Category: News Release

CanREA members poised to provide additional GW of new renewable energy.  

Ottawa, April 20, 2022—The Canadian Renewable Energy Association (CanREA) highlights the Government of Quebec’s commitment to pursue its energy transition with a new commitment, announced today to secure and integrate 2,300 MW of new renewable energy sources, including wind, into the province’s energy-production portfolio.  

“CanREA is proud to have contributed to raising the Quebec government’s awareness of the importance of predictability and flexibility in the deployment of new supplies. As a result, CanREA will continue to highlight the importance of growing the contribution of wind, solar and energy storage in Quebec’s energy mix to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050,” said Jean Habel, CanREA’s Director for Quebec and Atlantic Canada. 

“The Government of Quebec’s decision to develop 1,000 MW of wind energy and 1,300 MW from all renewable sources is good news for CanREA members. It will help achieve Quebec’s GHG reduction targets and CanREA’s 2050 Vision, which stresses the scale and speed required for the deployment of renewable energy projects to meet Canada’s climate change targets,” said Habel. 

CanREA’s 2050 Vision presents a scenario in which wind and solar energy account for two-thirds of the additional electricity required to decarbonize the electricity grid and reduce GHG emissions from Canada’s industrial, transportation and building sectors. This will require an almost 10-fold increase in current installed capacity over the next three decades. 

“Quebec’s announcement today is also a step in the right direction to achieve the ambitious goals outlined in Hydro-Quebec’s strategic plan, aiming for 100 TWh by 2050,” said Habel.  

Quotes  

“CanREA is proud to have contributed to raising the Quebec government’s awareness of the importance of predictability and flexibility in the deployment of new supplies. As a result, CanREA will continue to highlight the importance of growing the contribution of wind, solar and energy storage in Quebec’s energy mix to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050.”  

“The Government of Quebec’s decision to develop 1000 MW of wind energy and 1300 MW from all renewable sources is good news for CanREA members. It will help achieve Quebec’s GHG reduction targets and CanREA’s 2050 Vision, which stresses the scale and speed required for the deployment of renewable energy projects to meet Canada’s climate change targets,” 

“Quebec’s announcement today is also a step in the right direction to achieve the ambitious goals outlined in Hydro-Quebec’s strategic plan, aiming for 100 TWh by 2050.”  

—Jean Habel, Director for Quebec and Atlantic Canada, Canadian Renewable Energy Association 

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For more information or for interview opportunities, please contact: 

Bridget Wayland, Director of Communications, CanREA 
613-227-5378  
communications@renewablesassociation.ca 

Frédérique Lorrain, TACT 
450 702-0339  
florrain@tactconseil.ca 

About the Canadian Renewable Energy Association (CanREA) 

The Canadian Renewable Energy Association (CanREA) is the voice for wind energy, solar energy and energy storage solutions that will power Canada’s energy future. We work to create the conditions for a modern energy system through stakeholder advocacy and public engagement. Our diverse members are uniquely positioned to deliver clean, low-cost, reliable, flexible and scalable solutions for Canada’s energy needs. For more information on how Canada can use wind energy, solar energy and energy storage to help achieve its net-zero commitments, consult “Powering Canada’s Journey to Net-Zero: CanREA’s 2050 Vison.” Follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn. Subscribe to our newsletter here. Become a member here. Learn more at renewablesassociation.ca  

The new Federal Budget will help support CanREA’s 2050 Vision by investing in wind energy, solar energy, energy storage and electricity infrastructure. 

Ottawa, April 12, 2022—The Canadian Renewable Energy Association (CanREA) welcomes the new Federal Budget which announces significant investments in support of Canada’s energy transition.  

As announced on April 7, 2022, the new Federal Budget, “A Plan to Grow Our Economy and Make Life More Affordable,” aims in part to help Canadian businesses benefit from the global transition to a clean economy, which includes new federal investments in clean energy.  

“CanREA is pleased that the Government of Canada has committed to strategic investments in Canada’s energy transition in its 2022 budget,” said Brandy Giannetta, Vice President of Policy, Regulatory & Government Affairs. “Of particular note are the new investments in interprovincial transmission infrastructure, in the Smart Renewables and Electrification Pathways Program (SREPs), and in interprovincial coordination on electricity sector decarbonization.”  

“These new investments will help Canada achieve CanREA’s 2050 Vision, which states that reaching net-zero by 2050 will require an almost ten-fold expansion of Canada’s wind energy, solar energy, and energy-storage capacity, in addition to significant investments in other forms of electricity generation and electricity infrastructure,” said Giannetta.  

Specifically, the 2022 Federal Budget committed $250 million over four years to support pre-development activities of clean electricity projects of national significance, including inter-provincial electricity transmission projects. This is in line with CanREA’s 2050 Vision, which highlights the need to increase regional collaboration and co-operation, with respect to electricity grid infrastructure and operations, to reduce the costs of meeting Canada’s GHG emission-reduction targets.  

