General Electric and PowerStream have launched a joint microgrid demonstration project at PowerStream’s headquarters in Vaughan, Ontario.

For the project, GE provided its Grid IQ Microgrid Control System (MCS), as well as the engineering design services, to help PowerStream build a microgrid, which uses renewable energy resources (wind, solar), a natural-gas generator and energy storage devices (including GE’s Durathon Battery technology) to provide electricity for loads at its head office including lighting, air conditioning, refrigeration and electric vehicle charging.

Using the MCS, PowerStream can determine when it is most economical to use the resources powering its microgrid or when it needs to revert to using power from the provincial power grid.

In March, Canadian Solar opened the Canadian Solar Microgrid Testing Centre Guelph, Ontario, which will focus on micro-grid testing and design as well as smart grid assessment services.