City of Medicine Hat joins the Next Generation Energy Innovation Challenge

Medicine Hat – On July 17, 2023, Medicine Hat City Council voted in favor of investing up to $850,000 to participate in the Next Generation Energy Innovation Challenge, a three-year project designed to develop capacity that supports Alberta energy transition and diversifies the energy economy.

The challenge is spearheaded by Decentralized Energy Canada (DEC) and leverages provincial and federal investment in demonstration projects to create jobs and improve the competitiveness of Alberta’s energy businesses and communities. This collaboration closely aligns with City Council strategic priorities of supporting and implementing energy transition opportunities to meet the Government of Canada’s Emissions Reduction Plan and net-zero decarbonization targets.

Grayson Mauch, the City’s Director of Utility Distribution Systems, says Medicine Hat is known as an innovator within the energy field demonstrated through past initiatives such as early adoption of natural gas electrical generation, early adoption of automated metering infrastructure, the award-winning HAT Smart program, wind powered renewable generation, distributed generation installations on select corporate facilities, and past solar collector pilot innovation projects.

“This innovative spirit attracts other like-minded organizations to our community seeking energy-based project and collaboration opportunities,” said Mauch. “It was only natural that the DEC would consider Medicine Hat as a project partner for this challenge.”

The Next Generation Energy Innovation Challenge involves three main phases. The first is the Innovation Challenge where the City of Medicine Hat and Decentralized Energy Canada will collaboratively develop challenge statements to address a certain challenge or problem in our area as it relates to the energy transition and invite proponents to submit proposals in response to the challenge statements.

In the second phase, up to six successful applicants will be invited to demonstrate their innovative solutions with small-scale pilot projects within the City of Medicine Hat franchise territory.

The City of Medicine Hat will provide 50 per cent of the capital requirements for each project, up to $850,000 in total for all six projects, funded through reserves. 

The third and final phase is the Investment Challenge where the six demonstrators can compete to secure additional funding to further develop their innovation. This portion of the challenge is carried out by the DEC and does not require City of Medicine Hat participation.

“In our view, participation in this program not only provides the opportunity to test upcoming technology to help in our own local energy transition, but also provides recognition at a national and international level that can attract potential investment and economic development opportunities for our community and region,” adds Mauch.

The project will begin September 1, 2023 and is expected to conclude August 31, 2026.

About Decentralized Energy Canada
Decentralized Energy Canada (DEC) was established in 2003 and is registered under Canada’s Not-for-Profit Corporations Act. The DEC’s objective is to unite Canada’s decentralized energy industry, supporting innovation throughout the industry ecosystem by connecting innovators and entrepreneurs to business development opportunities both nationally and internationally. Since 2003, the DEC has built a network of over 10,000 technology companies, entrepreneurs, engineering firms, municipalities, and investors with the objective of empowering a healthy green economy throughout Canada.

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