The Federal Budget also committed an additional $600 million over seven years for the SREPs program, to support additional renewable electricity and grid modernization projects. There is a strong need to encourage innovation and experimentation in this field, as noted in CanREA’s Vision, because these technologies provide essential grid services that support a decarbonized electricity system.  

CanREA’s Vision also notes the importance of interprovincial coordination on electricity sector decarbonization, stating that all markets need to explore innovative procurement approaches that meet growing customer-driven demand and respect unique provincial electricity market structures. The Federal Budget has allocated $25 million to establish Regional Strategic Initiatives to work with provinces, territories, and relevant stakeholders to develop net-zero energy plans.  

“It is clear that wind energy, solar energy and energy storage will have an important role to play in these key initiatives,” said Giannetta. 

CanREA also welcomed the following positive investments announced in the 2022 Federal Budget: 

• $2.4 million in 2022-23 to Natural Resources Canada to establish a Pan-Canadian Grid Council, which would provide external advice in support of national and regional electricity planning. 
• A commitment to establishing an investment tax credit of up to 30% for battery storage solutions, clean hydrogen and other net-zero technologies. 
• $1 billion over six years, starting in 2024-25, to support the manufacturing, processing, and recycling of critical minerals for the production goods like electric vehicles and batteries. 
• Over $900 million to support EV charging infrastructure.  
• $458.5 million addition to the $4.4 billion Greener Homes Program, starting in 2022-23, to provide low-interest loans and grants to low-income housing providers undertaking retrofit measures, including installing rooftop solar PV. 

Quotes  

“CanREA is pleased that the Government of Canada has committed to strategic investments in Canada’s energy transition in its 2022 budget.”

“Of particular note are the new investments in interprovincial transmission infrastructure, in the Smart Renewables and Electrification Pathways Program (SREPs), and in interprovincial coordination on electricity sector decarbonization.”  

“These new investments will help Canada achieve CanREA’s 2050 Vision, which states that reaching net-zero by 2050 will require an almost ten-fold expansion of Canada’s wind energy, solar energy, and energy-storage capacity, in addition to significant investments in other forms of electricity generation and electricity infrastructure.”  

“It is clear that wind energy, solar energy and energy storage will have an important role to play in these key initiatives.”  

—Brandy Giannetta, Vice President of Policy, Regulatory & Government Affairs 

About the Canadian Renewable Energy Association (CanREA) 

The Canadian Renewable Energy Association (CanREA) is the voice for wind energy, solar energy and energy storage solutions that will power Canada’s energy future. We work to create the conditions for a modern energy system through stakeholder advocacy and public engagement. Our diverse members are uniquely positioned to deliver clean, low-cost, reliable, flexible and scalable solutions for Canada’s energy needs. For more information on how Canada can use wind energy, solar energy and energy storage to help achieve its net-zero commitments, consult “Powering Canada’s Journey to Net-Zero: CanREA’s 2050 Vison.” Follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn. Subscribe to our newsletter here. Become a member here. Learn more at renewablesassociation.ca  

For more information or for interview opportunities, please contact: 

Communications 
Canadian Renewable Energy Association 
647-268-3382 
communications@renewablesassociation.ca 

Ottawa, April 8, 2022—The Canadian Renewable Energy Association (CanREA) applauds the Nova Scotia Government for supporting the solar industry by bringing forward amendments to its Electricity Act and its Public Utilities Act, as announced April 7.

“This groundbreaking new legislation will further strengthen the province’s solar industry and protect net metering customers,” said Nicholas Gall, CanREA’s Director of Distributed Energy Resources.

Working on behalf of Nova Scotia’s solar industry and working closely with its partners at Solar Nova Scotia, CanREA led advocacy with the Government for the measures contained in this new legislation.

The new legislation will introduce a number of key amendments to the Province’s net metering framework to protect consumers’ right to generate renewable electricity for their own use, spurred by stakeholder opposition to Nova Scotia Power’s proposed “system access charge” for net metering customers.

The new measures include the following solar net-metering amendments:

• Prohibiting NSPI from imposing any fees that would discourage residential and small business customers from developing their own solar net metered energy systems.
• Guaranteeing that all net-metering customers will receive full compensation, at their electricity rate, for each kWh of electricity they generate and sell back to the grid.
• Granting all customers the right to install an on-site renewable generator or energy storage device to a maximum of the customer’s total usage per calendar year up to 27 kW (AC), with NSPI required to purchase excess electricity from any such customer at the full retail rate.
• Removing any role for NSPI in the net-metering permitting process and in program management for net-metering customers with systems below 27 kW, and limiting their function to meter-reading and safety inspections. Larger projects (above 27kW) will continue to participate in a program managed by NSPI.
• Guaranteeing net-metering customers the right to zero out their energy costs. Customers will not receive compensation if they generate more electricity than their total annual use, however if they generate all their own electricity, they will only pay the minimal monthly customer charge.

