Federal government invests $5M in Grid Modernization Centre

TORONTO — On Jul. 26, Ya’ara Saks, Minister of Mental Health and Addictions and MP for York Centre, along with Julie Dabrusin, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Energy and Natural Resources and to the Minister of Environment and Climate Change and MP for Toronto–Danforth, visited the University of Toronto (U of T) to view a demonstration of what will be Canada’s first Grid Modernization Centre. While there, Minister Saks announced a $5-million investment, on behalf of Filomena Tassi, Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario), to support establishing the new centre at Downsview.

Spearheaded by U of T’s Climate Positive Energy (CPE) initiative, the Grid Modernization Centre will be used as a collaborative hub where key industry stakeholders, including SMEs, original equipment manufacturers and municipalities, have access to expertise and specialized equipment in one space to advance the development of technology solutions for Canada’s electrical grid. As a result of this investment, up to 120 businesses are expected to be supported as they work towards commercialization and grid integration which, in turn, may help these businesses grow and create new jobs.

The announcement is part of a $10-million Government of Canada investment that includes $5 million in support from Natural Resources Canada (NRCan). Funding was provided through NRCan’s Energy Innovation Program, which advances clean energy technologies that will try to help Canada meet its climate change targets while supporting the transition to a low-carbon economy.

“The work that will be done at the University of Toronto’s Grid Modernization Centre will help to build a cleaner and more sustainable future for all Canadians. By adopting cutting-edge clean energy technologies, we are not only reducing emissions but driving innovation and economic growth across the country,” said Filomena Tassi, Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario).