Schneider Electric and the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology Push Forward Grid Innovation
Schneider Electric has partnered with the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT) to deliver distributed energy resources to local Alberta businesses.
During phase two of the polytechnic’s Centre for Grid Innovation program, Schneider Electric has stepped in to supply its control and energy management platforms — EcoStruxure Microgrid Operations and Microgrid Advisor for Energy Optimization and Economic Dispatch — in support of the province’s plans for growth in distributed electricity.
Schneider will supply both the physical assets and the technical support for the project’s second phase, which will provide distributed energy for small and midsize businesses. Schneider Electric and NAIT aim to build a user-friendly microgrid solution that is robust and scalable.
The platform, which will be housed in the institute’s Centre for Grid Innovation, will allow for remote management of the distributed renewable energy, with complete control to optimize both off-grid and grid-tied hybrid systems.
In an effort to test the economic and societal benefits of the project, NAIT and Schneider are offering comprehensive training for small and medium-sized Alberta business enterprises interested in incorporating the plug-and-play microgrid system.
Schneider, one of the largest players in microgrids, focuses on microgrids for small to medium-sized operations through GreenStruxure, a joint venture formed with Huck Capital. GreenStruxure aims to bring renewable energy microgrid solutions to everyday businesses such as grocery stores, schools and fast-food chains. GreenStruxure recently announced its teaming with TruEnergy, an energy advisor that works with commercial clients to find electricity and gas plans in North America, to offer energy as a service microgrids to the underserved medium-sized commercial and industrial building market in the United States.
GreenStruxure acts as a complement to another of Schneider’s ventures, AlphaStruxure, which focuses on larger microgrid projects, including those at ports and airports. Schneider formed AlphaStruxure with The Carlyle Group.
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