Grid Balance will be enabled through Enbala Power Networks’ smart grid platform GOFlex, which connects a network of Ontario’s organizations and combines together the flexibility in their power usage and respond to demands by second-to-second basis.
IESO president and CEO Bruce Campbell said that this project represents a big step forward for Ontario’s electricity sector.
"Every day in our control room, we see the efforts consumers make to reduce their energy use at peaks, which in turn strengthens reliability," Campbell added.
"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."
Sunnybrook Health Science Centre, McMaster University, Confederation Freezers, Atlantic Packaging, Collingwood Public Utilities and Walmart will be among the first to participate in Enbala’s Ontario Grid Balance network.
Enbala president and CEO Ron Dizy said that large electricity users are such a valuable resource to the company’s electricity power system.
"By intelligently managing the flexibility in when and how they use power, we’re able to deliver value back to the grid in a number of ways – while generating a new revenue stream for connected users," Dizy added.