The former limit of 100 kw for commercial, agricultural, and other larger users will be lifted, with new program details to be provided in regulations.

The long-anticipated Community Solar Program legislation (formerly Shared Solar) will be updated to allow the Minister and Governor-in-Council to more completely manage the program, rather than Nova Scotia Power.

“CanREA looks forward to further engagement with industry stakeholders and with the Department of Natural Resources and Renewables on these initiatives, as well as the design of New Performance Standards for NSP, as set out in this legislation,” said Gall.

There are over 50 solar companies in Nova Scotia supporting hundreds of jobs in communities around the province. In 2021, the solar industry contributed approximately $30 million in private-sector investment to the Nova Scotia economy while helping to reduce the province’s greenhouse-gas emissions by nearly 250,000 tonnes.

Background

• In addition to leading stakeholder advocacy against the proposed System Access Charge earlier this year, CanREA has long advocated to maintain the Nova Scotia Solar Homes rebate program, as well as for reform to the province’s net metering framework to enable systems larger than 100 kW, and to further enhance the accessibility of small-scale solar PV through the establishment of a community net metering/shared solar program (e.g. Canadian Renewable Energy Association comments on An Act to Amend Chapter 25 of the Acts of 2004, the Electricity Act – Presentation to the Law Amendments Committee, April 12 2021).
• CanREA’s Solar-Friendly Communities study (September 2021) identified a number of specific actions that could meaningfully reduce the administrative or “soft” costs of on-site solar, focusing on a more streamlined permitting processes, improved access to solar financing programs, education and training for electrical and building inspectors, and municipal policies that encourage solar-ready homes.
• CanREA’s Nova Scotia Residential Solar Market Outlook and Labour Force Study (April 2019) found that the province’s solar industry could support close to 1,200 jobs by 2030 in fields including research and development, manufacturing, distribution, engineering and design, installation, and maintenance, with approximately 20,000 solar homes province-wide by 2030.

Quotes

“This groundbreaking new legislation will further strengthen the province’s solar industry and protect net metering customers.”

“CanREA looks forward to further engagement with industry stakeholders and with the Department of Natural Resources and Renewables on these initiatives, as well as the design of New Performance Standards for NSP, as set out in this legislation.”

— Nicholas Gall, CanREA’s Director of Distributed Energy Resources.

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About the Canadian Renewable Energy Association (CanREA)

The Canadian Renewable Energy Association (CanREA) is the voice for wind energy, solar energy and energy storage solutions that will power Canada’s energy future. We work to create the conditions for a modern energy system through stakeholder advocacy and public engagement. Our diverse members are uniquely positioned to deliver clean, low-cost, reliable, flexible and scalable solutions for Canada’s energy needs. For more information on how Canada can use wind energy, solar energy and energy storage to help achieve its net-zero commitments, consult “Powering Canada’s Journey to Net-Zero: CanREA’s 2050 Vison.” Follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn. Subscribe to our newsletter here. Become a member here. Learn more at renewablesassociation.ca

For more information or for interview opportunities, please contact:

Communications
Canadian Renewable Energy Association
647-268-3382
communications@renewablesassociation.ca

CanREA commends Hydro-Québec for its plan to incorporate different types of renewables, including wind energy, into its energy mix to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050.

Ottawa, March 24, 2022 —The Canadian Renewable Energy Association (CanREA) is pleased to see that the new Strategic Plan 2022–2026 released today by Hydro-Québec aligns with many of the calls to action in CanREA’s 2050 Vision.

“The announcement that over 100 TWh of additional renewable energy will be generated in Quebec by 2050 provides important long-term predictability for our members, who will be key partners in a successful transition to a low-carbon economy,” says Jean Habel, the Canadian Renewable Energy Association’s Director for Quebec and Atlantic Canada.

CanREA is encouraged by Hydro-Québec’s announcement that Quebec’s renewable energy generation is to be increased by more than 50 per cent by 2050. Not only is this consistent with CanREA’s 2050 Vision, but the use of decarbonized electricity could cut greenhouse gas emissions across the broader Quebec economy.

In its Strategic Plan, Hydro-Québec expresses its intention to achieve the energy transition at the lowest possible cost for Quebec society. Given that wind energy is now the lowest-cost source of new electricity generation in Canada, CanREA is pleased to see Hydro-Québec commit to developing a portfolio of new wind energy projects totalling a minimum of 3,000 MW to account for variable future demand as a first step toward its 2050 objective.

