Category: News Release

Newly launched federal grant program will make rooftop solar panels, battery storage and a wide range of other low-carbon technologies more accessible, which is great news for Canada’s renewable energy industry and Canadian homeowners.

Ottawa, June 17, 2022—The Canadian Renewable Energy Association (CanREA) applauds the Government of Canada for investing in the first phase of the new Canada Greener Homes Loan program, announced today.  

The $4.4-billion program, part of the Canada Greener Homes Initiatives, will provide interest-free loans of up to $40,000 per household, making energy-efficient upgrades—such as solar panels and energy storage technologies—more affordable for Canadian homeowners. 

The program will also help make national decarbonization goals more attainable, said Robert Hornung, CanREA’s President and CEO, at the June 17 announcement in Ottawa.  

“Rooftop solar panels and residential battery storage are two game-changing technologies that will play an important role in helping Canada to achieve net-zero greenhouse-gas emissions by 2050,” Hornung said.  

These technologies will also help Canadian families reduce their energy bills and make their homes more resilient to the extreme-weather events that are become increasingly common as a result of climate change. 

Significant upfront costs can be a barrier for Canadian families to access these proven technological solutions against the climate crisis. That’s why the Government of Canada’s Greener Homes Loan initiative is so important.   

“This program makes rooftop solar panels, battery storage, and a wide range of other low-carbon technologies more accessible for Canadian families. This will help to create jobs, drive investment, reduce greenhouse-gas emissions and make our communities more resilient, which is great news for the renewable energy industry and Canadian homeowners,” said Hornung. 

As of Friday, the first phase will be open to eligible homeowners who are applying or have an open application (pre-retrofit stage) to the Canada Greener Homes Grant. The second phase, starting in September 2022, will include homeowners with closed applications (those who have requested their post-retrofit evaluation or grant) but have other eligible retrofits they are hoping to pursue. 

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Background

• CanREA has been vocal in its support for the Canada Greener Homes Grant program since its launch in May 2021, as it greatly increases the accessibility of energy-efficiency retrofits and the deployment of solar energy and energy storage for Canadian homeowners.
• Since its launch in May 2021, the Canada Greener Homes Grant has helped homeowners across the country retrofit their homes while creating good jobs for Canadians.
• As of June 8, over 171,000 applications have been received through the national portal and $38 million in grants have been sent to over 10,000 Canadians.

Quotes

“Rooftop solar panels and residential battery storage are two game-changing technologies that will play an important role in helping Canada to achieve net-zero greenhouse-gas emissions by 2050.”

“This program makes rooftop solar panels, battery storage, and a wide range of other low-carbon technologies more accessible for Canadian families. This will help to create jobs, drive investment, reduce greenhouse-gas emissions and make our communities more resilient, which is great news for the renewable-energy industry and Canadian homeowners.”

—Robert Hornung, CanREA’s President and CEO

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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. 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 

Proposals are due July 11, 2022

Ottawa, June 16, 2022 – The Canadian Renewable Energy Association (CanREA) today issued a request for proposals for the management and development of its website. Proposals are due by July 11, 2022.

All details are available in the RFP document, found here on the CanREA website.

CanREA looks forward to working with its new website development partner starting in August this year.

For more information, please contact: 

Bridget Wayland
Director of Communications
Canadian Renewable Energy Association
bwayland@renewablesassociation.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  

CanREA launches a series of PSA videos showing why Canada will need 10x more wind and solar energy to reach net-zero by 2050. 

We need to increase our wind and solar capacity ten-fold, argues the Canadian Renewable Energy Association (CanREA), who launched a series of PSA videos in June, 2022, on social media, YouTube, and as part of a national awareness campaign on CBC and Radio-Canada.  

Canada is on a transformative journey to reach net-zero greenhouse-gas emissions by 2050. And it’s clear that wind and solar energy, supported by energy storage, will power much of this journey.  

That’s because wind and solar are the lowest-cost sources of new decarbonized electricity.  

“Wind and solar energy are affordable and abundant and will provide much of the new electricity Canada needs as it doubles electricity production in support of its efforts to reach net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050,” said Robert Hornung, CanREA’s President and CEO.  

