Electricity experts & community leaders will lead multi-stakeholder solution prototyping to accelerate vision-driven modernization of Alberta’s electricity system
The Energy Futures Lab (EFL) is announcing the imminent start of Phase 3 of its Alberta’s Electricity Future (AEF) initiative. This phase of the project marks a significant milestone in the second year of its three year arc: the start of a sprint series focused on solution prototyping.
SOCIAL INNOVATION’S ROLE IN ELECTRICITY SYSTEM MODERNIZATION
While innovation is often thought of as purely technological, innovation in business models, policies, resources and investments, relationships and narratives (known collectively as social innovation) is also required to smooth paths to commercialization and mass adoption of new technologies as well as the transformation of associated policies, processes, and paradigms. What, for the industrial revolution, took centuries, must now be accomplished in a matter of decades in order to avoid the worst effects of climate change, which makes these often-overlooked social dimensions of change management critical. Grid modernization is just one of the innovation areas where the EFL is applying its award-winning expertise in social innovation-focused solution prototyping.
ALBERTA’S ELECTRICITY FUTURE LEADERSHIP COUNCIL
This latest phase introduces a new governance structure to the project: the Alberta’s Electricity Future Leadership Council, that will provide strategic advice to the project delivery team, surface emerging opportunities or barriers to the solutions in development, and identify high-leverage opportunities to explore new solution areas.
The council includes electricity leaders and experts representing diverse perspectives from within the system and regions within the province. Founding members include:
- Cameron Brown – Vice President, Energy, Environment and Resources with Global Public Affairs
- Cayla Saby – Vice President of Government Relations & Commercial with AltaLink
- Graham Halsall – Director of Sustainability & Risk Management with ONE Properties
- Jesse Row – Executive Director of Alberta Energy Efficiency Alliance
- Kevin Dawson – Vice President, Strategic Integration at Alberta Electric System Operator (AESO)
- Matthew Davis – Director, Regulatory with Capital Power
- Megan Gill – Executive Director of Alberta Direct Connect Consumer Association
- Peter Casurella – Executive Director of SouthGrow Regional Initiative
- Riley Georgsen– Executive Director External Affairs and Communications at Alberta Utilities Commission
- Rishikesh Kumar – Director, Emerging Customer Solutions with FortisAlberta
- Steve Saddleback – Partner with Opimoyaso Group
- Vicki Zinyk – CEO of Alberta Cooperative Energy
WORKING GROUPS & SOLUTION AREAS
The council will also provide guidance to the project’s Working Groups, teams of subject matter experts responsible for hands-on solutioning, launching in October 2024. The Working Groups will initially focus on the following solution areas:
Incentivizing Optimization: creating novel mechanisms for utilities to prioritize optimizing the grid
Decentralized Future: exploring new ways to harness the benefits of Distributed Energy Resources (DERs)
Enhancing Demand Participation: exploring wholesale market opportunities for demand-side solutions and participation
PROJECT HISTORY
These solution areas were selected by the AEF Coalition, a group of 60+ representatives from Alberta’s electricity system engaged through Phase 1 of the initiative, as well as additional project contributors. Phase 1 also convened these groups to develop, test and enhance the co-created vision and principles for Alberta’s Electricity Future: Leading the Charge: A Vision for Alberta’s Electricity Future. The final version of the document, originally released publicly in draft form on March 4, 2024, is now available for download.
In Phase 2 of the initiative, the Energy Futures Lab conducted a review of over 60 studies, reports and electricity system modernization plans spanning 5 countries to uncover both regional and universal barriers to electricity systems change. The barriers were then assessed using an Alberta lens to unearth the top 10 systemic barriers to advancing grid modernization in Alberta. Briefs on each of the 10 systemic barriers are now available for download on the Energy Futures Lab website.
PHASE 3
Through its solution prototyping in Phase 3, the Energy Futures Lab aims to develop actionable and scalable solutions that help orient the province’s electricity landscape towards a system that is customer-driven, innovation focused, attractive to investors and which enhances Alberta’s future competitiveness by supporting regional growth industries and jobs they create.
“Technology alone will not be enough to solve the challenge of electrifying Alberta’s economy quickly and affordably,” says Alison Cretney, Managing Director of the Energy Futures Lab. “Change at this scale requires coordination at the highest levels of our electricity system. Supported by industry and policymakers seeking actionable, impactful and lasting solutions, Alberta’s Electricity Future Phase 3 utilizes the Lab’s trusted leadership in innovation to unlock the most promising collaborative solutions for a reliable, affordable and sustainable electricity system.”
“Electricity is the lifeblood of a modern economy, “ comments Peter Casurella, AEF Leadership Council member and Executive Director of SouthGrow Regional Initiative. “As a rural economic developer, I have a vested interest in ensuring that rural perspectives are considered as we determine how to prepare Alberta’s grid for significant growth in demand. I believe the Energy Futures Lab’s unique approach offers the greatest opportunity to create, implement and scale workable solutions that fairly represent everyone connected to the system—from rural economic regions, to transmission system owners, to residential electricity customers.”
CONTEXT OF THE WORK
Notably, this next phase begins as the Government of Alberta, Alberta Utilities Commission, and Alberta’s Electric System Operator (AESO) continue or commence their own consultations and processes for modernizing the province’s electricity system. The Energy Futures Lab’s process is not intended to be duplicative of existing efforts underway, but rather complementary and additive to ongoing work, contributing additional perspectives and analysis to the conversation.
For more information about the initiative or to learn more about how to get involved, please visit: energyfutureslab.com/innovations-challenges/albertas-electricity-future
