There's solar In them thar hills

摘要

Smart-grid technology is helping an Ontario town get the most out of its renewable energy. Residents of Halton Hills, Ont., will soon find the local hydro poles crowned with solar panels. Halton Hills Hydro Inc. recently revealed its plan to mount solar panels on 200 poles in the area. Each panel will generate one kilowatt hour of electricity per day. While that might sound small, it's all in how you use it. All the power generated will be monitored in real time, allowing the utility provider to adjust power distribution to where it is most needed. Because electricity is naturally lost the farther it travels through a line, the panels are also expected to make the grid more efficient by supplying power to nearby consumers.