WINDSOR, ON, Canada, Aug. 13, 2010 -- The City of Windsor will be one of Ontario's first municipal participants to connect its water and wastewater facilities to Ontario's next generation of smart grid services in a pilot project being managed by Canadian smart grid innovator, Sempa Power.
The City of Windsor has agreed to connect its municipal water resources to Sempa's Ancillary Services Network (ASN), which will enable Ontario's Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO) to introduce greater flexibility and efficiency across the province' s grid. The City of Windsor will benefit financially by utilizing the inherent capacity available in those resources to provide IESO with ancillary services.
The Ontario government is pursuing the implementation of 21st century smart grid technology to drive conservation and improve the efficiency of the broader electricity system. In line with this initiative, IESO has embarked on a pilot program to identify alternative technologies to enhance system reliability. Sempa Power, a leader in smart grid technologies, has been selected by IESO to work with Ontario's industrial loads and qualify new options for demand side management. Water utilities represent one of the biggest loads in the province and Sempa has a keen focus on bringing municipal and regional partners to the program.
"It's exciting to see locally developed smart grid technology being used to deliver greater energy efficiency in our region. As the Windsor Utilities Commission continues to explore the modernization of our energy infrastructure, we recognize that this kind of innovation is essential in Ontario and in energy markets around the world" said John Stuart, Chief Operating Officer of The Windsor Utilities Commission.
The goal of the pilot program is to qualify and enable new candidates to participate in, and financially benefit from IESO's Electricity System Regulation Market. Successful candidates (Resource Partners), incur no cost to participate and will be financially rewarded by Sempa Power for participation.
Ideal Resource Partners have large electric equipment that operates with a consistent workload and a degree of process flexibility or functional range. Examples include pumps, blowers, chillers, cold storage, boilers, battery stations and generators.
"Our City's water and waste water resources represent a significant load on the electricity system. By participating in the smart grid we will generate greater value to our ratepayers. We will reduce our operational costs and increase the reliability of our electricity supply" said The Mayor of Windsor, Eddie Francis.
Sempa Power is continuing to qualify large municipal and industrial loads for the program and will host an information booth at the Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO) conference in Windsor August 15 - 18, 2010. Further information can be found on line at www.sempapower.com/eoi/ieso.
Sempa Power Systems Ltd. is a Smart Grid company providing system regulation and energy solutions to utilities as well as commercial and industrial clients. The solutions help manage the distribution of electricity while reducing energy costs and cutting greenhouse gas emissions. For more information, visit www.sempapower.com.
###
