With the launch of a 'first-of-its kind' electricity grid initiative in Ontario, local businesses from various industries across the province are playing an innovative role in the electricity sector. From hospitals, universities, and large retailers to cold storage facilities and wastewater treatment plants, this network of forward-thinking organizations is responding to the real-time needs of the provincial power system.
What Role Do These Facilities Have in Supporting Ontario’s Grid?
As major electricity users, these industries operate large electrical equipment (or loads) with extensive and sophisticated operating processes. These loads have hidden flexibility in how and when they operate – and it is through this operational flexibility that these local organizations are contributing to the reliability of Ontario’s grid. Utilizing equipment that already exists within the provincial power system to help balance the grid also adds to its sustainability.
“This project represents a big step forward for Ontario’s electricity sector,” said Bruce Campbell, President and CEO of Ontario’s Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO) at the launch of the new initiative at Toronto’s Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre. “Every day in our control room, we see the efforts consumers make to reduce their energy use at peaks, which in turn strengthens reliability. Now we are taking demand response to a new level. We are looking to major power consumers to provide a highly sophisticated – and critical – component of grid reliability.”
But large electricity customers aren’t just contributing to a reliable and greener grid – they are benefitting too. Participation benefits include a new revenue stream, a cost-free implementation utilizing existing energy-consuming equipment, a positive impact on the environment and the community and real-time usage data.
A First for Ontario
This initiative was launched October 2013 with an event at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, one of the inaugural participants. For the first time, Ontario’s large electricity users can take part in this regulation service, an ancillary service that maintains power system reliability by balancing the electricity on the grid in real time, matching total power generation with total power consumed on a second-by-second basis.
This is an increasingly important service for utilities and system operators as more variable generating resources come online. The programme responds in real time to address and correct electric power supply and demand imbalances. Traditionally, this service was performed by generators, which would ramp up and down to match continuous demand changes.
In 2012, the IESO launched a request-for-proposal that would explore alternative providers of regulation service. A Smart Grid technology company was selected based on their extensive experience with commercial, industrial and institutional loads and their real-time, intelligent load management platform.
Today, various high-profile and leading edge Ontario organizations are taking part in the Grid Balance initiative, using large electrical equipment that they’ve already invested in to deliver flexibility back to the provincial power system. Inaugural participants include McMaster University, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Confederation Freezers, Collingwood Public Utilities, Atlantic Packaging and Walmart.
“Engaging Ontario businesses as active participants in balancing the grid is an important step towards modernizing the province’s power system,” said Ron Dizy, President and CEO of Enbal Power Networks. “We are proud to see the Ontario Grid Balance network make its debut with some of the province’s most forward-thinking organizations.”
How are Local Businesses Helping Balance the Grid?
These organizations that are helping to keep Ontario’s power system in balance are major electricity users that have already invested in large electrical equipment, have a minimum peak demand of 1,500 kW and device automation and control. Whether the equipment is working to keep a comfortable temperature in their buildings, refrigerate temperature-sensitive products or treat wastewater, these types of large electrical loads can be used for a secondary purpose – without affecting their primary duties and processes.
Universities and other large educational institutions have a responsibility to maintain comfortable temperatures throughout all buildings within their vast campuses. McMaster University, one of Canada’s oldest and most prestigious public research universities, utilizes their extensive HVAC (heating, ventilation and air conditioning) system to keep their campus at the ideal temperature for students and teachers. The university is a big believer in innovative technology that enhances the sustainability of their campus and community; the institution is committed to reducing its energy consumption, implementing energy initiatives and promoting energy efficiency.
The chillers in McMaster University’s large-scale HVAC system have the operational flexibility needed for this initiative. After working closely with engineers to determine the operating parameters necessary to keep the system running smoothly, five chillers with a 16,000 ton cooling capacity have been connected to the network to help keep Ontario’s electricity generation and demand in balance and maintain overall system reliability.
“Connecting to ENBALA’s platform was a seamless process, and the Grid Balance initiative is providing our university with an excellent cost-savings opportunity that helps the environment and the provincial electricity grid – using the equipment we’ve already invested in,” said Joe Emberson, Director of Energy Management and Utilities at McMaster University.
Hospitals and other large healthcare institutions can also take advantage of their existing HVAC system and the flexibility it has hidden within its operating process. Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, host of the Grid Balance initiative launch event and a state-of-the-art teaching hospital, is a leader in green innovation, winning numerous awards for its environmental stewardship. The hospital has connected five chillers within their central chiller plant to help balance Ontario’s grid and reduce greenhouse gas emissions produced by traditional generators. While participating in this grid balance initiative, Sunnybrook’s chillers remain within predetermined operating parameters necessary to keep the hospital at a comfortable temperature. Patient care and comfort come first for Sunnybrook.
These two organizations provide examples of how HVAC systems within institutions can boost grid reliability.
What about commercial and industrial companies?
Confederation Freezers is a refrigerated warehousing and distribution company with a 20 million cubic foot operation over four Ontario locations. Cold storage facilities are perfect for this type of initiative because of their sophisticated refrigeration systems, which use a number of flexible energy-consuming assets like compressors and pumps. Five of Confederation Freezers’ ammonia compressors are providing operational flexibility to Ontario’s grid, while remaining within set temperature parameters and maintaining the quality of their temperature-sensitive products. A new form of revenue was an attractive aspect of Grid Balance for Confederation Freezers, according to Fred Leonenko, Chief Engineer. “[Grid Balance is] a way for the compressor room to actually generate revenue, rather than being a major expense at our facility,” he stated. An additional revenue stream is an added bonus to participation in the initiative, and can be applied against high electricity bills or any other day-to-day operating costs.
The Grid Balance initiative is operated by ENBALA’s real-time intelligent load management platform.
This is Only the Beginning of the Demand Side’s Potential
Commercial, industrial and institutional organizations are a valuable resource for Ontario’s grid. Keeping electricity generation and demand in balance is just the beginning. Through innovative technology, large electricity customers can step up and play a more active role in grid management, generator optimization, integrating renewable energy and more – becoming a major power player in Ontario’s electricity sector and beyond.
About the author
Malcolm Metcalfe, LVO, P. Eng, is a veteran of the high growth technology industry and an expert on the evolution of the power system, with over 40 years of experience in energy and related systems. Mr. Metcalfe is a founder and Chief Technology Officer at ENBALA Power Networks. A graduate of the University of British Columbia, he holds a BASc and MASc in Electrical Engineering, with a specialty in Power Systems.
