January 14, 2016 – Central Ontario power distributor Veridian Connections says it has launched a microgrid project that will integrate multiple sources of residential “clean energy,” while maximizing load efficiencies and energy utilization levels for its customers. Opus One Solutions, a software engineering and solutions company, has been selected to develop and deploy this initiative.

“We are excited to partner with Opus One, and look forward to demonstrating the true operation of the microgrid by managing various energy resources—from minimizing the cost of electricity under time-of-use rates, generating credits through the net metering program and responding to utility signals under demand response programs or an optimized combination of them all,” said Michael Angemeer, Veridian president and CEO. “This project serves as the ideal opportunity for Veridian to further highlight and enhance the integration of renewables with microgrid operation into Ontario’s energy landscape for our customers. It’s also the first step in developing a system that will allow all types of microgrids to be added to an integrated system”.

The project, expected to commission in Q2 2016, will use Tesla Energy Powerwall battery storage along with residential solar generation and electric vehicle charging, deployed as two residential microgrids connected and managed by Opus One’s GridOS Microgrid Energy Management System and Veridian’s 24/7 grid operations system. The components include 10 kW of solar generation, 14 kWh lithium-ion battery storage with hybrid inverter; Level 2 and Level 3 electric vehicle charging—integrated with Veridian’s supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) system—along with a customer information display at the utility’s corporate headquarters in Ajax, Ont.; and 7 kWh Tesla Energy Daily Powerwall with solar system and microgrid controls in Pickering, Ont. The residential microgrid will be aggregated with Veridian’s corporate headquarters and operated as a “Virtual Power Plant”.

“Opus One is thrilled to have been selected to partner with Veridian Connections… We look forward to supporting Veridian towards a common vision of the Energy Internet of the future,” said Joshua Wong, president and CEO of Opus One.

Veridian noted it would also like to recognize Solera Sustainable Energies Company for their participation in this project and their continued support of the utility’s renewable energy work.