MaRS client Prolucid Technologies awarded nearly $900,000 from Ontario’s Smart Grid Fund

Set to demonstrate embedded intelligence grid solution at Toronto’s Exhibition Place

Toronto, June 11, 2012 – MaRS client Prolucid Technologies Inc., a Toronto-based software engineering firm, today announced that it has been awarded $887,820 from Ontario’s Smart Grid Fund. The company will use the award to demonstrate its embedded LocalGrid™ software at Exhibition Place.

“By integrating IT into the energy network, Prolucid’s initiative and others like it will help improve the efficiency, flexibility and reliability of the distribution network and incorporate intermittent renewable energy,” said Jon Dogterom, Practice Lead, Cleantech, Advanced Materials and Engineering at MaRS. “It is great to see utilities and government exploring the possibilities here in Ontario, and exciting to think of the export opportunities that will exist if we start nurturing these kinds of innovations here.”

Over a two-year demonstration period, starting later this year, Prolucid will build an integrated network of intelligent grid devices to manage, monitor and control the power grid at Exhibition Place, an ideal site due to its high public profile and its current mix of energy generation devices, including solar, wind and CHP (co-generation heat and power).

The project will integrate these existing devices using the latest grid communication protocols, providing Toronto Hydro-Electric System Limited (“Toronto Hydro”) with an unprecedented level of detail about power quality, load, capacity and generation output across the network, thereby helping to optimize the generation and consumption of power on the local grid at Exhibition Place, and improve the quality and reliability of power in Toronto. “Toronto Hydro is excited to be part of this innovative project. It should allow us to bring more green energy projects online,” said Richard Ford, Manager, Grid Solutions, Toronto Hydro.

“This funding and the demonstration project ensure that Ontario will continue to lead in the development of smart grid technology,” said Bob Leigh, President, Prolucid Technologies Inc. “Utilities globally face significant challenges to change the model of power consumption, reducing greenhouse gases and increasing the efficiency of the grid. The technology Prolucid is developing will allow utilities to rapidly upgrade their grid and move forward with better, greener solutions.“

In an effort to develop viable grid solutions that will ultimately reduce the cost of building a new, smarter electricity grid and increase the connection of clean, renewable energy into Ontario’s generation mix, Prolucid has partnered with: Toronto Hydro; National Instruments (NI); Ciufo & Cooperberg Inc.; and Windshare, the cooperative that owns and operates the Exhibition Place wind turbine with Toronto Hydro.

The software and hardware platform – based on NI’s CompactRIO technology – will allow Prolucid and Toronto Hydro to rapidly prototype, develop and deploy technologies that are designed to meet the requirements of the local grid, while also providing greater technology headroom for future requirements that have yet to be developed.

About Prolucid Technologies Inc.
Prolucid provides software engineering and product commercialization services, specializing in complex, mission critical, embedded systems that transform the way our clients do business. Our grid technology enables real-time management and control of power distribution to maximize the utilization of existing assets on the local grid for a fraction of new infrastructure costs. Prolucid is the winner of the 2011 Profit Hot 50 award and the BDO Business Value award. Prolucid is also a Silver Alliance Partner with National Instruments, partnering with them to develop grid solutions based on the NI CompactRIO product line.

About MaRS
MaRS Discovery District (Twitter: @MaRSDD) is a mission-driven innovation centre located in Toronto. MaRS works with partners to catalyze, accelerate and amplify innovation. MaRS supports entrepreneurs building Canada’s next generation of growth companies.

For more information, contact:

Chris Stevenson
Director, Communications
(416) 673-8104
cstevenson@marsdd.com