April 2, 2014 – GE and PowerStream have launched their first joint microgrid demonstration project at the latter’s headquarters in Vaughan, Ont. The project will demonstrate how energy consumers and utilities may be able to generate and distribute their own energy using renewable energy resources “to address the growing demand for safe, sustainable and reliable energy resources”.

“Microgrid technology is an innovative distributed power solution that will provide consumers with safe, sustainable and reliable energy choices for both generation and consumption,” said Brian Bentz, president and CEO, PowerStream.

For the project, GE provided its Grid IQ Microgrid Control System (MCS), as well as the engineering design services, to help PowerStream build a microgrid, which uses renewable energy resources, a natural-gas generator and energy storage devices (including GE’s Durathon Battery technology) to provide electricity for loads at its head office.

“We are excited to have been selected by PowerStream to provide the MCS for this innovative project, and we applaud their efforts to investigate new ways to distribute energy to their customers,” said Juan Macias, general manager, grid automation, GE’s Digital Energy business.

PowerStream’s microgrid demonstration project marks the next phase of the company’s efforts to support smart grid development at the provincial level, say GE and PowerStream, and leverage smart technologies in Ontario’s electricity sector.