Source: Financial Post
An electrical system is only as reliable as its grid—the transmission network that delivers electricity from suppliers to consumers. GE’s Grid IQ Innovation Centre in Markham, Ont., established last year, has become a Canadian destination for companies and countries seeking to enhance the reliability of their energy grids.
“We are investing in innovation and this facility demonstrates our commitment to ongoing research and development in substation and distribution automation, as well as electrical grid protection and control,” says Juan Macias, general manager, grid automation for GE Digital Energy. “As the global centre of excellence for grid automation, we collaborate on innovative solutions with customers, partners and academics around the world.”
The $40-million project was supported by a $7.9-million grant from the Ontario government. The facility covers more than 9,000 square metres, half of which is devoted to production space, designed to help GE meet both current and future product demands as utilities around the world search for ways to improve energy infrastructure.
The facility also incorporates research, test and simulation laboratories providing GE engineers with the tools they require to help utility and industrial customers solve energy challenges. These solutions include smart meters that help customers manage peak demands through the Internet, and technology that reliably integrates diverse sources of electricity, such as solar and wind, with traditional generators. Management tools ensure that the components of the electrical system, from energy generation facilities to substations, employ cutting-edge Industrial Internet technologies that monitor and balance the grid for maximum reliability.
The Grid IQ Innovation Centre is one of four such centres established by GE in Canada, joining the Aircraft Engine Testing Research and Development Centre in Winnipeg, the Pathology Innovation Centre of Excellence in Toronto, and the GE Innovation Centre in Calgary, which incorporates the Global Heavy Oil Centre of Excellence.
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The Regional Municipality of York is located in the heart of the Greater Toronto Area and is home to 1.1 million residents and 42,000 business establishments, making it one of Canada’s largest municipalities and the second largest business centre in the Province of Ontario.
Comprised of nine local municipalities, York Region is a premier business location in Canada. The Region is home to operations of 14 Fortune 100 companies, four of Canada’s top 10 corporate R&D investors, Canada’s second largest Information & Communications Technology (ICT) cluster and global industry leaders in Life Sciences, CleanTech, Financial Services and Advanced Manufacturing.
As Canada’s fastest growing large municipality, York Region has one of the most educated and diverse workforces in North America, the lowest commercial property taxes in greater Toronto and an exceptional quality of life attracting top global talent.
York Region’s local municipalities include the City of Markham, the City of Vaughan, the Town of Richmond Hill, the Town of Newmarket, the Town of Aurora, the Town of Whitchurch-Stouffville, the Town of East Gwillimbury, the Town of Georgina and the Township of King.