Emera Technologies and Novonix Partner Up for Microgrid Battery

Nova Scotia-based Emera Technologies, a subsidiary of Emera, and Halifax-based Novonix, a leading battery materials, and technology company, announced the delivery of their pioneering, custom-designed microgrid battery prototype.

The two market leading companies initially broke the news of their partnership for the development of innovative battery storage technology in Halifax at the start of 2021. 

The first prototype was developed by Novonix to aid Emera Technologies’ residential microgrid system, BlockEnergy, which is currently operational in a residential pilot project to the south of Florida’s Tampa.

“Innovation and emerging technologies will be key to shaping a viable path to a cleaner energy future, particularly as we work toward our vision to achieve net-zero CO2 emissions by 2050,” said Scott Balfour, President and Chief Executive Officer, Emera. “We’re proud to be collaborating with Novonix on this leading-edge, purpose-built, and utility-grade battery solution, and even prouder that this technology was conceived and built right here in Atlantic Canada.”

“We’re continually innovating and investing in technologies that deliver high-performance battery materials to support longer life batteries and advanced storage systems,” said Dr. Chris Burns, Co-Founder and CEO, Novonix. “Our work with Emera for their BlockEnergy residential microgrid opens the gateway to exciting new possibilities for a cleaner, more reliable power grid with renewables being produced, stored, and consumed within local communities. It will change the landscape of how we produce and consume energy going forward.”

The BlockEnergy microgrid system connects homes in a shared energy network, enabling rooftop solar power to be seamlessly stored and dispersed to the entire community through smart distributed controls.

As the companies work with research partner Sandia National Laboratory in the US, testing of the microgrid battery prototype is expected to be completed later this year.