The city is seeking applications from innovators who have ideas to improve Medicine Hat's energy system for the Energy Innovation Challenge. The deadline has been extended to July 3.--NEWS PHOTO BRENDAN MILLER
news@medicinehatnews.com
The deadline for a challenge seeking innovative solutions to make energy more affordable and sustainable, and the province’s grid more reliable and resilient, has been extended to July 3.
In May the city announced the launch of the Energy Innovation Challenge, looking for solutions to address energy grid congestion issues from local small- and medium-sized businesses. Those projects could be awarded up to $250,000.
The partnership with Decentralized Energy Canada, as well as several public and private sector supporters, has raised more than $1 million of program funding. The challenge is seeking six individual or group projects that will receive a portion of the program funding to develop their projects.
“The Challenge provides Canadian innovators with a platform to demonstrate decentralized energy solutions and the technical and economic benefits they bring to Alberta,” said Anouk Kendall, president of DEC, in a press release. “This exciting program has the potential to create multiple, tangible outcomes.”
Through projects and innovations, DEC hopes to increase leverage with government investments and private capital to strengthen the province’s economy.
Participants accepted into the challenge will be financially supported during their startup and growth-stages and will have three years to develop clean energy technology initiatives that contribute to meeting targets identified in Canada’s 2030 Emissions Reduction Plan.
“This program is timely, important and may contribute to solving energy problems that can impact Albertans,” says Kendall. “The cost and reliability of electricity in Alberta are growing concerns as aging electricity infrastructure, increased grid congestion and increasing regularity of extreme weather events take their toll.”
Ideas must address one or more of the focus areas at the customer or system level.
Customer level innovations can help relieve congestion for homes and small buildings to reduce customer bills and offer energy efficiency solutions.
System level innovations help optimize current energy infrastructure by helping manage usage increases and optimize the performance of the city’s energy system.
Applicants who believe they can build a startup or innovation that can successfully address one or more of these challenge areas are encouraged to submit innovations into the first intake of the Energy Innovation Challenge online at deassociation.ca/innovation-challenge before July 3.