“This announcement is a step in the right direction to achieve 2050 greenhouse-gas-emission targets, and it unequivocally positions Quebec as a leader in renewable-energy generation in Canada over the next few decades,” says Habel.

Achieving the ambitious goal of adding more than 100 TWh of renewable energy by 2050 will require a full range of renewable technologies.

“We are confident that solar energy and energy storage can make up a larger share of Quebec’s energy mix in the years and decades to come,” says Habel.

Lastly, Hydro‑Québec’s new Strategic Plan shows an openness to amending the regulatory framework and optimizing infrastructure, which is also consistent with CanREA’s 2050 Vision.

“CanREA is proud to have contributed to the Strategic Plan 2022–2026, as one of the key stakeholders Hydro-Québec consulted during its development,” says Habel. “The Strategic Plan aligns with many of the calls to action in CanREA’s 2050 Vision. CanREA will continue to emphasize the central role that wind energy, solar energy and energy storage will play in transforming Quebec’s energy mix to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050.”

“Powering Canada’s Journey to Net-Zero: CanREA’s 2050 Vision” advocates for Canada to increase the scale and speed of renewable energy project deployment in order to meet its commitment to achieving net-zero emissions by 2050.

Quotes

“The announcement that over 100 TWh of additional renewable energy will be generated in Quebec by 2050 provides important long-term predictability for our members, who will be key partners in a successful transition to a low-carbon economy.”

“We are confident that solar energy and energy storage can make up a larger share of Quebec’s energy mix in the years and decades to come.”

“This announcement is a step in the right direction to achieve 2050 greenhouse-gas-emission targets, and it unequivocally positions Quebec as a leader in renewable-energy generation in Canada over the next few decades.”

“CanREA is proud to have contributed to the Strategic Plan 2022–2026, as one of the key stakeholders Hydro-Québec consulted during its development. The Strategic Plan aligns with many of the calls to action in CanREA’s 2050 Vision. CanREA will continue to emphasize the central role that wind energy, solar energy and energy storage will play in transforming Quebec’s energy mix to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050.”

Jean Habel, Director for Quebec and Atlantic Canada, Canadian Renewable Energy Association

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For more information or for interview opportunities, please contact:

Bridget Wayland
Director of Communications, CanREA
613-227-5378
Communications@renewablesassociation.ca

Mélanie Bourcier
Coordinator, TACT
514-554-2635
mbourcier@tactconseil.ca

About the Canadian Renewable Energy Association (CanREA)

The Canadian Renewable Energy Association (CanREA) is the voice for wind energy, solar energy and energy storage solutions that will power Canada’s energy future. We work to create the conditions for a modern energy system through stakeholder advocacy and public engagement. Our diverse members are uniquely positioned to deliver clean, low-cost, reliable, flexible and scalable solutions for Canada’s energy needs. Our aim is to ensure wind energy, solar energy and energy storage play a central role in transforming Canada’s energy mix. Follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn. Subscribe to our newsletter. Become a member. Learn more at renewablesassociation.ca.

 

CanREA is delighted to announce the return to in-person industry events this spring.  

CanREA events offer unmatched opportunities for Canada’s top renewable energy companies to get noticed. Mark your calendar to claim your spot among industry leaders!  

Headlined by our annual Operation Summit at the end of May, CanREA’s spring events calendar also features an informative webinar on energy storage and golden opportunities for face-to-face networking in many regions of Canada.  

More events will be added shortly, so stay tuned to CanREA’s newsletters for more information.

Registration is now open for the following CanREA events:  

CanREA Operations Summit 2022  

May 31 and June 1, 2022 
Delta Hotels Toronto Airport & Conference Centre 
Toronto, Ontario 

CanREA’s Operations Summit is the only event in Canada dedicated to the operation of wind, solar and energy-storage sites.

The 2022 edition features an exciting educational program, a fresh emphasis on networking opportunities, and a one-stop shop exhibit hall for supply-chain professionals, construction companies, service organizations and facility owners looking for cutting-edge O&M technologies.

Reserve your ticket today!

CanREA Webinar on energy storage  

“Laying the Foundation: How to enable energy storage and support decarbonization in Canada”

April 12, 2022, 1 to 2 p.m. (EST)    

Don’t miss this opportunity to hear directly from the lead author of CanREA’s new whitepaper, “Laying the Foundation: Six priorities for supporting the decarbonization of Canada’s electricity grid with energy storage.”

On April 12, Leonard Olien (CanREA’s Director for Energy Storage) will present CanREA’s perspective on what is required to advance energy storage in Canada. He will provide key information on the diversity and flexibility of energy-storage technologies and introduce CanREA’s six priorities for facilitating the deployment of energy storage in electricity markets across Canada.

