Siemens and New Brunswick, Canada-based NB Power have announced plans for a multiyear smart grid reduce and shift demand (RASD) modernization plan that will invest in technology and educate customers, offering business and residents more choice and control over their energy consumption.
As part of the agreement, Siemens will build a smart grid Centre of Competence (CoC) in Fredericton, New Brunswick, while delivering an end-to-end design for the smart grid. Using its Smart Grid Compass methodology, Siemens will design NB Power's energy road map for the next 10 years.
The agreement also involves the establishment of a research and development (R&D) presence by way of an application development office to be located in Fredericton where design and rollout of smart grid software will take place. The CoC and R&D office are expected to create approximately 40 new jobs in the region.
As part of the implementation, Siemens will showcase its demand-response management system and decentralized energy-management suite. NB Power's smart grid strategy is expected to be developed in five areas within the utility, including network operations, customer participation, asset and workforce management, and smart energy and organization.
A pilot project is expected to begin in 2013. Information on the project will be available later this year, according to NB Power.
