The B.C. Centre for Innovation and Clean Energy (CICE) — which provides early-stage, non-dilutive investment to fast-track the commercialization of British Columbia’s most impactful clean energy solutions — announced today a strategic collaboration with crown corporation BC Hydro. Their joint call for energy storage innovations will provide up to $3 million in funding for projects focused on commercializing scalable electricity storage and grid solutions, aiming to advance the province's decarbonization and electrification efforts.

“BC Hydro’s collaboration with CICE presents a unique opportunity for British Columbia to lead in developing and implementing innovative grid solutions,” said Chris O’Riley, president and CEO of BC Hydro. “Together, we are committed to identifying projects that will enable clean and renewable electricity, like wind and solar, and enhance reliability by providing more flexibility in how we manage our customers’ needs and our grid, as our customers look to use more clean power.”

From the provincial government’s statistics, B.C.'s electricity use is projected to double by 2050. The region is estimated to require an increase in power generation of up to 2.6 times and a capacity expansion of up to 2.9 times. This growth is driven by factors such as an expanding population, a boost in economic development, and the transition away from greenhouse gas-emitting energy sources like fossil fuels. While B.C. currently boasts one of the cleanest grids in the world, clean energy accounts for only 20 percent of its total energy use.

The call for energy storage innovation is open to all Canadian companies developing projects across B.C. 

CICE is particularly keen on initiatives that can have a global impact and which could be applied to various locations. These include energy storage, grid management, microgrids, distributed energy resources, hybrid systems, integrated energy systems, sensing technologies, power electronics (for processing, controlling, and converting electric power), and flexible generation (adjusting output to meet grid demand).

As for BC Hydro, it highlighted that priority will be given to projects that support its battery and energy storage incentive programs. It will also look for initiatives that offer a range of benefits in terms of affordability, reliability, and community resilience through demonstrations, pilots, strategies, or business models.

To be considered, applicants must be a Canadian company that has projects located within the province of British Columbia, and must demonstrate their ability to complete those projects through "effective management, operational capabilities, and robust financial backing." Submissions open today and will close on February 28, 2025.

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