CanREA Golf Tournaments 

Fore! This spring, join movers and shakers of the Canadian renewable-energy industry for exclusive CanREA golf tournaments in two regions. This is a unique opportunity to connect with other CanREA member companies while entertaining your important clients on the fairway—and in the club afterwards.  

In Ontario, we tee off on May 11 at Forest City National Golf Club in London.

Out west, please join us June 14 at the Blue Devil Golf Course in Calgary.

Sponsorship opportunities 

Looking to enhance your company’s profile and brand? Increase your organization’s visibility among Canadian renewable and energy-storage communities with CanREA’s event-sponsorship opportunities! Check out the event sponsorship page to learn more. Have any questions? Contact CanREA’s Membership and Business Development Manager, Julie Mair. 

Health and safety 

CanREA places the highest importance on health and safety. CanREA events follow, at a minimum, the relevant COVID-19 public health guidelines determined by the jurisdiction where the event is being held. CanREA is committed to taking the precautions necessary to ensure our in-person events provide a safe environment for all, including attendees, participants, vendors and employees. Detailed information about the COVID-19 measures in place for each event will be available on the event-registration webpage. 

New CanREA whitepaper identifies six priorities for supporting the decarbonization of Canada’s electricity grid with energy storage. 

Ottawa, February 3, 2022—The Canadian Renewable Energy Association (CanREA) today released an agenda-setting paper on energy storage in Canada, authored by CanREA’s Director of Energy Storage, Leonard Olien.  

Entitled “Laying the Foundation: Six priorities for supporting the decarbonization of Canada’s electricity grid with energy storage,” this new whitepaper outlines CanREA’s perspective on what is required to advance energy storage in Canada. 

“It is well understood that dynamic and versatile energy-storage technologies will be a cornerstone of Canada’s energy transition,” said Robert Hornung, CanREA’s President and CEO. “There is tremendous opportunity for the Canadian electricity sector to leverage the potential of energy storage.” 

With this new paper, CanREA aims to clarify what this potential is, and how it can be leveraged to benefit all jurisdictions. It identifies six priority areas for action: education, regulation, markets, grid optimization, communities and sustainability. For each of these priorities, Laying the Foundation presents the challenge to be overcome, identifies key solutions, and outlines the specific actions recommended by CanREA. 

Laying the Foundation follows up on fundamental points made in CanREA’s Vision document, Powering Canada’s Journey to Net-Zero, which demonstrates that Canada needs to deploy more than 5,000 MW of new wind and solar energy annually for the next 30 years to meet its commitment to net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. 

Overall, “energy storage can provide key flexibility services, and support electricity system reliability, as Canada develops its abundant, untapped wind and solar energy resources,” said Olien.  

The full paper is available to download in English or French from CanREA’s website.  

Quotes  

“It is well understood that dynamic and versatile energy-storage technologies will be a cornerstone of Canada’s energy transition. There is tremendous opportunity for the Canadian electricity sector to leverage the potential of energy storage.”  

—Robert Hornung, President and CEO, Canadian Renewable Energy Association  

“Energy storage can provide key flexibility services, and support electricity system reliability, as Canada develops its abundant, untapped wind and solar energy resources.”  

—Leonard Olien, CanREA’s Director of Energy Storage 

For more information or for interview opportunities, please contact: 

Communications
Canadian Renewable Energy Association
647-268-3382
communications@renewablesassociation.ca

About the Canadian Renewable Energy Association 

The Canadian Renewable Energy Association (CanREA) is the voice for wind energy, solar energy and energy storage solutions that will power Canada’s energy future. We work to create the conditions for a modern energy system through stakeholder advocacy and public engagement. Our diverse members are uniquely positioned to deliver clean, low-cost, reliable, flexible and scalable solutions for Canada’s energy needs. Our vision is to ensure wind energy, solar energy and energy storage play a central role in transforming Canada’s energy mix. Learn more at renewablesassociation.ca. Follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn. Subscribe to our newsletter here. Become a member here.

The Government of Nova Scotia today announced a welcome commitment to support the long-term sustainability of the solar industry in this province. 

Ottawa, February 2, 2022 — The Canadian Renewable Energy Association (CanREA) applauds the Government of Nova Scotia for their commitment to protecting the province’s solar industry.  

As announced today, the Government will bring forward a legislative and regulatory framework necessary to protect ratepayers and the solar industry in Nova Scotia from a financial penalty on solar net metering, as proposed in January by Nova Scotia Power in the utility’s 2022 General Rate Application. Read CanREA’s statement on this proposal here.  

“The Government of Nova Scotia has shown real leadership in standing up for the rights of solar net-metering customers, recognizing the important contribution of solar to achieving the province’s climate change goals,” said Nicholas Gall, CanREA’s Director of Distributed Energy Resources. “We and our partners at Solar Nova Scotia look forward to engaging with our members and policy-makers on a long-term solution to protect net-metering.”  