“Energy-storage technologies are a critical tool in supporting the reliability of the future electricity grid,” Hornung added, “as we work to maximize the contribution of low-cost wind and solar energy production.”  

As Hornung states in CanREA’s videos: We need to act now, and we need to act together. 

Click here to learn more about CanREA’s 2050 Vision. On this webpage, you can also download the full document for CanREA’s 2050 Vision, and a short brochure that is ideal for sharing.

View CanREA’s PSA videos: 

View our full 2-minute video, “Powering Canada’s Journey to Net-Zero,” on CanREA’s YouTube channel. 

You can also view our 30-second PSA on CanREA’s YouTube channel. 

Canada’s wind, solar and energy-storage professionals gather for CanREA’s first in-person Operations Summit since the pandemic

Toronto, June 1, 2022— Nearly 150 renewable energy operations leaders from across Canada gathered at the Canadian Renewable Energy Association’s 2022 Operations Summit, the country’s largest wind, solar and energy-storage operations event.

This was the first time since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic that the CanREA Operations Summit has been held in-person. In 2021, the conference was held virtually.

“It has been more than two years since we met in this forum and there is not enough time to unpack what we have all been through in the time since we were last together,” said Phil McKay, CanREA’s Senior Operations Director, during his opening remarks on May 31. “I want to personally thank you for keeping Canada’s wind, solar, and energy storage fleet operating during this time.”

Experienced operations staff—who are spearheading the innovation, manufacturing, construction, installation and on-site performance of renewable energy technologies—are essential to Canada’s energy transition.

“While we meet just over 8% of electricity demand in the country, we have demonstrated that our technologies can be operated reliably in extreme circumstances and are ready to take on a larger proportion of Canada’s energy needs. We must continue to provide affordable, reliable, and sustainable energy in every area of this country regardless of what lies ahead,” McKay told the crowd.

As the lowest-cost options for new electricity in Canada, wind and solar are expected to become the fastest growing sources going forward. However, in order to meet Canada’s net-zero targets, we must expand at an unprecedented scale: About 3,800 MW of new wind-energy capacity and 1,600 MW of new solar-energy capacity every year from now until mid-century, CanREA’s 2050 Vision states. This represents a 10-fold expansion by 2050.

CanREA’s 2050 Vision is an ambitious but necessary framework in the fight against climate change. During the conference’s opening panel discussion, commercial-scale project owners and equipment and service providers discussed how the industry can realize this Vision.

Over the course of two days, attendees were given abundant opportunities to network with colleagues and learn about wind and solar O&M tools, human factors, burnout prevention, growing the industry and workforce development.

“What we can do today with solar, wind, and energy-storage equipment far surpasses what our electricity system has seen in the past century, and we are limited only by our creativity to think beyond the mere replication of the status quo and to form a new system, using the experiences we have gained at the leading edge,” said McKay.

CanREA thanks all presenters, attendees, exhibitors and sponsors for making the Operations Summit a success. 

A special thank you to Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy Ltd. for supporting the event as a Presenting Sponsor, as well as to Goldwind Americas as the event’s Networking Reception Sponsor, to Enbridge as the Health and Safety Sponsor, to Liftwerx as the Innovation Sponsor, to Hwy H2O as the Mobile App Sponsor, and to Team-1 Academy and Pattern Canada as the conference’s Event Sponsors. CanREA would also like to thank our Media Partner, PvBuzz.

For more information about the program, visit the 2022 Operations Summit webpage.

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Quotes

“It has been more than two years since we met in this forum and there is not enough time to unpack what we have all been through in the time since we were last together. I want to personally thank you for keeping Canada’s wind, solar, and energy storage fleet operating during this time.”    

“While we meet just over 8% of electricity demand in the country, we have demonstrated that our technologies can be operated reliably in extreme circumstances and are ready to take on a larger proportion of Canada’s energy needs. We must continue to provide affordable, reliable, and sustainable energy in every area of this country regardless of what lies ahead.” 

