August 30, 2017 – North Bay Hydro has partnered with S&C Electric Canada Ltd. to deploy a microgrid at North Bay Community Energy Park.

“We will employ local tradespeople, run educational outreach programs in schools and provide power independence for the community,” said Todd Wilcox, CEO of North Bay Hydro.

S&C’s project scope is to engineer, procure and contract-manage an automated microgrid combining solar panels and other energy sources, battery energy storage and the GridMaster microgrid control system.

The energy park will include a solar array mounted on the city’s Aquatic Centre, with the ability to operate in islanded mode separate from the main power grid. A microgrid will allow this renewable electricity to supply the neighbouring Memorial Gardens ice rink. This power will also contribute to a charging station for electric vehicles.

A PureWave SMS-250 storage management system will aim to manage any grid disruptions, and improve resiliency by storing energy to be used when needed. The energy park will also include a cogeneration plant that will help to power the microgrid, and heat both the Aquatic Centre and Memorial Gardens.

“Memorial Gardens and Aquatic Centre will be used as a refuge point in times of crisis—a priceless community benefit,” Wilcox added. “This will be one of the few complexes within a 100-km radius capable of keeping the lights and heat on while sheltering people if the main grid fails, for example, due to an ice storm.”

“North Bay Hydro has been innovative enough to realize that they can gain benefits today while preparing the local grid, their utility and, indeed, the community for the network of the future,” said Paul McMullen with S&C Electric Canada Ltd.

READ ALSO the report by Jennifer Hamilton-McCharles from The Nugget.