Leveraging lessons from around the world
Saint John Energy’s journey to net zero enlists global expertise
By Ryan Mitchell, June 7, 2024
Imagine facing a complex, global challenge with profound implications for your business and community. You are determined to solve it and lead your industry in doing so.
The annual Saint John Energy Community AGM was held on June 7, 2024 and files presented are available here.
What if you had the opportunity to leverage global insights and innovative solutions from around the world? Would you seize it?
At Saint John Energy, we are doing just that through our ambitious Zero30 initiative – and by collaborating with Deloitte, a global leader in consulting and sustainability solutions.
At our Community Annual General meeting today, we were delighted to announce Deloitte’s involvement in helping us achieve our Zero30 goal of reaching net-zero carbon emissions in our operations by 2030.
We’re particularly excited by this collaboration because Deloitte will be bringing in teams from different corners of the globe to help us puzzle out potential solutions.
Urgency and action
Gavin McTavish – the Canadian leader of Deloitte's Strategy practice, specializing in the future of energy – joined us at the AGM.
“Over the last five years, we’ve seen a significant shift in urgency and action on addressing climate change, on navigating energy transition, and incorporating the uncertainty which surrounds this transition into choice-making, strategy and plans,” he noted.
Saint John Energy and our customers will now be able to take a leap forward by leveraging what Deloitte and its teams have experienced, working with companies in Europe, Japan, Australia and elsewhere
“The complexity and uncertainty surrounding energy transition is significant. Which technologies will be deployed? Where will they be adopted and how will they be used? Will the raw materials required to support the transition be affordably available? Will we have the infrastructure required to support the transition?”
Given the complexity and uncertainty, Saint John Energy and our customers will now be able to take a leap forward by leveraging what Deloitte and its teams have experienced, working with companies in Europe, Japan, Australia and elsewhere across the globe.
For instance, Deloitte worked with a leading multi-utility company in Belgium to develop a sophisticated digital twin energy modeling solution to visualize and assess the impact of future increases in electricity use on its grid.
That allowed the utility to identify what investments it needed to make to support the increasing adoption of electric vehicles, solar panels, and heat pumps.
Future of energy demand
In Japan, Deloitte worked with an oil and gas company looking to pivot to hydrogen to analyze the domestic market for hydrogen and develop a production plan.
Our vision is to be a Canadian leader among electrical utilities in the transition to net zero. It is that vision that has attracted international partners like Deloitte and others.
And its teams worked with an electric company there to analyze the future of energy demand in Japan as well as electricity supply and demand.
For Saint John Energy to be successful in creating a net-zero future for ourselves and our customers, innovation and collaboration like this is essential.
Our vision is to be a Canadian leader among electrical utilities in the transition to net zero. Last month, we were delighted to announce our partnership with the UK-based global utility software provider Kraken. It is that vision that has attracted international firms like Deloitte and Kraken.
That vision also prompted Natural Resources Canada to provide $4 million so we could undertake Zero30. This not only allows us to find solutions for climate action but also share our discoveries so others can benefit as well.
Exploring the impact
Deloitte will be working with us to shape our Zero30 roadmap in three different areas:
helping us find ways that customers could reach net zero and assisting in identifying additional products and services that Saint John Energy could offer to help customers meet their goals.
exploring the impact on the Saint John Energy grid into the future as customers turn increasingly to electricity as a clean energy source.
assist us in devising the right mix of new energy sources and carbon offsets that we will need to meet that future demand to achieve net zero.
On this journey to net zero and in our work to build the Utility of the Future right here in Saint John, we have many important partners.
Importance of partners
We were joined at the AGM by Chief Ross Perley of Neqotkuk, or Tobique First Nation.
Neqotkuk along with Natural Forces own the Burchill farm and the three new Tesla Megapacks commissioned earlier this year to balance the clean energy coming from Burchill.
Chief Perley spoke of the importance of these projects and of his hope for more collaboration with Saint John Energy – a hope we certainly share.
Chief Perley spoke of the importance of these projects and of his hope for more collaboration with Saint John Energy – a hope we certainly share.
We undertake projects like Burchill and the Tesla Megapacks not only because they are good for the environment but because they are good for our customers. They help to ensure that our rates are among the lowest in Atlantic Canada.
Our customers count on us to keep rates stable and the power on, and we’re proud of our long track record of success on these fronts.
Hurtling toward the future
All these efforts are designed to ensure this success carries into the future.
As we hurtle toward the future, Zero30 will build on our reputation here in Canada and abroad as innovators.
Our progress across all these fronts help NB Power and the Government of New Brunswick meet their energy and climate goals.
Our focus on innovating for our customers has led to high-demand services such as our water heater and heat pump rental programs.
More recently, it has led to programs like e-bike financing, residential EV charging and renewable energy certificates.
Our progress across all these fronts will lead to a stronger energy future not just for Saint John but the province as a whole, and help NB Power and the Government of New Brunswick meet their energy and climate goals.
Occasionally, I am asked why we are leading all these efforts. The answer is clear: because it is the right thing to do – for the planet, for our province, for the city and for the customers we serve.
Ryan Mitchell is President & CEO of Saint John Energy.