“What we can do today with solar, wind, and energy-storage equipment far surpasses what our electricity system has seen in the past century, and we are limited only by our creativity to think beyond the mere replication of the status quo and to form a new system, using the experiences we have gained at the leading edge.” 

—Phil McKay, CanREA’s Senior Director of Operations 

Photos

“What we can do today with solar, wind, and energy-storage equipment far surpasses what our electricity system has seen in the past century,” said Phil McKay (Senior Director, Operations, Canadian Renewable Energy Association) in his opening remarks for the CanREA Operations Summit 2022. 

“We will need wind and solar to provide two-thirds of the electricity required to decarbonize the Canadian economy by 2050,” said Brandy Giannetta, CanREA’s Vice-President of Policy, Regulatory & Government Affairs, who welcomed everyone to the CanREA Operations Summit 2022 by stressing the importance of the operations sector, which will play a critical role in the success of this endeavour.  

Networking was king at the CanREA Operations Summit 2022. Here, Phil McKay (Senior Director, Operations, Canadian Renewable Energy Association) participates in an informal roundtable discussion with approximately 150 attendees. 

One of the key sessions at the CanREA Operations Summit 2022 explored the important topic of workforce development, including the launch of CanREA’s new Human Factors workplan. The panelists, from L to R, were: Mike Doherty (President, Blue Arc Electrical Safety Technologies Inc.); Conor Tosh (Masters Student, University of Lethbridge); Mary MacLean (EHS Project Coordinator, CanREA); Michael Baker (Safety & Reliability Supervisor, Enbridge Power); Phil McKay (Senior Director, Operations, CanREA).  

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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 (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  

Wind energy, solar energy and energy storage will be key for Canada to achieve a net-zero electricity system by 2035 and net-zero greenhouse-gas emissions by 2050. 

Ottawa, May 4, 2022 — The Canadian Renewable Energy Association supports the Canadian Climate Institute’s call for accelerated action and increased collaboration by federal and provincial governments in the transition to bigger, cleaner and smarter electricity systems.  

The Canadian Renewable Energy Association (CanREA) welcomes today’s release of the Canadian Climate Institute (CCI)’s new report, “The Big Switch,” which calls for a dramatic acceleration in the deployment of wind energy, solar energy, and energy storage.  

“Wind and solar energy are now the most cost-competitive forms of new electricity generation in Canada, and Canada has massive, untapped wind and solar energy resources,” said Robert Hornung, CanREA’s President and CEO. “It’s clear that getting to net-zero will require us to dramatically accelerate the deployment of these technologies.”  

The CCI report suggests that 63% to 96% of all new capacity additions to electricity systems in Canada, between now and 2030, will need to come from wind energy, solar energy, and energy storage.  

“We need to install somewhere between four and eight times more new wind and solar energy by 2030 than we did in the preceding decade,” said Hornung. “There is no time to waste. The time for action is now.” 

Informed by studies published in 2021 and 2022 on Canadian pathways to achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, “The Big Switch” concludes that Canada will need to produce between 1.6 and 2.1 times as much electricity in 2050 as it does today.  

It projects that wind and solar energy will be the dominant source of new generation in Canada, as the share of wind and solar energy in Canada’s electricity supply will need to increase from 6% today to somewhere between 31% and 75% of total generation in the much bigger electricity system of 2050.  

“We are pleased that many of the Canadian Climate Institute’s policy recommendations are consistent with the recommendations CanREA made in its 2050 Vision last year,” said Hornung.  

“The Big Switch” makes it clear that acting now to deploy “safe bets,” like wind and solar energy, in our efforts to address climate change, will reduce overall costs, unlock clean growth opportunities and provide opportunities to support Indigenous self-determination and reconciliation. 

“We need to deploy wind energy, solar energy, and energy storage at an unprecedented scale and speed if Canada is to meet its commitment to a net-zero electricity system by 2035 and net-zero greenhouse gas emissions across the economy by 2050,” Hornung said. 

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Quotes  

“Wind and solar energy are now the most cost-competitive forms of new electricity generation in Canada, and Canada has massive, untapped wind and solar energy resources.”  

“It’s clear that getting to net-zero will require us to dramatically accelerate the deployment of these technologies.”  

