We’re back from Enlit Europe in Paris!
The Trade and Learning Mission to Enlit Europe served as a remarkable platform for business development, collaboration, knowledge exchange, and networking for our Canadian delegation. SGIN is dedicated to promoting, identifying, and driving smart energy solutions in Canada, and Enlit Europe provided a unique learning opportunity to observe Europe’s advancements in accelerating the pace of change. We are eager to share our key lessons learned with our Members and implement these insights back in Canada. SGIN is proud to have led the 2023 Enlit Europe Canadian Delegation with an impressive mixture of 27 new and returning organizations from across the country.
Accompanying the SGIN delegation were advising consultants Tony Aggarwal, Martyn Staveley, Alastair Boyd, and Rodothea Moraiti from Kinetic Cubed (UK based), to lead the B2B program at Enlit Europe.
SGIN’s focus during this mission was centered on supporting our delegates business interests as well as developing international relationships and expanding our member network. SGIN focused on learning opportunities for technology and knowledge-based firms and organizations centered on smarter and more efficient energy transmission, storage, and usage. SGIN is actively working to make Canada a stronger player in those elements of the future energy supply chain, and this mission was a valuable learning opportunity for this.
Highlights of the week:
Site Visits to EDF, Business France & Canadian Embassy Networking Reception, and Think SmartGrids Roundtable.
The day before the opening of the Enlit Europe exhibition, the delegation spent the morning at the Réseau de Transport d’Électricité (RTE) headquarters in Paris for a roundtable workshop. Following RTE, our Canadian delegates had the pleasure of attending the Business France & Canadian Embassy Networking Reception to learn from French business leaders. Delegates ended the day with a roundtable hosted by Think Smartgrids on the theme “Resilience of the electrical system”, with speakers from RTE, SmartEn, Grenoble Polytechnic Institute, General Electric and EirGri.
Enlit Europe Conference & Exhibition – On November 28th – 30th delegates attended Enlit Europe and showcased their smart energy capabilities at the Canadian Pavilion, took in Summit sessions and walked the exhibition floor to explore & engage with some of the most innovative companies in Europe.
On November 29th, Greg Robart, P.Eng., CEO of Smart Grid Innovation Network Canada was interviewed by Enlit Europe and discussed Canada’s development of smart grids and the status of the electricity market in Canada. You can watch the full Interview here.
In the afternoon, The Honourable Mary NG – Minister of Export Promotion, International Trade & Economic Development visited the Canadian Pavilion. She had the opportunity to meet each delegate and learn about their smart energy solutions and technologies to help achieve the energy transition. Thank you Minister Ng for taking the time to present and engage with our delegation!
Site Visit to Enedis – On Thursday, November 28th, delegates visited Enedis for a networking reception, presentations, and tour of their labs. Enedis is the manager of the public electricity distribution network over 95% of continental France and ensures the operation, maintenance, and development of nearly 1.3 million kilometers of network every day. Delegates learned about the “Linky Project” which replaced 35 million residential meters with smart meters and set the foundation for France’s future smart grid.
Site Visit to Supergrid Institute in Lyon – SGIN closed out the energy mission by visiting the SuperGrid Institute in Lyon on Friday, Dec. 1. The Supergrid Institute. SuperGrid Institute is a privately owned company with expertise in high and medium voltage direct current (HVDC & MVDC) systems and technologies – key components for the energy networks of the future. Their work actively contributes to energy transition by removing the technical barriers facing the deployment of future power grids, known as “supergrids”. Their key activities:
- identify and address the technological challenges faced by our partners and customers.
- Co-develop solutions and products with European industrial and academic partners.
SuperGrid Institute believes in spreading the word on the importance – and the means – of contributing to the energy transition. Follow their Linkedin page to learn about their latest projects, products and services or upcoming events.
What’s next? SGIN has big plans to prepare for the next Enlit Europe event that will take place in Milan in October of 2024! SGIN’s top priority is to serve the needs of our members, communities, industry and the clean energy ecosystem. There is still a long way to go, but we believe in the power of collaboration in fostering Canada’s transition to reaching net zero. Become a member to stay up to date, participate in our upcoming trade missions similar to Enlit Europe, and join our many initiatives as they form and launch in the coming year. Become a Member today.
Meet the 2023 Delegation:
- Acme Engineering Products Ltd.
- Arcus Power
- Armstrong Fluid Technology
- BluWave-AI
- Eaton
- Enerza
- EnergyLink International
- ERLPhase
- Government of Alberta
- Government of Ontario
- ICTower
- Lowfoot Inc.
- NB Power
- NDB Technologies
- Opportunities NB
- Propak Systems Ltd. (IST Division)
- Saint John Energy
- Siemens
- Savoir-faire Linux
- Shimifrez Inc.
- SUBNET Solutions
- TEKTELIC
- Universite de Moncton
- University of New Brunswick
- Utilismart Corporation
- Viable Solutions Inc
- Vizimax
The opportunity for the Smart Grid Innovation Network Canada to lead the Enlit Europe Canadian Delegation was made possible thanks to the following funding sources:
- CanExport Associations Funded provided by the Trade Commissioner Service of the Government of Canada in partnership with the Embassy of Canada to France
- Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency
- The Government of Alberta
- The Government of Ontario
- The Government of Quebec