含羞草传媒

U of T鈥檚 Grid Modernization Centre receives $10 million in federal funding to advance energy transition

Founded by the Climate Positive Energy institutional strategic initiative, the Grid Modernization Centre will help accelerate integration of novel green technologies
a hydro field in Toronto

(Photo by Gary Hershorn/Getty Images)

The 含羞草传媒 has received $10-million in federal funding in support of the , a state-of-the-art facility in Toronto鈥檚 Downsview area that aims to accelerate progress towards a decarbonized, decentralized and digitalized power system for Canada. 

Founded by , a U of T , the centre will serve as a hub that provides utilities, regulators, municipalities and enterprises with the equipment and expertise needed to test, develop and commercialize a range of green technologies.

The Government of Canada announced the investment 鈥 which includes $5 million apiece from the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario) and Natural Resources Canada 鈥 at U of T's Myhal Centre for Engineering Innovation & Entrepreneurship on Friday, July 26.

鈥淥n behalf of the 含羞草传媒, we thank FedDev Ontario and Natural Resources Canada for their $10-million investment in the Grid Modernization Centre,鈥 said Leah Cowen, U of T鈥檚 vice-president, research and innovation, and strategic initiatives. 鈥淏y convening stakeholders across the electricity ecosystem, Climate Positive Energy and their partners will help ensure the electrical grid remains safe and reliable, while supporting the development of clean technologies and jobs.鈥

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Leah Cowen (left), U of T's vice-president, research and innovation, and strategic initiatives, was joined by Ya'ara Saks (centre), minister of mental health and addictions, and Julie Dabrusin (right), parliamentary secretary to the minister of the environment, at the $10-million funding announcement for U of T's Grid Modernization Centre (photo by Liz Beddall)

The first facility of its kind in Canada, the Grid Modernization Centre will foster innovations pertinent to electricity demand, which is estimated to double in the next 30 years according to Ontario鈥檚 Independent Electricity System Operator.

鈥淭hrough initiatives such as the Grid Modernization Centre here at U of T, we are collaborating to unlock a brighter future for our energy systems on the path to net-zero,鈥 said Julie Dabrusin, parliamentary secretary to the minister for environment and climate change and the minister of energy and natural resources.

鈥淏y supporting advancements in clean energy technologies, we are not only protecting our environment but also positioning Canada at the forefront of the clean energy revolution,鈥 said Ya鈥檃ra Saks, minister of mental health and addictions and MP for York Centre, who attended the announcement on behalf of Filomena Tassi, the minister responsible for FedDev Ontario.

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Ya'ara Saks and Julie Dabrusin speak with Associate Professor Ali Hooshyar during a tour of the Centre for Applied Power Electronics (photo by Liz Beddall)

Ontario鈥檚 existing grid faces a number of challenges, including extreme weather events, the increasing popularity of electric vehicles and concerns around capacity, reliability, and security.

To address these challenges, the Grid Modernization Centre will enable an array of green technologies 鈥 from electric vehicle charging stations to battery energy storage systems 鈥 to be tested and refined before they are integrated with the grid.

It will also provide training opportunities for students and thought leadership on policy, regulatory and climate financing models.

Prior to Friday鈥檚 announcement, MP Saks and Parliamentary Secretary Dabrusin enjoyed a tour of the  led by Ali Hooshyar, associate professor and Canada Research Chair in Electric Power Systems in the Edward S. Rogers Sr. department of electrical and computer engineering in the Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering. The centre specializes in research and development around electric power systems in areas such as integration of renewable resources into power grids and energy storage and distribution in microgrids.

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(L-R) Chris Yip, dean of the Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering, and Deepa Kundur, chair of the Edward S. Rogers Sr. department of electrical and computer engineering, said the Grid Modernization Centre will help address crucial challenges around sustainable energy (photo by Liz Beddall)

Professor and chair of the department Deepa Kundur hailed the Grid Modernization Centre as a 鈥渃rucial step鈥 toward a safer and more sustainable society. "At ECE, we actively contribute to the technological landscape by addressing challenges in vehicle electrification, artificial intelligence, and cybersecurity. This new centre represents U of T's proactive response to society's energy needs, and I'm thrilled about its potential impact,鈥 Kundur said.

Professor Christopher Yip, dean of the Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering, described the clean energy transition as arguably the most important shift facing companies and communities today. 鈥淯 of T has responded to this challenge by developing the Grid Modernization Centre," Yip said.

"Today鈥檚 investment is key in supporting the centre and propelling us towards a reliable, resilient and sustainable electricity grid that will power a clean energy future for generations.鈥

CPE