“We need to install somewhere between four and eight times more new wind and solar energy by 2030 than we did in the preceding decade. There is no time to waste. The time for action is now.” 

“We are pleased that many of the Canadian Climate Institute’s policy recommendations are consistent with the recommendations CanREA made in its 2050 Vision last year,” 

“We need to deploy wind energy, solar energy, and energy storage at an unprecedented scale and speed if Canada is to meet its commitment to a net-zero electricity system by 2035 and net-zero greenhouse gas emissions across the economy by 2050.” 

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

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 applauds the Government of Ontario for new regulatory change to enable third-party net-metering arrangements  

Ottawa, April 21, 2022—The Ontario Government today announced amendments to the province’s net metering regulation to enable third-party ownership arrangements, such as leasing, financing and power purchase agreements (PPAs), providing electricity customers in Ontario more options to participate in net metering.  

“The Canadian Renewable Energy Association applauds the Government of Ontario for taking this important step to improve the accessibility of solar net metering,” said Robert Hornung, CanREA’s President and CEO.  

“This regulatory clarity will enable our industry to move forward in providing Ontario consumers with more options to lower their energy costs and to reduce GHG emissions, while helping to drive job creation and growth in the province’s renewable energy sector.” 

These changes will dramatically reduce the up-front cost barrier to the adoption of solar net metering. They signify a major step forward for consumer choice and improved accessibility of renewable energy.  

“This will open up new market opportunities for solar developers in Ontario,” said Nicholas Gall, CanREA’s Director of Distributed Energy Resources and Director for Ontario, “while at the same time contributing to achieving the GHG emissions reduction goals set out in the Province’s Made-in-Ontario Environment Plan and helping consumers to reduce their energy costs.” 

Going forward, Ontario homeowners or businesses will have the right to enter into one of two third-party financing arrangements for rooftop solar PV: 

• Solar lease: A customer pays a third-party developer for the use of an on-site solar PV system over a specified period of time, rather than paying for the power generated –pay per month (e.g., 15-year term); 
• PPA: A third-party developer sells the power generated by an on-site solar PV system to the customer for a fixed period of time (e.g., 15-year term) and at a fixed per-kWh rate (less than what is charged by the LDC). PPAs inherently afford greater consumer protection as consumers only pay for power produced. 

Background 

As described in a previous CanREA statement on this issue, the advantages of third-party financing of net metering include: 

• Enhanced consumer protection: Maintenance and replacement costs would be included in the service agreement. The lessee or PPA purchaser is protected in the event that the solar PV equipment underperforms or malfunctions. Solar companies offering PPAs would be covered under OEB Retailer Licensing obligations, thus further enhancing consumer protection. 
• Levelling the playing field for consumer choice: Access to third-party financing opportunities reduce the gap between haves and have-nots; more consumers are able to access net metering. 
• Avoided opportunity cost: All consumers, both businesses and households, are able to keep more cash on hand while benefitting immediately from electricity bill savings. 
• Easier budgeting and cashflow management; preservation of lines of credit. 
• Tax planning for business consumers: Leasing/PPA arrangements may be preferable for businesses in that they can offer income tax planning advantages (leased equipment treated as an expense rather than depreciating purchased equipment as a capital cost). 

Third-party ownership models are proven and very well established in other provinces (e.g., Alberta, Nova Scotia) and in the United States, where the US Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) reports that as of 2017, 57% of all installed non-residential solar PV capacity was third-party owned. 

Quotes 

“The Canadian Renewable Energy Association applauds the Government of Ontario for taking this important step to improve the accessibility of solar net metering. This regulatory clarity will enable our industry to move forward in providing Ontario consumers with more options to lower their energy costs and to reduce GHG emissions, while helping to drive job creation and growth in the province’s renewable energy sector.”  

—Robert Hornung, CanREA’s President and CEO  

“These changes will open up new market opportunities for solar developers in Ontario, while at the same time contributing to achieving the GHG emissions reduction goals set out in the Province’s Made-in-Ontario Environment Plan, and helping consumers to reduce their energy costs.” 

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

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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 (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  

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.