Alberta has declared the Electricity Statutes (Modernizing Alberta’s Electricity Grid) Amendment Act, effective March 6, to help the region’s electricity system adapt new technologies and the changing ways used by consumers to interact with the grid.
The government is working towards a carbon-neutral electricity grid by 2050. The legislation will help Alberta support affordability, encourage investment and build grid capacity in several ways, which includes allowing the regional businesses to build more energy storage and on-site power generation with an option to sell excess power to the grid.
The regulations will also provide opportunities for commercial businesses to generate their own power with the option to benefit from selling their excess energy to the grid. This will benefit Albertans by reducing demand on the system and minimizing the cost of electricity.
The announcement will allow the Minister of Affordability and Utilities to continue proactive transmission and distribution planning.
Energy storage paired with the planning will help provide non-wire solutions. This will not only reduce the need to build new infrastructure and maximize the use of Alberta’s existing grid infrastructure but also minimize the need for costly upgrades, saving costs of Alberta ratepayers.
Currently, Alberta has 190 MW of energy storage connected to the grid, with 398 MW more with approvals and 140 MW under construction.
