Saint John Rothesay MP Wayne Long joined Ryan Mitchell and Shelley Wood of Saint John Energy for an announcement on Thursday, September 22nd. Image by Tamara Steele
Federal funding will allow Saint John Energy to create a production control system replica that they can model and test.
It will then translate into new efficiencies for its customers.
Saint John Rothesay MP Wayne Long announced $620,000 for the utility through the ACOA’s Regional Economic Growth through Innovation program.
It will be used to improve technology and grow its smart grid by installing IT infrastructure and improving communications systems.
Ryan Mitchell, president and CEO of Saint John Energy, said this announcement is the foundation for a digital replica of their control system.
“It will allow us to bring in a lot more data than we are able to today for longer periods of time to do modelling. Here’s an opportunity to reduce our costs, here’s an opportunity to reduce emissions,” Mitchell said.
Saint John Energy began a smart grid project a few years ago supported by Natural Resources Canada and ACOA.
“We’ve been implementing things like the Tesla utility-scale battery, smart controllable hot water heaters and a range of other devices. We are now able to effectively operate those to reduce our peak. So far this year, we are setting a new record in terms of the efficiencies we’ve been able to realize with those devices. At this point of the year, we have already surpassed $800,000 in cost savings,” Mitchell said.
This important investment from @ACOACanada accelerates the Utility of the Future we’re building right here in Saint John, with both financial and environmental benefits, and will establish the digital foundation to replicate our production control system. #poweringourfuture pic.twitter.com/PDZjEjLl8l
— Saint John Energy (@SJENERGY) September 22, 2022
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