Grant: Technology Access Centre

Mohawk Colleges energy expertise is needed by industry to validate and support development of energy technologies and to assist energy consumers in reducing their energy costs. Mohawk's Energy & Power Innovation Centre (EPIC) located in Hamilton, Ontario has 8-years of experience supporting companies with their energy challenges, and is directing its resources and expertise towards supporting businesses with complex energy efficiency challenges. Efficiency is a critical part of achieving cost reductions and it creates spinoff economic benefits. According to the Clean Energy Canada 2018 report, Less is More, every $1 spent on energy efficiency programs generates $7 of Gross Domestic Product. Further, efficiency efforts help to reduce energy-related emissions. The EPIC Technology Access Centre (TAC) will provide support for Small- and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SMEs) who are energy technology developers, energy systems integrators, and energy consumers. SMEs in the energy technology sector are developing energy efficient products and services that require validation and further development. Energy systems integrators require product and configuration testing. Energy consumer clients are agri-food and beverage processors where energy is a significant cost, yet they do not have the dedicated resources to tackle energy efficiency. The TAC will deliver this support via one of their four specialized labs to meet the needs of the more than 1,100 businesses in these sectors in the wider region. The TAC will provide Mohawk faculty and staff expertise in energy to its clients, while training and developing student expertise to be hired and support the industry.