The solar industry supports hundreds of jobs throughout Nova Scotia, primarily in rural communities, and last year contributed approximately $30 million in private-sector investment to the province’s economy while helping to reduce the province’s GHG emissions by nearly 250,000 tonnes.  

The proposed “system access charge,” of $8 per kilowatt per month, would have cost the average residential customer with rooftop solar panels nearly $1,000 per year, and would have doubled the pay-back period for rooftop solar panels, from its current ten-to-12 years to more than 20 years.  

“Nova Scotia’s solar industry is a great success story. It will play an important role in helping to achieve the provincial target of 80% renewable electricity by 2030,” said Jean Habel, Director for Quebec and Atlantic Canada. “By committing to legislative or regulatory change, the Government of Nova Scotia is taking an important step to support the long-term sustainability of the solar industry, one that will enable Nova Scotians to confidently invest in low-cost, non-emitting solar generation.” 

Quotes  

“The Government of Nova Scotia has shown real leadership in standing up for the rights of solar net-metering customers, recognizing the important contribution of solar to achieving the province’s climate change goals. We and our partners at Solar Nova Scotia look forward to engaging with our members and policy makers on a long-term solution to protect net metering.” 

—Nicholas Gall, CanREA’s Director of Distributed Energy Resources. 

“Nova Scotia’s solar industry is a great success story. It will play an important role in helping to achieve the provincial target of 80% renewable electricity by 2030. By committing to legislative or regulatory change, the Government of Nova Scotia is taking an important step to support the long-term sustainability of the solar industry, one that will enable Nova Scotians to confidently invest in low-cost, non-emitting solar generation.” 

—Jean Habel, CanREA’s Director for Quebec and Atlantic Canada  

About the Canadian Renewable Energy Association (CanREA) 

The Canadian Renewable Energy Association (CanREA) is the voice for wind energy, solar energy and energy storage solutions that will power Canada’s energy future. We work to create the conditions for a modern energy system through stakeholder advocacy and public engagement. Our diverse members are uniquely positioned to deliver clean, low-cost, reliable, flexible and scalable solutions for Canada’s energy needs. Our aim is to ensure wind energy, solar energy and energy storage play a central role in transforming Canada’s energy mix. Follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn. Subscribe to our newsletter. Become a member. Learn more at renewablesassociation.ca.  

For more information or for interview opportunities, please contact: 

Communications 
Canadian Renewable Energy Association 
647-268-3382 
communications@renewablesassociation.ca 

CanREA calls on the Nova Scotia Government to restore consumer confidence by challenging recent actions taken by NSPI.

Ottawa, January 28, 2022—The Canadian Renewable Energy Association (CanREA) is calling on the Nova Scotia Government to restore consumer confidence by challenging recent actions taken by Nova Scotia Power Inc (NSPI).

A new rate application, submitted by NSPI to the province’s Utility & Review Board yesterday, proposes to introduce a “system access charge” for net-metering customers.

“We are calling on the Government of Nova Scotia to intervene to ensure that Nova Scotians can continue to pursue rooftop solar installations and make significant climate-friendly investments in the province,” said Brandy Giannetta, CanREA’s Vice-President of Policy, Regulatory and Government Affairs.

NSPI’s proposed system access charge, of $8 per kilowatt of solar PV capacity per month, or nearly $800 per year for the average solar home in Nova Scotia, would erase approximately 60% of the economic value of solar net-metering. 

“This proposed charge would have a direct impact on small businesses and homeowners seeking to contribute to Nova Scotia’s target of reducing greenhouse emissions and achieving 80% renewable electricity by 2030,” said Nicholas Gall, CanREA’s Director of Distributed Energy Resources.

There are now more than 4,000 solar homes across Nova Scotia. The industry supports hundreds of jobs throughout the province, primarily in rural communities, and last year contributed approximately $30 million in private-sector investment to the Nova Scotia economy while helping to reduce the province’s GHG emissions by nearly 250,000 tonnes.

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Quotes

“We are calling on the Government of Nova Scotia to intervene to ensure that Nova Scotians can continue to pursue rooftop solar installations and make significant climate-friendly investments in the province.”

—Brandy Giannetta, CanREA’s Vice-President of Policy, Regulatory and Government Affairs

“This proposed charge would have a direct impact on small businesses and homeowners seeking to contribute to Nova Scotia’s target of reducing greenhouse emissions and achieving 80% renewable electricity by 2030.”

—Nicholas Gall, CanREA’s Director of Distributed Energy Resources

About the Canadian Renewable Energy Association (CanREA)

The Canadian Renewable Energy Association (CanREA) is the voice for wind energy, solar energy and energy storage solutions that will power Canada’s energy future. We work to create the conditions for a modern energy system through stakeholder advocacy and public engagement. Our diverse members are uniquely positioned to deliver clean, low-cost, reliable, flexible and scalable solutions for Canada’s energy needs. Our aim is to ensure wind energy, solar energy and energy storage play a central role in transforming Canada’s energy mix. Follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn. Subscribe to our newsletter. Become a member. Learn more at renewablesassociation.ca.

