Grant: Applied Research Tools and Instruments Grants

Across Canada’s north, a transition towards grid modernization and community-led renewable energy projects are gaining momentum. Utilities and remote Indigenous communities are pursuing projects that reduce greenhouse gas emissions, improve self-sufficiency, promote autonomy, create jobs, and generate income. However, one of the challenges associated with these projects is the lack of current and accurate information about the community’s electric power system. Yukon University’s Northern Energy Innovation (NEI) applied research program investigates the unique challenges faced by the northern electric energy industry. NEI’s strong track record and expertise in performing these studies has led to them becoming national leaders in the simulation and modelling of remote power systems. The NEI research team has supported renewable energy projects in remote communities in Canada’s three territories. There is a growing demand for responsible, community-led renewable energy projects that bring environmental and socio-economic benefits to their communities. NEI is committed to working with electric utilities, Indigenous communities, territorial governments, and other project stakeholders to create partnerships, share information, and advance the energy industry for the benefit of all Canadians. Electric utility companies use a variety of software solutions including ETAP for modelling, analyzing, and managing power system data. Currently, NEI does not have access to the ETAP software package, limiting the ability to exchange information with northern Canada’s utility companies, communities, and other project partners. To address this gap in NEI’s ability to exchange information with project partners, the procurement of ETAP software licenses is proposed. This acquisition will: • Enhance NEI’s ability to share information with the electric utility companies and communities and other project stakeholders • Enable NEI to update system models to accurately represent community’s electric power systems. • Expand NEI’s capabilities to perform comprehensive and transparent technical analyses which determine the impacts of integrating proposed renewable energy projects into remote communities. • Inform utility experts and community leaders regarding the challenges and opportunities created from their proposed projects.