‘Buildings consume over half of Canada’s electricity’
While Quebec’s electricity grid is already almost fully renewable, customers are increasingly interested in resources that lower electricity costs and optimize the electric system as a whole. Reasons for this shift include dynamic tariffs, which are pricing schemes that adjust electricity prices based on demand at different times of the day, and the electrification of transport.
“Small-scale energy resources, otherwise known as distributed energy resources such as building-integrated solar systems and building-connected electric vehicles, will fundamentally change grid operations,” Athienitis explains.
“Utilities must adapt. How they deliver electricity must change, but they also need to leverage building load flexibility, building-integrated renewable energy systems and building-connected electric vehicles,” he adds.
“Buildings, which consume over half of Canada’s electricity, offer substantial potential for developing this type of flexibility.”
Improving sustainability through industry partnerships
Athienitis’s team will partner with Hydro-Québec under its Chairs program. The corporation’s involvement reflects its strategic plan to help the province achieve net-zero emissions by 2050, leveraging advanced control strategies and technologies to optimize energy efficiency and power-demand management.
Régulvar, a leader in building automation, and BGI Analytics, a startup specializing in advanced control methods and data analytics, are also partners.
CanmetENERGY, a Government of Canada energy technology centre, will support dissemination and testing of optimal building operating strategies.
“This collaboration aims to create actionable knowledge and advanced technologies essential for the energy transition,” says Athienitis. “The research will not only benefit Hydro-Québec but also provide valuable insights and solutions for the building sector, enhancing energy efficiency and flexibility across Canada.”