March 19, 2024 – Natural Resources Canada is providing up to $16.7 million to Ontario’s Independent Electricity System Operator for its Enabling Resources Program.

The funding, says IESO, will help it tap into new and emerging technologies to help meet Ontario’s energy needs reliably and cost effectively, while advancing grid decarbonization.

“This funding will help us increase our efforts and integrate the substantial amount of new clean energy projects that, in just a few years’ time, will be ready to help power homes and businesses across the province,” said Lesley Gallinger, president & CEO, IESO.

By 2026, IESO says it will enhance its grid operations to make it easier for emerging resources to provide energy and other grid services to the province. Some improvements that will be made possible through this funding include:

• Provide IESO’s control centre with real-time data about the state of charge of battery storage facilities.

• Enable aggregators to consolidate smaller resources in different municipalities to bid as one on Ontario’s electricity markets.

• Include supply as small as 100 kW in Ontario’s electricity markets.

Through its Enabling Resources Program, IESO will invest an estimated $48 million in system upgrades and processes “to enable emerging clean resources to more fully participate in Ontario’s electricity market, increasing the amount and diversity of supply”.

Small-scale forms of supply are eligible to participate in IESO procurements, including the next procurement for hydro, wind, solar, and biofuel supply, which will launch this year.