Grid planning
A Maritime grid needs distributed energy
Regional electricity planning should include rooftop solar, batteries, efficiency and flexible demand from the start.
Originally published on LinkedIn. This article reflects the information and perspective at the time of the original post.
The Premiers of New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and PEI have signed an MOU to explore integrating the region's electricity systems, potentially including a regional system operator. This is a significant step toward a more coordinated Maritime grid. As the roadmap takes shape, regional planning must extend beyond large-scale generation and transmission.
Distributed energy resources, rooftop and community solar, batteries, energy efficiency, demand response, EVs, and flexible loads, need to be built into system planning from the start. These resources reduce peak demand, improve local reliability, absorb renewable generation, defer costly grid investments, and give customers an active role in the energy transition.
