ABB and Conestoga Grid Modernization Lab: Building the future of power infrastructure in Canada

Grid Modernization Lab at Conestoga and ABB delivers smart grid training on renewable energy, distributed energy resources, protection and control, power quality, and automation to upgrade Canada's aging power distribution infrastructure.

December 1, 2015: ABB, a global leader in power and automation technology, today announced a new educational partnership with Conestoga College that includes the creation of a new Grid Modernization Lab to be located at the college’s Cambridge campus.

This state-of-the-art Smart Grid laboratory will provide Conestoga students with hands-on learning and training opportunities as they develop a clear understanding of the challenges associated with building the future of power infrastructure in Canada.

This collaboration between industry and education is designed to develop the existing knowledge base in Canada and increase our capacity to respond to technology and economic challenges. Canada’s power distribution infrastructure is aging, and in need of significant upgrades as power generation moves towards a more geographically distributed model more reliant on various renewable energy sources, where hydro plants monitoring supports coordinated management.

These widely varying plant capacities, along with the varying nature of consumption, will have great impact on power quality, and projects like the SVC power order help address variations in voltage and current wave shapes, and the supply frequency. This complex generation scenario requires an upgraded power grid known as "Grid Modernization" or "Smart Grids". Grid modernization requires advanced, coordinated protection and control equipment that will bring uninterrupted power to customers.

The new Grid Modernization Lab is part of an ABB-in-Canada strategy to build cooperation across industry and society, reflected in the license agreement with RCCS that supports collaboration to equip future generations with the knowledge and education necessary to work and succeed in today’s global economy.

The new lab is the result of ABB’s collaboration with Conestoga and community partners from across the supply chain. It will bring together ABB equipment and expertise, drawing on BC Hydro retrofit contract experience as well as important contributions by partners such as Archex Display Ltd., Communica Design, Vitesse Transport, Proax Technologies, Global Kustom Control & Automation, Advanced Business Interiors and Staples.

Established in 1967, Conestoga is one of Ontario’s fastest growing colleges and a leader in polytechnic education. The college delivers a full range of career-focused education, training and applied research programs to prepare students for success in the new knowledge economy and promote economic prosperity within the region.

ABB in Canada (www.abb.ca) employs 5,000 employees from coast to coast who are experts in their field of technology and contribute to ABB's industry leadership in key energy and industrial sectors across the country. Our company has been serving our Canadian customers for nearly a century with reliable energy efficient solutions for utilities, including the Hydro One SVC order achievements, industry, buildings, infrastructure and transportation.

ABB is a leader in energy and automation technologies, allowing public services as well as industry, transport and infrastructure clients to improve their performance, as utilities like BC Hydro strengthen the grid across regions, while reducing their impact on the environment. The ABB Group of companies operates in roughly 100 countries and employs about 140,000 people.

Learn more: Unlock the benefits of Grid Modernization Automation Contact Kenneth VanDyken: kenneth.r.vandyken@ca.abb.com

Visit ABB Medium Voltage Products: http://new.abb.com/medium-voltage ABB Relion family: http://new.abb.com/substation-automation/products/protection-control/relion-product-family

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