair, the centre’s executive director, in a news release. “We greatly appreciate this significant support from the Government of Ontario and look forward to working with Energizing Co., Leidos and the Sault Ste. Marie PUC on this exciting project.”

The $50-million Smart Grid Fund supports the development of new and emerging technologies that will bring benefits to Ontario’s homes and businesses — like fewer service disruptions, less wasted energy and increased grid security.