The Province of British Columbia, alongside BC Hydro, has launched a “pioneering pilot project” to support housing for the region’s rapidly rising population.
In what is being described as a “Canadian first,” the new initiative from the Province and BC Hydro targets the electrification of multi-unit residential buildings.
The project aims to utilize a smart panel developed by Burnaby-based Evectrix, which received investment from both the Province’s Innovative Clean Energy Fund and BC Hydro’s Energy Efficiency Plan.
Evectrix’s device transforms a conventional breaker panel into a “smart hub” that manages real-time energy usage, eliminating the need to upgrade from a 200-amp to a 400-amp service, even in a six-unit development.
“Advanced technology projects like the smart panel will help to create electricity systems that are efficient, resilient, and responsive to people’s needs,” commented Brenda Bailey, MLA for Vancouver-South Granville.
The move comes as housing in the province continues to densify, with single-family housing increasingly giving way to duplexes, fourplexes and sixplexes, which require significant electrical upgrades.
“We will continue to partner with local technology companies to help strengthen our grid and cut energy costs for British Columbians,” Bailey said.
The new smart panel can dynamically manage load at the suite level, helping avoid overcapacity while unlocking savings.
The project represents a scalable model for retrofitting, according to Chris O’Riley, chief executive officer of BC Hydro.
“This technology pilot is a potential game-changer for accelerating clean-energy adoption in multi-unit housing,” believes O’Riley, who wants to make “densification more accessible.”
Adrian Dix, minister of climate solutions for B.C., says partnering with local technology providers helps “make clean energy more accessible.”
“We’re proud to support made-in-B.C. solutions that reduce emissions, strengthen our grid and lower energy costs for residents,” he stated.
With special permission from the City of Vancouver, the project is currently being battle-tested at a building on Chestnut Street.
“We’re proud to bring B.C.-made innovation to life through this first-of-its-kind, electrified six-townhouse project, proving that homeowners can electrify and decarbonize without the burden of costly service upgrades,” remarked Kambiz Pishghadam Ghaeni, who serves Evectrix as chief operating officer.
“With meaningful support from the Province and in close collaboration with the BC Hydro team, our intelligent load management technology is unlocking a scalable, affordable and future-ready path to electrify homes and multi-unit buildings throughout the province,” Ghaeni stated.
Earlier this year, BC Hydro powered ten new renewable energy projects, including wind and solar farms, in a move that boosted the entity’s electricity supply by 8%.