Substation to Socket: ABB Canada’s Sandra Pedro on Helping Utilities Navigate the Electrification Transition
By Sandra Pedro
Canadians are very much on the electrification movement and utilities very much need to be able to keep up and provide a very modernized, efficient and resilient grid.
Large investments are required as part of the electrification transition to develop and fortify a resilient grid of the future. Utilities are in a transformative period as they begin to implement new technologies that will enable a reliable grid in support of an increasingly electrified economy. In support of those efforts, ABB holds events like last May’s #gridbetter to allow utility industry stakeholders to gain insight into ABB’s products and solutions, talk with ABB’s technical experts, tour their facility, as well as attend technical presentations aimed at helping utilities navigate the ramping electrification transition.
Those investments are being made by industry as well as government. Federal and provincial governments are investing heavily into renewable energy to meet growing energy demand, as well as 2035 and 2050 emissions targets. This year for example, B.C. and Ontario have launched significant procurements, while Hydro-Quebec contracted 1,550 MW of wind in January; Nova Scotia and Alberta received renewable investments for multiple projects. Additionally, the federal government has designated over $33 billion for clean energy projects. That includes Canada’s Clean Technology ITC (Investment Tax Credit) that aims to attract investment for renewable energy projects. While, According to the Canadian Climate Institute, Canada needs to attract $140 Billion annually in private investments to meet net-zero goals.
The below graphic from the Canadian Climate Institute illustrates how much federal support the provinces will receive to “build a bigger, cleaner grid”.
The federal government estimates that as we electrify and decarbonize, demand for electricity could double.
How ABB can help utilities and utility contractors with the services and solutions ABB provides, and what that journey looks like.
All of it is about making sure that the grid is simplified, operations are improved, that the renewable power production is incorporated through the grid compliant measures, as well as maximizing asset management and efficiency.
The megatrend is to go underground, when possible, to minimize the opportunity for damage and power outages. With new neighborhoods, underground distribution is being utilized to create supported, resilient grids against extreme weather.
Extreme weather events are increasing in Canada and the associated costs of wildfires, drought, as well as heavy rain fall causing flooding mean utilities need to be more strategic in protecting infrastructure. Using data analytics, utilities can identify areas that are prone to extreme weather-related outages and move installations underground to improve resiliency and reliability.
A significant amount of the grid will require upgrades and replacement by 2050. Incorporating new technologies to maximize asset management and efficiency will be crucial to the energy transition. But so too will be complimenting the grid with distributed energy (DERs). Utilities are really undergoing a transformative shift right now towards decentralization, decarbonization and digitalization.
Safe, Smart, Sustainable
The data centre industry provides an interesting snapshot of the electrification transition. As we are an increasingly digitized society, we need somewhere to house that data, which results in more demand on the grid. Increasingly, along with heavy industry, data centers are turning to DERs to reduce emissions. The data center an dheavy industry segment tends to use that technology because they want to own their own power source. The same products and solutions that we discuss with our utility partners, we discuss with these types of segments, because it’s the same technology that’s being used.
The digitization piece is what ties together the renewable generation, and the decentralized energy closer to the consumer. When you talk about digitization from a utility perspective, it’s the technologies required for better integration of solar and wind farms, as well as DERs. You have decentralized power sources that must integrate all these different points into your transmission and distribution system. You need technology that’s smart, technology that can do that kind of decision making and be able to ensure that the grid is balanced – because balance is key.
Our ABB Ability solution, allows customers to forecast the type of maintenance upgrades that are required in the future and acquire equipment ahead of time to streamline those upgrades. Digital power plants and grid automation enable data-driven decisions that can enhance safety and reliability.
ABB’s Elastimold Switchgear and its Tru-Break Switchgear Module are examples of our approach to safety. With Tru-Break you can see that there’s been a break in the connection on the bus, so you can go ahead and work on this equipment. All those little things, those little threads are put into our technology and our solutions to enhance safety and reliability.
Working With Industry
There are challenges and opportunities within the current utility market landscape, and that is reflected in a company like ABB, which has approximately 50% of its Canadian staff focused on the electrification side of the business. But it’s also reflected in the solutions and products we offer, ABB’s products not only support electrification and sustainability but they are also sourced sustainably.
Further to that point, ABB is embedded in the industry, developing new products to strict compliance measures alongside utilities. We go down that journey where we prototype and test together. At times, utilities are the ones driving the change, requesting that we test to the new anticipated standards. It’s interesting how the different segments of the industry play off one another to combine their expertise in pursuit of a common goal. An event like ABB’s #gridbetter illustrates that symbiosis. The utility segment is uniquely focused on delivering reliable power, and at times pushing a company like ABB towards the products and solutions they need from a compliance and standards perspective – while ABB brings together subject matter experts well versed in the technologies that tie together a connected and modern grid.
