Page 26 - CARILEC CE Journal CENOV 2021

non-linear, distributed grid requires redefining grid
management. Canadian companies have the skills
and experience to bridge this gap.
"Canada has a relatively small
domestic market, and so Canadians If the pandemic and climate change have shown us
are well set up to work overseas. one thing, it is that the solutions for global, system-
Perhaps more than in other countries, wide problems do not arrive pre-designed in a
we understand the need for flexibility.
We don’t arrive with one, predetermined box; complex challenges need custom solutions. In
solution, and we are ready to partner." Canada, these challenges are set against an inherent
- Chris Tumpach, CEO of Rainforest Automation entrepreneurial spirit and a government that is
investing in innovation and a clean economy. This
means that Canada now has one of the world’s most
competitive cleantech industries, with 12 Canadian
companies included in the 2020 Global Cleantech 100,
you need to control usage on tight grids, it is critical an annual roster of the world's top 100 companies
to get some idea of the usage patterns, and to share in the field. It is an ecosystem of small, dynamic
that data not only with the utilities, but also with firms that thrive on working with the buyer to build
customers so they can start to manage their own bespoke solutions; an exciting and valuable network
energy use. It’s about empowering consumers to play to be connected to.
their role in energy efficiency.”
As Canada continues along its own path of energy
The next step is to empower utilities to analyze transition, many of the associated challenges will
the system on their own terms. Grid management resonate with Caribbean organisations. Climate
software can also optimize energy efficiency and change does not stop at borders, and the need to
manage demand, while accommodating for the decarbonise energy is a shared global problem that
complexity of multiple distributed energy resources. is too big to tackle alone.
These services are critical to realizing the benefits of
renewable energy and ensuring that these assets are If you would like to engage and partner with the
optimized, while being flexible to the needs of their thriving ecosystem in Canada, your first step should
service area. be to contact the Canadian Trade Commissioner in
your market or [email protected].
Management of the grid hardware itself has also The Canadian Trade Commissioner Service is a key
been an area of innovation. With much of Canada— resource for anyone interested in doing business
like the Caribbean—still using overhead lines that with Canada and we are ready to help you start a
can be at risk of equipment failure and outages; conversation about your energy systems. We can also
grid management and maintenance also benefits connect you with strategic procurement, investment,
from remote monitoring and automation systems. A innovation, or education partners in Canada. Such
Manitoba company has developed a safer bushing challenges at this scale need collaboration, and
design that saves energy in transportation and can Canadian organizations are ready to take action.
also monitor and predict bushing failures. This helps
to optimize maintenance crews during an outage
and is one of those ‘win-win’ projects with benefits
for energy, costs, and safety.
Transitioning to cleaner energy is not a matter of just
plugging in new supplies. Renewable energy systems
are most effective when connected to smarter grids CanHCBarbados
that can understand usage, optimize intermittent international.gc.ca/socialmedia
supplies, and manage peak loads and storage. This
transition from a traditional, centralized grid, to a

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