How Summerside Uses AI to Maximize Wind and Solar Power

Since 2018, the City of Summerside has partnered with BluWave-ai to implement Canada's first real-time AI energy dispatch system. This collaboration aims to enhance the integration and utilization of renewable energy sources, including wind and solar, within the city's power grid. The initiative has positioned Summerside as a leader in AI-driven renewable energy management.

Key Facts

• Sector: Renewable Energy / Smart Grid
• AI Application: Real-time energy dispatch and optimization
• Technologies Used: Artificial Intelligence, IoT sensors, energy storage systems
• Technology Partner(s): BluWave-ai
• Timeline: Partnership initiated in 2018; ongoing developments
• Lead Stakeholder: City of Summerside
• Funding: Combination of municipal investment and federal funding

Project Context

Summerside, a city with a peak energy demand of approximately 35 MW, has been proactive in adopting renewable energy solutions to reduce reliance on imported electricity and fossil fuels. The collaboration with BluWave-ai focuses on utilizing AI to manage the variability of renewable energy sources, ensuring efficient and reliable power distribution.

Implementation

The partnership has led to several key implementations:

• AI-Enabled Energy Dispatch: Deployment of BluWave-ai's Smart Grid Optimizer to predict and manage energy generation and consumption in real-time, optimizing the use of wind and solar resources.
• Integration of Energy Storage: Incorporation of battery storage systems to store excess renewable energy, allowing for its use during peak demand periods and enhancing grid stability.
• Smart Grid Infrastructure: Establishment of a smart grid framework that integrates various energy assets, including solar farms and wind turbines, with AI-driven control systems.

Impact

The AI-driven energy management system has yielded significant benefits:

• Increased Renewable Energy Utilization: Enhanced ability to predict and dispatch renewable energy has led to a higher percentage of local energy consumption being sourced from renewables.
• Cost Savings: Optimization of energy dispatch has resulted in reduced energy procurement costs and operational efficiencies.
• Economic Growth: The initiative has attracted over $6 million in commercial revenue, federal funding, and foreign investment, bolstering the local economy.

Why It Matters

Summerside's collaboration with BluWave-ai exemplifies how small cities can leverage AI and renewable energy technologies to achieve energy independence and sustainability. This model demonstrates the potential for AI-driven solutions to optimize energy systems, reduce carbon footprints, and stimulate economic development in communities of varying sizes.

Sources

AI Collaboration Sparks Renewable Energy Growth in Summerside: https://theaiinsider.tech/2025/03/14/ai-collaboration-sparks-renewable-energy-growth-in-summerside-pei/

BluWave-ai and Sunbank Enable Dispatchable Renewables: https://www.newswire.com/news/bluwave-ai-and-sunbank-an-independent-power-producer-enable-22237780