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Hydro One boosts power grid research

Tom Goldie, Senior Vice President of Corporate Services for Hydro One, speaks during the announcement of Hydro One's $2.5-million gift to Western.

A $2.5-million gift from Hydro One Networks Inc. has created a powerful partnership with Western to increase the reliability and security of the electrical grid while promoting opportunities for greener sources of energy.

The funding will support the Faculty of Engineering with a Hydro One Chair in Power Systems Engineering, research into power systems, and student awards and scholarships.

“Not only will this partnership help us to identify innovative electrical engineering solutions, it will also help us address the expected shortfall in power engineering expertise in the future,” says Tom Goldie, Senior Vice President of Corporate Services for Hydro One.

An initial contribution of $1 million in 2001 established the Hydro One Chair in Power Systems Engineering, held by Tarlochan Sidhu, Chair of the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering.

Hydro One also contributed $60,000 annually for scholarships to help produce graduates with a deep knowledge of power systems. Sidhu notes that Hydro One’s commitment has allowed the university to focus on important research that will improve the company’s ability to provide reliable, efficient, safe and greener electrical transmission and distribution services.

“The power sector is increasingly complex, and new challenges are presented every day,” said Sidhu. “We are grateful that Hydro One recognizes that working together, we can help meet growing demands for technical expertise and for the highly skilled engineers who will be needed to keep the power sector strong and to advance the electric power grid.”

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