For more information or for interview opportunities, please contact:

Communications
Canadian Renewable Energy Association
647-268-3382
communications@renewablesassociation.ca

Ontario’s Ministry of Energy announces plans for a voluntary clean-energy-credit registry.

Ottawa, January 27, 2022—The Canadian Renewable Energy Association (CanREA) is encouraged by plans to develop a new, voluntary, clean-energy-credit (CEC) registry in Ontario, as announced yesterday by the Minister of Energy, the Honourable Todd Smith.

“It’s great to see the Ontario Ministry of Energy taking this important step toward the launch of a clean-energy-credit (CEC) market,” said Nicholas Gall, CanREA’s Director for Ontario. “A CEC registry could enable more Ontario consumers to choose wind and solar energy to power their operations and help companies meet their ESG targets.”

CanREA looks forward to engaging with the IESO and with other stakeholders on designing the CEC registry system. CanREA will work on behalf of its members to ensure that Ontario’s new CEC registry leverages—and unlocks additional value from—Ontario’s wind and solar resources.

For more information on how Canada can use wind energy, solar energy and energy storage to help achieve its net-zero commitments, consult “Powering Canada’s Journey to Net-Zero: CanREA’s 2050 Vison.”

Quotes

“It’s great to see the Ontario Ministry of Energy taking this important step toward the launch of a clean-energy-credit (CEC) market. A CEC market could enable more Ontario consumers to choose wind and solar energy to power their operations and help companies meet their ESG targets.”

—Nicholas Gall, CanREA’s Director for Ontario

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 About the Canadian Renewable Energy Association (CanREA)

The Canadian Renewable Energy Association (CanREA) is the voice for wind energy, solar energy and energy storage solutions that will power Canada’s energy future. We work to create the conditions for a modern energy system through stakeholder advocacy and public engagement. Our diverse members are uniquely positioned to deliver clean, low-cost, reliable, flexible and scalable solutions for Canada’s energy needs. Our aim is to ensure wind energy, solar energy and energy storage play a central role in transforming Canada’s energy mix. Follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn. Subscribe to our newsletter. Become a member. Learn more at renewablesassociation.ca.

For more information or interview opportunities, please contact:

Communications
Canadian Renewable Energy Association
647-268-3382
communications@renewablesassociation.ca

CanREA’s new industry data for 2021 shows that Canada saw the biggest build-out of new utility-scale wind and solar energy capacity since 2015, but this was far below what is required to achieve net-zero GHG emissions by 2050.

Ottawa, January 26, 2022—The Canadian Renewable Energy Association (CanREA) today announced the industry’s year-end data, reporting that Canada’s wind and solar energy sectors grew significantly in 2021, adding nearly 1 GW of new generation capacity.

“2021 was a positive year for our industries, with 677 MW of new wind energy and 288 MW of new utility-scale solar energy commissioned,” said Robert Hornung, President and CEO of CanREA, “but this rate of growth is not nearly enough. We must dramatically accelerate and expand the deployment of these technologies.”

Alberta accounted for more than 60% of new Canadian capacity installed in 2021, with Saskatchewan accounting for another 20%.

In total, Canada’s new wind and solar energy capacity created approximately 2,400 person-years of employment, primarily in the construction of new facilities, but also in the ongoing operations and maintenance of these sites.

CanREA projects that 2022 and 2023 will see significantly more growth in the deployment of wind and solar energy, with numerous projects currently under construction or in advanced stages of development.

More than 3,000 MW are expected to be commissioned in 2022 and a similar number in 2023. In addition, new commitments were made across Canada in 2021 (for example, in Saskatchewan, Quebec and Nova Scotia) that will result in new wind and solar energy deployment after 2023.

“Canada is just starting to take advantage of its massive untapped wind and solar energy potential,” said Hornung.

“As the lowest-cost source of new decarbonized electricity generation available in Canada today, wind and solar energy will be a cornerstone of Canada’s efforts to address climate change. Success, however, will require several policy, regulatory and infrastructure barriers to be addressed, enabling a dramatic increase in the scale and speed of deployment,” he said.

CanREA’s 2050 Vision, Powering Canada’s Journey to Net-Zero, demonstrates that we need to deploy more than 5,000 MW of new wind and solar energy annually for the next 30 years if Canada is to meet its commitment to net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.

For more information on CanREA’s latest industry data for Canada, visit the “By the Numbers” webpage.

