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Federal government commits $526,000 towards college microgrid

Mar 27, 2018 | 1:26 PM

 

MEDICINE HAT, AB — Medicine Hat College’s Microgrid project is one step closer to reality, following a funding announcement at Medicine Hat College Tuesday afternoon.Jim Saunderson, assistant deputy minister for Western Economic Diversification for the federal government, w

as in Medicine Hat Tuesday, announcing $526,000 for the college to design and construct the community renewable energy microgrid pilot project on the college grounds.The microgrid, first announced last year, would measure the output of both wind and solar energy in the city.

The grid would have different solar panels that could be changed in an out by students. The grid would also house an electric vehicle charging station.

“You take small scale renewable energy generation and you put it right beside the place you’re going to use it,” Mark Keller with the college said as he explained what a microgrid is. “So, that’s what we’re doing right beside the Cultural Centre.”

The college also received $215,000 from the provincial government in November through the Community and Regional Economic Support (CARES) program for the project last year.

The microgrid will be used as a teaching and learning tool for students, municipalities, land owners and organizations about renewable energy.

Terralta and Enmax Energy will be building a solar canopy over the parking lot at the Cultural Centre.

“[We’re installing] 315 of the LG bifacial modules, so leading edge technology with a couple electric vehicle charging stations and five different inverter platforms,” said Marcus Campbell, a representative for both Enmax and Terralta. “We’re very excited to be involved with the Medicine Hat College.”

Blueenergy Solarwind Canada Inc. has partnered with the college to test out a small scale wind turbine.

President Joel Goldblatt says the company is also setting up shop here in Medicine Hat later this year.

“Bluenergy Solarwind is originally a company that’s been in the U.S. for 12 years and we are opening our offices for our national distribution here in Medicine Hat.”

Goldblatt said the company chose Medicine Hat because of its natural resources and programs instituted by the Provincial Government.

“Because of the Alberta Climate Leadership Plan, the carbon levies benefits for renewable energy and for the literal climate of tremendous sun and wind,” he said.

According to a news release, the microgrid project will result in six new technologies, assist 50 companies and attract 150 investors to the site. A total of 150 students will be trained in the renewable energy field.