Advanced Clean Energy program: Grid integration

Photovoltaic arrays on NRC Vancouver's main office rooftop provide power to the microgrid facility.

The grid integration pillar of the National Research Council of Canada's (NRC) Advanced Clean Energy program aims to overcome the challenges associated with integrating advanced clean energy generation and storage technologies into the electrical grid and microgrids. This work supports the goals of meeting the energy needs of end-users while minimizing the use of fossil fuels. Our objective is to enable the development and commercialization of microgrids based on validated stakeholder needs to improve conventional power systems.

The grid integration pillar is organized into 3 primary areas of R&D:

• Renewables testing and validation: Assessing new technologies in a system environment at the NRC's Vancouver microgrid test facility to ensure that they meet the reliability and performance requirements of a wide range of end-users
• System integration and control: Investigating system-level configurations and optimization strategies to achieve high reliability while allowing maximum penetration of renewable power
• Energy resiliency: Identifying opportunities for microgrids to enhance resilience and lower operational risks in remote, harsh, and energy-limited settings such as regions that face conflict or must adjust to evolving energy demands due to extreme weather events.

Through initiatives such as the Advanced Microgrids towards Arctic Zero Emissions (AMAZE) project—where the NRC contributes modelling, emissions-measurement expertise, and northern research capabilities—this pillar also helps inform energy solutions that lower fuel use, enhance reliability, and strengthen operational sustainability for Arctic and defense applications.