Schneider Electric and the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology Push Forward Grid Innovation

Source: Brian Church · MICROGRID KNOWLEDGE · | March 24, 2021

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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.