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History
On Sept. 1, 2010, Toronto Metropolitan (Formerly Ryerson) University president Sheldon Levy announced the creation of the Centre for Urban Energy (CUE). The administration's intention was to provide "a unique research and technology demonstration centre devoted to the discovery and commercialization of innovative, practical solutions to urban energy issues."
The creation of CUE was supported by $7 million in funds from its principal sponsors: Toronto Hydro, Hydro One, and the Ontario Power Authority (now part of the Independent Electricity System Operator). Hydro One and Toronto Hydro each committed $2.5 million over five years, while the Ontario Power Authority pledged to provide up to $2 million during that same period.
"The Centre for Urban Energy will directly address energy and environmental issues that affect every one of us, every day," said Levy.
Milestones
2010
- Toronto Metropolitan (formerly Ryerson) University announces the creation of CUE (external link, opens in new window) with $7 million in support from our founding sponsors: Hydro One, the Ontario Power Authority (now part of the Independent Electricity System Operator) and Toronto Hydro.
2011
- In May, CUE opens its doors at 147 Dalhousie St. for the first time. Professor Bala Venkatesh is appointed as the centre’s academic director.
- Sixteen industry-driven research projects led by Ryerson (Toronto Metropolitan) faculty get underway.
- CUE wins an Ontario Research Fund Research Excellence award worth $1.4 million to work on future urban electric systems.
2012
- CUE develops the Certificate in Energy Management and Innovation with Ryerson’s (Toronto Metropolitan's) G. Raymond Chang School of Continuing Education to help address the projected shortage of workers in the electricity industry.
- CUE launches the iCUE (now Clean Energy Zone), Canada’s first business incubator and accelerator devoted to energy-focused startups.
- CUE also (PDF file) establishes a partnership with Anna University in Chennai, India to develop a joint centre for research and collaboration in urban energy.
2013
- The Ontario Ministry of Energy and Schneider Electric announce funding to build a smart grid laboratory at CUE, the first of its kind in a university setting anywhere in Canada.
2014
- In the aftermath of the December 2013 ice storm, CUE releases a major report on lessons from the event, including recommendations on how utilities, policy makers and communities can prepare for extreme weather events in the future.
- Paul Murphy, past president and CEO of the Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO) chairs a series of roundtable discussions on the transformation of the electricity distribution sector in Ontario.
2015
- The Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) awards CUE with a grant worth $5 million over five years to create a nationwide research network focused on advancing energy storage. The NSERC Energy Storage Technology Network (NESTNet) comprises 24 projects, 15 universities, 27 professors, 26 partners and over 100 students.
- The IESO provides CUE with funding through its Conservation Fund for three full-time IESO Research Fellows to conduct original research on the challenges facing Ontario’s electricity sector.
- The Schneider Electric Smart Grid Laboratory is officially unveiled by Ontario Minister of Energy Bob Chiarelli, Ryerson (Toronto Metropolitan) president Sheldon Levy and Schneider Electric vice president Léonce Fraser.
2016
- CUE signs a new four-year research agreement with Toronto Hydro worth $1.6 million to undertake projects on electrical distribution systems.
- CUE launches a Professional Master’s Diploma in Energy and Innovation intended to provide participants with the knowledge and skills required to function in the fast-growing and rapidly changing Canadian energy sector.
- CUE and Toronto Hydro pilot a homegrown grid-scale battery system in downtown Toronto.
2017
- CUE partners with Tata Power Delhi Distribution Limited and the Ontario Ministry of Energy to develop a clean energy roadmap for Delhi, India that will also provide export opportunities for made-in-Ontario technologies.
- CUE partners with Toronto Hydro and eCAMION to pilot the world's first pole-mounted energy storage system, a project funded in part by Ontario's Smart Grid Fund.
- Plug'n Drive moves into new purpose-built headquarters, while another Clean Energy Zone company, SWTCH, is awarded the Lieutenant Governor's Visionaries Prize.
2018
- Schneider Electric announces $1 million in funding to build the Smart Building Analytics Living Lab, a new research facility at the frontier of energy efficiency.
- CUE’s pole-mounted energy storage project, a collaboration with Toronto Hydro, eCAMION and the Ontario Ministry of Energy, is recognized by the Canadian Electricity Association's Centre of Excellence.
- CUE signs a new agreement with the IESO to embark on energy storage and transactive energy systems research.
- CUE is chosen as host for the 18th edition of IEEE Canada's Electrical Power and Energy Conference, the first time that the prestigious event has taken place in Toronto.
2019
- On Feb. 14, CUE's new home, the Centre for Urban Innovation at 44 Gerrard St. East, is officially opened by Finance Minister Bill Morneau.
- With support from the IESO and Mitacs, CUE creates a world-first research lab focused on transactive energy. The Transactive Energy Distribution System Laboratory allows researchers to test and analyze new market-based peer-to-peer electricity models.
2020
- CUE remains fully operational during the COVID-19 pandemic, with staff, students, researchers and Clean Energy Zone entrepreneurs working remotely.
- NESTNet culminates with two virtual events highlighting the network's impact over the previous five years: A technical conference, exclusive to network members, and Leading the Charge Conference, which is open to the business community and wider public. Over 200 people participated.
2021
- CUE marks its 10th anniversary with a special series of features, stories and events under the banner "10 Years On."
- Clean Energy Expo was conducted by CUE to mark its 10th anniversary with over 110 attendees across 7 countries.
- Leading the Charge Conference with over 110 participants from various sectors across 9 countries providing an optimistic outlook for the energy sector.
2022
- CUE received funding for two five-year projects through project partners, TMU and a joint grant program between the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada’s (NSERC) Alliance grants and the Mitacs Accelerate program.
- In recognition of the outstanding R&D collaboration between CUE and Toronto Hydro, professor Bala Venkatesh received NSERC Synergy Award for Innovation.