Smart metering and smart grid upgrade for Alberta

Alberta utility ATCO is to install an advanced metering infrastructure and distribution management and other systems as part of the province’s electricity grid modernisation.

The projects, which are being supported with Canadian government funding, are aimed to increase stability and energy security and to contribute to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.

The AMI project is planned to see the installation of 230,000 smart meters and the associated infrastructure across 190 communities, both urban, rural and remote, in Alberta.

With these, customers will be provided with time-of-use pricing to enable them to respond to price signals, with an expected reduction of approximately 22t of CO2 per year.

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The advanced distribution management system is planned for installation in Vegreville as an upgrade of the control systems there and to enable the company to improve the management of electricity outages.

Other asset modernisations planned include the installation of hardware and software systems in 27 communities in Alberta to upgrade the control and distribution systems and likewise improve the ability to manage electricity outages.

In addition, renewable energy and grid modernisation technologies are planned at the 27MW Barlow and the 37MW Deerfoot solar parks in southeast Calgary, to support the supply of clean energy to the province’s grid.

Together these projects are receiving Ca$75.6 million (US$56 million) in funding and are expected to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by over 53,000t/year, while also leading to the creation of over 1,100 jobs in the construction phases.

The awards for the Barlow and Deerfoot solar parks – the largest solar installation in an urban centre in western Canada – came just days after the Chiniki and Goodstoney First Nations became the majority owners with a 51% share, with the anticipation of these projects yielding significant economic and social benefits for these indigenous communities.

The Barlow solar park started commercial operations in Q1 of 2023, while the Deerfoot facility is nearing commercial readiness.

The funding for these projects was provided through the Smart Renewables and Electrification Pathways Programme, which is investing up to Ca$4.5 billion by 2035 for smart renewable energy and electrical grid modernisation projects.