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To learn more about membership and how you can get involved, please contact Julie Mair, CanREA’s Manager of Membership and Business Development, at jmair@renewablesassociation.ca.

Facts at a Glance

Wind energy expanded in 2021

• Total wind energy capacity in Canada (as of Dec 31, 2021): 14,304 MW, up from 13,627 MW in 2020.
• New wind power generation installed in 2021: 677 MW
• Growth in wind energy in 2021: 4.9%
• Nearly half of this growth occurred in Alberta (358 MW) with additional growth in Saskatchewan, Ontario and British Columbia.  

 Solar energy shone in 2021

• Total major* solar energy capacity in Canada (as of Dec 31, 2021): 2,399 MW, up from 2,111 MW last year.
• New major* solar power generation installed in 2021: 288 MW
• Growth in solar energy in 2021: 13.6%
• Almost all of this growth occurred in Alberta (250 MW), with small amounts added in Saskatchewan (21 MW), Quebec (9.5 MW), Nova Scotia (4.8 MW), Ontario (0.3 MW), Yukon Territory (1.5 MW) and Prince Edward Island (0.1 MW).
• Canada added its biggest solar farm in 2021, the 132 MW Claresholm Solar project in Alberta.
• *Here, “major” is defined as  grid-connected solar projects, not net-metered projects for electricity use on-site. Rooftop and on-site solar data for 2021 will be included in CanREA’s mid-year data update.

Taking stock of energy storage

• There was significant growth in energy storage this year, including Canada’s largest battery storage facility, the 20 MW Buffalo Creek Storage project in Alberta.
• There were also smaller energy storage projects in Ontario, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island and Yukon Territory.
• “Electricity system decision makers are now starting to discover the value of energy storage, a powerful set of technologies that can provide a broad range of services to support electricity system operators, and we expect to see rapid growth in the utilization of energy storage going forward,” said Hornung.

What’s next for 2022?

• Solar surge: We anticipate at least 1,000 MW of new solar energy this year. 18 new “major” (10 MW and up) solar projects should become operational in 2022, of which 16 are anticipated to be in Alberta and two in Saskatchewan. Canada’s biggest solar farm will become the new Travers Solar Project in Alberta, with a capacity of 465 MW.
• Wind expansion: We anticipate at least 2,000 MW of wind energy growth this year. 23 new wind farms should launch in 2022: one in Saskatchewan, one in New Brunswick, and all the rest in Alberta.

Meeting Canada’s Energy Needs

• Province with the greatest proportion of energy demand met by wind and solar energy: Prince Edward Island (41%)
• Provinces with more than 10% of energy demand met by wind and solar energy: Nova Scotia (13.5%) and PEI (41%)
• Jurisdictions with more than 5% of energy demand met by wind and solar energy: Quebec (5.7%), Northwest Territories (6.5%), New Brunswick (6.6%), Alberta (9.6%), Ontario (9.9%), Nova Scotia (13.5%) and PEI (41%). Overall, Canada met 6.5% of its energy demand with wind and solar.
• Jurisdictions with less than 5% of energy demand met by wind and solar: Yukon Territory, British Columbia, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Nunavut and Newfoundland and Labrador.

(source: Statistics Canada 2020)

Quotes

“2021 was a positive year for our industries, with 677 MW of new wind energy and 288 MW of new utility-scale solar energy commissioned. This rate of growth, however, is not nearly enough to move Canada to net-zero greenhouse gas emissions. We must dramatically accelerate and expand the deployment of these technologies.”

“Canada is just starting to take advantage of its massive untapped wind and solar energy potential.”

“As the lowest-cost source of new decarbonized electricity generation available in Canada today, wind and solar energy will be a cornerstone of Canada’s efforts to address climate change. Success, however, will require several policy, regulatory and infrastructure barriers to be addressed, enabling a dramatic increase in the scale and speed of deployment.”

“Electricity system decision makers are now starting to discover the value of energy storage, a powerful set of technologies that can provide a broad range of services to support electricity system operators, and we expect to see rapid growth in the utilization of energy storage going forward.”

—Robert Hornung, President and CEO, Canadian Renewable Energy Association 

For more information or for interview opportunities, please contact:

Communications
Canadian Renewable Energy Association
647-268-3382
communications@renewablesassociation.ca

About the Canadian Renewable Energy Association

The Canadian Renewable Energy Association (CanREA) is the voice for wind energy, solar energy and energy storage solutions that will power Canada’s energy future. We work to create the conditions for a modern energy system through stakeholder advocacy and public engagement. Our diverse members are uniquely positioned to deliver clean, low-cost, reliable, flexible and scalable solutions for Canada’s energy needs. Our vision is to ensure wind energy, solar energy and energy storage play a central role in transforming Canada’s energy mix. Learn more at renewablesassociation.ca.Follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn. Subscribe to our newsletter here. Become a member here.