Electrification 4.0 Project
About the Project:
New Brunswick (NB) has the potential to improve its position nationally and globally as a clean energy leader. Basic awareness at the provincial, community and youth level is low. Traditional working approaches are designed to keep steady state, while innovative ways of working are needed to enable change for economic benefit of the province.
The Electrification 4.0 project is a comprehensive initiative advancing smart energy solutions in New Brunswick spanning multiple workstreams throughout the province, accelerating the path to resilient and affordable economic prosperity, skills repurposing, and economic development in NB. Led by the Smart Grid Innovation Network (SGIN) and supported by the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA), the project represents a strategic and transformative initiative aimed at accelerating electrification and smart energy deployment in NB.
The project emerges at a critical moment in Canada’s energy history. Traditional energy systems, designed for a centralized and fossil fuel-dependent model, are increasingly inadequate for meeting contemporary energy demands and environmental objectives. The Electrification 4.0 Project recognizes that achieving a sustainable energy future requires more than technological innovation—it demands a holistic approach that integrates technological solutions, policy reforms, workforce development, and community engagement.
This project supported industry, government and communities with smart grid development through various programs and initiatives for the exponential electrification of the region’s ecosystem, grid edge implementation of smart energy technologies deployment, the establishment of a smart energy collaboration network and of a smart energy Knowledge Hub in NB.
SGIN’s objective as written in the contract with ACOA is to accelerate NB’s electrification and increase the implementation of smart energy technologies. To meet these objectives ACOA identified distinct deliverables in the contract. Through multiple interconnected workstreams, the project explores key areas essential to Canada’s energy transformation. These include developing collaborative networks, advancing provincial and community electrification strategies, enhancing grid edge technologies, fostering knowledge exchange, and addressing workforce skills development. Each workstream contributes unique insights into the challenges and opportunities presented by the transition to a low-carbon energy system.
The project’s scope is intentionally broad, acknowledging that the energy transition is not a linear process but a complex, multidimensional challenge. By engaging diverse stakeholders, including utilities, government bodies, academic institutions, Indigenous communities, and small to medium-sized enterprises, the Electrification 4.0 Project created a more inclusive, resilient, and adaptive energy infrastructure.
This report documents the findings, strategies, and recommendations developed through extensive research, community engagement, and collaborative efforts. It serves not only as a record of the project’s achievements but also as a blueprint for future action, offering valuable insights for policymakers, industry leaders, and community stakeholders committed to advancing Canada’s clean energy future.
The workstreams are grouped by the following four pillars: Beneficial Electrification, Grid Edge Implementation Support, Smart Energy Collaboration Network, Knowledge Hub. These pillars are depicted in the following image.
What We Heard:
The Electrification 4.0 project included an Indigenous and public engagement campaign titled the “Clean Energy Transition Listening Series”, the results of which are summarized within this report.
The expected outcomes from this work were to provide a non-partizan, open perspective on how energy decisions are made in the province. This information will provide the planning activities of the utilities, department of energy, other government departments and industry a window into the perspectives of those who took part.
To strengthen the engagement efforts, SGIN has collaborated with the following organizations to connect and report on the feedback we heard during this project:
- Clean Energy Connections Inc.
- North Shore Mi’kmaq Tribal Council
- University of New Brunswick
- Portfolio
A literature review of New Brunswick related energy surveys and reports was completed to understand the scope of earlier bodies of work and expose common elements previously found. Building on the contributions of these pieces of work, we identified four themes consistent throughout that have the opportunity for improvement to support New Brunswick’s clean energy transition:
- Trust and Confidence
- Communication and Collaboration
- Workforce Attraction and Retention
- Clean Energy as an Economic Driver
Over the course of 17 in-person and virtual engagement sessions, 420 respondents provided feedback on these four themes as they relate to energy in the province with the intention of moving from barriers to progress.
Click here to read the “What We Heard” Report.
Questions? contact info@sgin.ca