University of Regina unveils province's 1st microgrid lab for clean energy research
The Microgrid Living Lab, a first-of-its-kind facility in the province, was launched as a hub for clean energy research, development and education in Saskatchewan.
"About six per cent of generated power is lost in transmission. So in microgrids, we don't have that," said Irfan Al-Anbagi, an associate professor in electronic systems engineering and the lab's director.
The lab functions off the main power grid. It's capable of generating, storing and distributing its own electricity, according to the university.
"Everything is located in one area: generation, storage and control, and loads," Al-Anbagi said.
"So less power dissipation, less power burned out in transmission. And this can be beneficial to locations where you have difficulty supplying power and you can utilize renewable generation as well in these locations."
The lab draws power from renewable sources including solar panels, wind and hydro power. It emulates how microgrids could perform in real-world conditions, with the hope of identify more sustainable and flexible models for powering homes, businesses and remote communities in the province, the university says.
Al-Anbagi said. "Supplying electricity to these locations can be expensive and hard and sometimes impossible."
Multiple functions
Al-Anbagi expects the microgrid to play a major role in teaching, experimental setups and research.
"Currently I have two students, my colleague has two students. So in the future, we want to increase that number," Al-Anbagi said.
He hopes students will use the micogrid as a hands-on tool.
"The students appreciate the concept when they come and see it, compared to when they look at it in pictures, and they can also do some lab experiments."
Al-Anbagi has also reached out to small- and medium-sized enterprises in the city that may be interested in using the lab for their own development and testing.
"If an organization or company develops solar panels and they want to integrate the power into the control system, do real-time monitoring, real-time connectivity, they're welcome to use this system," Al-Anbagi said.
The lab currently generates 10 kilowatts of solar power, enough to power a residential building or multiple homes. When the energy isn't being used for teaching or research, it's stored in "islanded mode," meaning it's kept separate from the university's main power grid.
"We don't want to disrupt the main power supply of the university," Al-Anbagi said.
"I think it's safer to disconnect the microgrid from the main university supply to do our own experiments."
That energy is sometimes then sent into the university system to help power lights, air conditioning and other infrastructure.
Powering Saskatchewan
The biggest potential for the lab lies not in its present use, but in how it could shape the future of energy in Saskatchewan, according to Al-Anbagi.
The province's unique energy challenges, from isolated northern communities to growing urban centers, make it a prime testing ground for microgrid solutions, he said.
"It's not a lot of power, but I think it adds up," Al-Anbagi said.
While microgrids aren't entirely new to Western Canada, this marks the first fully functional one of its kind in Saskatchewan.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
CBC
4 minutes ago
- CBC
AOL ends its dial-up service, an early internet relic still used in some remote areas
AOL is discontinuing its dial-up service, which helped millions of households connect to the web during the internet's formative years and was instantly recognizable for its beep-laden, scratch-heavy ring tone in the 1990s and early 2000s. The company, which once dominated as the world's largest internet provider, confirmed the move to CBC News on Sunday, saying it would discontinue dial-up as a subscription option on Sept. 30 "as we innovate to meet the needs of today's digital landscape." Dial-up services were a mainstay of the early internet — as famously depicted in the 1998 romantic comedy You've Got Mail — and involved using a phone line to connect devices to the web. Those of a certain age will recall that this meant choosing between your landline and your internet access. The company, which offered the service to customers in Canada and the U.S., didn't offer details about its existing dial-up clients. With much-speedier broadband internet access now the standard for web connection in North America, the end of dial-up service raises the question of who was still using it. "There are many parts of rural Canada that still do not have reliable access or any access to high-speed internet connectivity. And for them, dial-up is their only alternative," said technology analyst Carmi Levy in an interview with CBC News. "There are a number of regional or local players across the country that still provide low-cost dial-up access. The problem here is that the base, the internet as we know it, is no longer built for dial-up access. And so it's a technology that time really has passed by," Levy said. According to a CRTC report published earlier this year, 95 per cent of Canadians have access to high-speed internet. But broadband coverage in the country's three territories, as well as in rural areas and on First Nations reserves, is still catching up with the rest of Canada. CBC News reached out to the CRTC to ask how many Canadians are still making use of dial-up services, which falls under the "fixed internet" umbrella that the regulator tracks. Data from the U.S. Census Bureau estimated that about 163,000 households were using dial-up exclusively for internet service in 2023. "This isn't gonna affect a lot of people, but if you're one of those people who simply never transitioned off, it's pretty seismic," added Levy. "It means that at the end of September, you're losing the only access to the internet that you've ever known." Canada's major telecoms are scaling up fibre-optic networks for internet connectivity because they're capable of transferring data at high speeds and tend to be cost-effective. Satellite services — including SpaceX's Starlink — are also sometimes used for high-speed internet in rural and remote areas. Dana Ditomaso, a technology analyst in Victoria, B.C., noted that satellite coverage isn't always reliable or fulsome in less populated areas. "Especially if it's mountainous or there's a lot of trees, even satellite internet isn't going to work all that well because you need a clear line to the satellite," she noted. That's where the gap filled by dial-up services might exist — but Ditomaso doesn't expect any nostalgia-fuelled revival of the technology. "It's not gonna be like vinyl records, and people are like, 'I really want that dial-up experience,' you know?" she said.
