Saturday, 11 May 2013

feds $ Million energy investment in GTA

Feds Big Spending on Clean Energy Project in GTA

By William Doyle-Marshall

The Government of Canada will invest over $21 million for thirteen innovative clean energy projects in the Greater Toronto Area. This was announced Friday by Bal Gosal, Minister of State (Sport) and Member of Parliament for Bramalea–Gore–Malton during a press conference at the University of Toronto,
They are among 55 new innovative clean energy projects announced by Prime Minister Stephen Harper, representing an investment of more than $82 million through the Government of Canada’s ecoENERGY Innovation Initiative. The program was created to invest in new clean energy technologies that will create jobs, generate economic opportunities and help protect the environment, Gosal said.

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Bal Gosal, Minister of State (Sport) and MP for Bramalea-Gore-Malton, right announced million dollar funding for green projects last Friday at the University of Toronto. Participating in the brief media event were Professor Farid N. Najm and Professor Reza Irvani, coordinator of the Centre for Applied Power Electronics, University of Toronto. (William Doyle-Marshall photo)

   “This programme is investing $268 million to support research, development and the demonstration of innovative and clean energy technologies with focus on five areas – energy efficiency, clean electricity and renewables, bio-energy, electrification of transportation and unconventional oil and gas,” the minister disclosed. The government funding initiative is designed to support collaboration and innovation among Canadian colleges and universities, industry and government to develop and demonstrate clean energy technologies and innovation to produce and use energy more cleanly and efficiently,

   Professor Reva Iravani, Coordinator of the University of Toronto’s Centre for Applied Power Electronics (CAPE) said the his institution is involved with are a hybrid circuit breaker which is a stand-alone product that enables and facilitates protection of a large class of smart grid components and products and development of a utility grid controller for remote micro grids with high penetration of renewables.

   Although the federal government is providing funding for these initiatives no one could provide specific time line for completion so that benefits could be realized. Some of them are for one and a half year; some of them are up to three and a half years. Professor Iravani said by the end of the project, “potentially we have products depending on the mandate of the proposal either for demonstration or for test.” Minister Gosal agreed and explained that the project started with the 2011 budget of the federal government. “It’s on a five year basis so already funding has been awarded to different companies. It is ongoing funding so that these are done in time,” he added.

   According to Gosal this funding will help in the search for long-term solution to reduce air pollution and energy production and use. Through the ecoENERGY Innovation funding worth more than $82 million 55 promising projects across Canada will be supported. The initiative by the Government of Canada is designed to help widen and strengthen the foundation of Canada’s growing clean technology sector, the minister promised. In the Toronto area 13 projects are receiving funding from ecoENERGY Innovation initiative totaling over $21 million. “Several of these projects including one at the University of the Toronto deals with smart grid technologies which are key to brighter, greener economic future of Canada,” Gosal assured.

   He stressed, smart grid that is responsive and dynamic and allows customers to manage their energy use while better integrating their energy sources, is needed. Gosal announced government funding for Eco-energy innovation undertaking totaling almost $9.4 million for four smart grid research projects in the Toronto area. $560,000 is for the University of Toronto Faculty of Engineering project examining battery storage for a utility grid. UofT is also receiving $300,000 for a bio-energy feasibility study.

    A project by Prolucid Technologies in Mississauga will be funded to the tune of $1.5 million for a venture connecting renewable energy to the grid. Hatch also of Mississauga will be receiving $1.99 million for a micro grid test center for integration of new energy sources in remote communities. The Canadian Standards Association is receiving $1.8 million to assist with standards research and Owens Corning of Scarborough is receiving $1.96 million to integrate renewable energy and conservation measures in building of five Net-Zero Energy Housing communities. The Toronto and Region Conservation Authority is receiving$1 million to develop a solar energy yield test standard and over $3 million is going to Dana Canada for two projects designed to improve batteries for use in electrical vehicles.

   The ecoENERGY Innovation Initiative has received $268 million in funding over five years to fund research, development and demonstration projects that produce and use energy in a more clean and efficient manner

May 5, 2013

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