Electricity Canada Unveils 2024 Centre of Excellence Recipients
December 9, 2024
Electricity Canada is proud to announce the eight winning projects inducted in its Centre of Excellence for 2024.
Submitted from electricity providers across Canada, Electricity Canada’s Centre of Excellence is a collection of projects that demonstrate innovation, leadership and positive community impact. It celebrates the ways the electricity sector can transform people and communities, and it highlights the ingenuity of the Canadian electricity industry.
“This year’s Electricity Canada Centre of Excellence recipients are working on groundbreaking solutions that not only enhance grid reliability and safety but also contribute to the sustainable future of our communities. From advanced AI applications to pioneering clean energy initiatives, these projects exemplify how the industry is transforming to meet the needs of today and tomorrow.”
– Francis Bradley, President and CEO, Electricity Canada
For the first time, Centre of Excellence applications were reviewed by an independent judging panel. Out of over 50 applications, the following eight projects were selected for the 2024 Centre of Excellence:
FortisAlberta : Early Fault Detection – Promoting Proactive Wildfire Prevention and Grid Reliability
FortisAlberta’s Early Fault Detection technology reduces wildfire risks and enhances grid safety. By analyzing unique radio frequency noise emitted by failing equipment, the system can pinpoint anomalies within a 10-metre range. This precise detection allows for swift maintenance responses, significantly reducing the likelihood of component failures that could lead to wildfires.
Newfoundland Power : Leveraging AI and Satellite Technology to Enhance Service Delivery and Sustainability
Newfoundland Power partnered with a solutions provider that pairs artificial intelligence and satellite imagery to enable improved vegetation management planning. As part of a pilot, AI evaluated satellite imagery for 500 kilometres of Newfoundland Power’s distribution lines, assessing risks and analyzing upcoming vegetation management needs to prevent vegetation caused outages in the future.
Nova Scotia Power Inc.: Grid Scale Battery Project
The Grid-Scale Battery project consists of three 50 MW 4/hour battery facilities located in communities across Nova Scotia – Bridgewater, Waverley and the Valley. The project outlines the collaborations and partnerships Nova Scotia Power has been working on that help mitigate project costs for customers and work meaningfully with Mi’kmaw Communities on the clean energy transition.
Ontario Power Generation : OPG 3D Laser Scanning Strategy Initiative
OPG’s 3D laser scanning initiative has evolved into an enterprise solution, offering virtual data of several OPG power plants to all employees, leading to significant budget and schedule savings. This innovation has streamlined planning processes, allowed for virtual training, remote measurements, improved employee safety by reducing exposure to hazardous environments, and enabled virtual tours of remote hydro stations.
SaskPower : Future Supply Plan: 2030 And Beyond Engagement Project
SaskPower’s supply planning team worked closely with the stakeholder and engagement team to gather public input through the Future Supply Plan – 2030 and Beyond engagement project. In total, SaskPower has engaged up to 60,000 Saskatchewan residents without a technical background in electricity to inform SaskPower’s approach for the future.
Wataynikaneyap Power : Wataynikaneyap Power transmission system: the line that brings light
The project, whose name means “line that brings light” in Anishininiimowin, is a transmission system equally owned by 24 First Nations in partnership with Fortis Inc. and other private investors. The project will connect 17 remote First Nations to the provincial power grid via 1,800 kilometers of transmission lines and 22 substations reducing reliance on diesel.
Wataynikaneyap Power Transmission System Connections
Currently Connected
- Pikangikum First Nation (44 kV Distribution) – December 2018
- North Caribou Lake First Nation – October 2022
- Kingfisher Lake First Nation – November 2022
- Pikangikum First Nation (44 kV to 115 kV Conversion) – May 2023
- Bearskin Lake First Nation – July 2023
- Wawakapewin First Nation – August 2023
- Kasabonika Lake First Nation – September 2023
- Wunnumin Lake First Nation – September 2023
- Sachigo Lake First Nation – November 2023
- Kitchnuhmaykoosib Inninuwug – December 2023
- Wapekeka First Nation – December 2023
- Sandy Lake First Nation – April 2024
- Deer Lake First Nation – April 2024
Future Connections
- Muskrat Dam First Nation (Assets in service as of July 2023)
- Poplar Hill First Nation (Assets in service as of March 2024)
- North Spirit Lake First Nation (Assets in service as of May 2024)
- Keewaywin First Nation (Assets in service as of May 2024)
- McDowell Lake First Nation – TBD (Wataynikaneyap Power will explore options to connect after the current EPC contract)
Yukon Energy Corporation : Peak Smart Home
Yukon Energy’s Peak Smart Home program is the North’s first full scale demand-response program to receive regulatory approval. It manages peak demand in isolated power grids across Canada and partners with four local First Nations by installing smart thermostats and hot water tank controllers.
Hydro-Québec : Artificial Intelligence for Dam Monitoring
Hydro-Québec and Polytechnique Montreal have worked together to develop advanced auscultation data analysis tools. Based on machine learning algorithms, the tool enables early and automatic detection of anomalies, minimizing false detection. Hydro-Québec is now working on a large-scale implementation of the tool for real-time analysis of all instrumental data from its dams.
The winning projects were announced at Electricity Canada’s Powering Partnerships summit in Toronto on November 26.