Globe and Mail
an hour ago
- Globe and Mail
Verizon Gains 6.5% in Six Months: Should You Invest in VZ Stock?
Verizon Communications has gained 6.5% in the past six months compared with the Wireless National industry's growth of 2.3%. The stock has also outperformed the S&P 500 index during this time period. Image Source: Zacks Investment Research The company has underperformed its peers like AT&T Inc. T but outperformed Charter CommunicationsCHTR. Shares of AT&T have gained 10.8%, while Charter shares have declined 27.6% during this period. VZ's Key Growth Drivers Verizon is benefiting from solid momentum in wireless verticals. During the second quarter, the wireless service revenue grew 2.2% year over year to $20.9 billion. The wireless equipment revenue was up by 25.2% year over year to $6.3 billion. The company continues to gain broadband market share with best-in-class fixed wireless access and Fios offerings. Verizon's broadband net adds were 293K, while fixed wireless access net additions were 278K. Verizon's multi-dimensional strategy is driving steady user growth. It is doubling down on fiber broadband expansion across the country. The acquisition of Frontier Communications is set to add 2.2 million fiber customers across 25 states. Verizon's broadband connections surged 12.2% year over year to 12.9 million during the quarter. Verizon has been undertaking several steps to augment its brand visibility. The company has formed a strategic collaboration with retail chain Staples. Under this partnership, Verizon Kiosks will be rolled out across 35 Staples stores across key U.S. markets. These kiosks will offer various services such as setting up reliable Internet in customer's home and businesses, free tech consultation, device upgrades and more. Verizon has steadily expanded its retail footprint over the past few years. But the recent moves suggest that it's now diversifying its traditional setup of Verizon retail stores. The collaboration with Staples will enable Verizon to tap into Staple's core customer base, which is small businesses. Such initiatives to boost brand visibility and accessibility among customers augur well for long-term growth. Key Challenges for Verizon Verizon has splurged in the C-Band auction, which is offering airwaves in the 3.7 gigahertz-to-4.2 gigahertz area of spectrum to acquire key mid-band spectrum for potential 5G deployments in the next few years. The company also recorded high capital expenditures in order to support the deployment of significant fiber assets across the country and upgrade to the Intelligent Edge Network architecture. It remains unclear if and when a reasonable return can be achieved from such investments. The intensely competitive and highly saturated nature of the U.S. wireless market is driving up the customer acquisition costs. In a bid to expand its customer base, Verizon is spending heavily on promotion and is also offering lucrative discounts, which are weighing on margins. During the second quarter of 2025, Verizon registered 62,000 Fios Video net losses. This is worrisome. Other prominent players like AT&T and Charter are also doubling down on fiber network expansion. Charter has pledged to invest $7 billion to add 100,000+ miles of fiber-optic network infrastructure. The company intends to deliver multigigabit and symmetrical Internet services across 1.7 million locations. AT&T is set to acquire Lumen's fiber connectivity business for $5.75 billion. Following the completion of the buyout, AT&T will acquire 1 million fiber customers and 4 million fiber locations across 11 U.S. states. Such initiatives from competitors are expected to bring significant challenges to Verizon's fiber expansion initiatives. Estimate Revision Trend of VZ Earnings estimate for 2025 has increased 0.21% to $4.7 over the past 60 days, while the same for 2026 has improved 1.44% to $4.93. Image Source: Zacks Investment Research Key Valuation Metric of VZ From a valuation standpoint, VZ appears to be trading relatively cheaper compared to the industry and trading below its mean. Going by the price/earnings ratio, the company's shares currently trade at 8.91 forward earnings, lower than 13.48 for the industry but lower than the stock's mean of 8.97. Image Source: Zacks Investment Research End Note Verizon is expected to gain from solid demand for wireless services in the near term. The company's strong focus on customer service and the launch of innovative AI-powered solutions are driving customer growth. Growth in free cash flow highlights efficient capital management. Upward estimate revision underscores growing investors' confidence. Strong operational execution, combined with favorable tax reforms, is a tailwind for Verizon in 2025. However, growing competition in the wireless market continues to weigh on margins. Macroeconomic headwinds remain a concern. With a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold), VZ appears to be treading in the middle of the road, and new investors could be better off if they trade with caution. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here. See our %%CTA_TEXT%% report – free today! Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report This article originally published on Zacks Investment Research ( Zacks Investment Research
CBC
an hour ago
- CBC
Automaker Ford hits pedal on EV production with $2B US overhaul of U.S. plant
Ford Motor Co. will invest nearly $2 billion US retooling a Kentucky factory to produce electric vehicles (EV) that it says will be more affordable, more profitable to build, and will out compete rival models. The automaker's top executive unveiled the new EV strategy at Ford's Louisville Assembly Plant which, after producing gas-powered vehicles for 70 years, will be converted to manufacture electric vehicles. "In our careers, as automobile people we're lucky if we get to work on one, maybe two, projects that really change the face of our industry," CEO Jim Farley told plant workers in Kentucky on Monday. "And I believe today is going to light the match as one of those projects for all of us here." The Big Detroit automakers have continued to transition from internal combustion engines to EV technology even as President Donald Trump's administration unwinds incentives for automakers to go electric. Trump's massive tax and spending law targets EV incentives, including the imminent removal of a credit that saves buyers up to $7,500 US on a new electric car. Yet Farley and other top executives in the auto industry say that electric vehicles are the future and there is no going back. The first EV to roll off the revamped Louisville assembly line will be a midsize, four-door electric pickup truck in 2027 for domestic and international markets, the company said Monday. Ford Motor Co. CEO Jim Farley poses next to a 2021 Ford F-150 pickup truck while in Michigan. (Rebecca Cook/Reuters) The new electric trucks will be powered by lower-cost batteries made at a Ford factory in Michigan. The Detroit automaker previously announced a $3 billion US investment to build the battery factory. The automaker sees this as a "Model T moment" for its EV business - a reference to revolutionary changes on the production line led by the company's founder, Henry Ford, when it began churning out vehicles from a factory more than a century ago. Farley said the changes will will upend how electric vehicles are made in the U.S. "It represents the most radical change on how we design and how we build vehicles at Ford since the Model-T," Farley said. The company said it will use a universal platform and production system for its EVs, essentially the underpinning of a vehicle that can be applied across a wide range of models. Workers assemble a truck at the Louisville Ford truck plant in Kentucky in 2016. (Bryan Woolston/Reuters) The Louisville factory is one of two Ford assembly plants in Kentucky's largest city. It will be revamped to cut production costs and make assembly time faster as it's prepared to churn out electric vehicles. The result will be "an affordable electric vehicle that we expect to be profitable," Farley said in an interview with The Associated Press ahead of the announcement. "This is an example of us rejuvenating our U.S. plants with the most modern manufacturing techniques." The new platform enables a lineup of affordable vehicles to be produced at scale, Ford said. It will reduce parts by 20 per cent versus a typical vehicle, with 25 per cent fewer fasteners, 40 per cent fewer workstations dock-to-dock in the plant and a 15 per cent faster assembly time, Ford said. The traditional assembly line will be transformed into an "assembly tree" at the Louisville plant, it said. Instead of one long conveyor, three sub-assembly lines will operate simultaneously and then join together, it said. Other specifications for the midsize electric truck — including its reveal date, starting price, EPA-estimated battery range, battery sizes and charge times — will be announced later, the company said. Ford revealed in its release that the truck will have a targeted starting price of about $30,000 US. Ford said its investment in the Louisville plant will secure 2,200 hourly jobs. Ford Motor Co. says the new platform enables a lineup of affordable vehicles to be produced at scale. (Chris Young/The Canadian Press) Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear said Monday that the automaker's plans for the Louisville plant will strengthen a more than century-old partnership between Ford and the Bluegrass State. "This announcement not only represents one of the largest investments on record in our state, it also boosts Kentucky's position at the center of EV-related innovation and solidifies Louisville Assembly Plant as an important part of Ford's future," Beshear said. Ford said its combined investment of about $5 billion US at the Kentucky assembly plant and Michigan battery plant is expected to create or secure nearly 4,000 direct jobs between the two plants while strengthening the domestic supply chain with dozens of new U.S.-based suppliers. Ford previously forecast weaker earnings growth for this year and further losses in its electric vehicles business as it works to control costs. Model e, Ford's electric vehicle business, posted a full-year loss of $5.08 billion for 2024 as revenue fell 35 per cent to $3.9 billion. Ford's new EV strategy comes as Chinese automakers are quickly expanding across the globe, offering relatively affordable electric vehicles. "We're not in a race to build the most electric cars," Farley told the AP when asked about competition from China. "We're in a race to have a sustainable electric business that's profitable, that customers love. "And this new vehicle built in Louisville, Kentucky, is going to be a much better solution to anything that anyone can buy from China," he added.
