The industry is looking forward to deepening its relationship with Hydro-Québec
Montreal, Quebec, April 2, 2020 – Members of the Canadian Wind Energy Association (CanWEA) congratulate Sophie Brochu on her appointment as President and Chief Executive Officer of Hydro-Québec. A seasoned leader who led the transformation of a major player in the wind and solar industry in Quebec, Ms. Brochu brings extensive experience in the energy field, both in Quebec and in neighboring markets, to the Crown Corporation.
“The next steps in the energy transition in Quebec will require increased collaboration between various renewable energy players”, said Jean-François Nolet, Vice-President – Policy, Government and Public Affairs at CanWEA. “The arrival of Ms. Brochu sends a positive signal to members of the Quebec renewable energy industry who count on Hydro-Québec to facilitate the deployment of innovative solutions and thus increase the collaboration between hydroelectricity and other sectors.”
The majority of companies that make up the wind industry in Quebec are active in other renewable energy sectors and in other markets outside Quebec. Ms. Brochu and Hydro-Québec can count on their collaboration to maximize the opportunities for electrification, energy substitution and export of electricity.
“These objectives were clearly expressed by the Government of Quebec in its last budget and will no doubt be at the heart of economic recovery efforts. The industry is eager to work with Ms. Brochu to achieve them,” Mr. Nolet concluded.
Wind energy industry achievements in health & safety and innovation were celebrated at the O&M Summit Awards breakfast
Toronto, Ontario, January 30, 2020 – Wind energy operations and maintenance (O&M) leaders from across Canada and the U.S. wrapped up Canada’s largest wind energy O&M event today. The two-day Canadian Wind Energy Association (CanWEA) O&M Summit, held January 29 and 30 at the Hilton, Mississauga, attracted more than 300 wind energy professionals for a solutions-focused program that addressed both the global and regional issues facing this rapidly growing sector.
A critical meeting ground for wind energy stakeholders, the CanWEA O&M Summit highlighted in-depth expertise and actionable solutions, alongside an exhibition featuring 20 leading companies in the sector. Industry professionals kicked off the Summit with a look at what it takes to drive growth in the wind energy industry, while a handpicked panel of innovators provided insight into the reality of developing new wind energy solutions in Canada. Over 40 speakers provided cutting-edge technological insights and led interactive knowledge-sharing discussions on a range of topics, including cyber security, end of financed life, use of multiple technologies, advanced inspections, climate change and the future of wind energy in Canada and around the world. Health and safety were integrated throughout the two days, culminating in a special session on the development of robust health and safety programs.
The industry also celebrated achievements in health and safety and innovation at the O&M Awards breakfast. ENERCON was recognized with the Outstanding Achievement Award for significantly contributing to innovation in wind power facility operations and maintenance. Its newly-implemented suite of advances is lengthy, but one stands out the most. With over 960 wind turbines in Canada, the technical experts in Montreal have implemented a “data lake” to contain all the information streaming in on a continuous basis. Using this data, ENERCON has been able to propose life-extension and reliability actions case by case without becoming overwhelmed by the sheer size of the data. Beyond this, additional data points have been identified for collection, intensive validation efforts executed, and advanced algorithms designed and implemented. This has led to fault prevention, reduced workload for technicians, and avoidance of major component reworking.
The Health and Safety Excellence Award was presented to Siemens Gamesa for its progressive approach to its health & safety program. Siemens Gamesa has developed a workflow tool and repository for “stop work” events where technicians can proactively identify procedural issues, possible training gaps, technical issues with safety implications or other types of risk. The wide-reaching and immediate actions that have been accomplished through the tool are impressive, making safety a priority for every department and level of the organization. It simply and effectively puts safety at the core of the business.
Quotes
“There are tremendous opportunities for future wind energy development and operation that will depend on sustained efforts and new strategies. These efforts will be crucial to our industry’s ongoing competitiveness, coupled with continued high safety and environmental standards. And as an industry, we also need to become even more focused on our customers – utilities, system operators and others – and on the products and solutions they need. Increasingly, those solutions will extend beyond energy alone, and encompass a range of ancillary services that wind energy is in fact very well-positioned to provide. Customer-focused solutions will also increasingly encompass not just wind energy alone, but other forms of renewable generation, plus energy storage. Wind developers and operators will remain key players in that future.”
– Robert Hornung, President, Canadian Wind Energy Association
“As Canada’s wind fleets expand and age, the O&M sector’s knowledge base advances and strengthens. As a result, O&M professionals are identifying increasingly targeted solutions to their unique circumstances. At this year’s event we saw Canadian innovations like a laser-based foundation health assessment tool as well as imported solutions like a commercially ready bat deterrent system. These technologies are adding to a global toolbox that is increasingly specialized and affordable. The O&M Summit provides a unique opportunity for the sector to come together and share those solutions and support our collective effort to build a sustainable electricity system.”
– Phil McKay, Operations and Maintenance Program Director, Canadian Wind Energy Association
“Pattern Canada is pleased to sponsor CanWEA’s 2020 O&M Summit as the largest meeting ground for wind energy operations and maintenance leaders. As the country’s largest operator of wind power, annually our facilities generate more than $16 million for local economies through property taxes and landowner royalties and contribute over $3.5 million to communities through our Community Benefit Programs. Pattern Canada is proud of the commitments and investments we have made and we look forward to supporting communities and economies for many years to come.”
– Lauge Nielsen, Director Field Operations, Pattern Canada
“Team-1 Academy was delighted to exhibit at the CanWEA O&M Summit. With more than 300 attendees, the Summit provided an unmatched opportunity for us to share our wind energy safety training services with key decision-makers. It’s a must-attend for anyone in the O&M sector.”
– Scott Connor, Chief of Training, Team-1 Academy
Phil McKay, Director, Operations & Maintenance Program, Canadian Wind Energy Association, gives opening remarks at the 2020 O&M Summit, Canada’s largest annual wind operations event.Robert Hornung, President, Canadian Wind Energy Association (right), with the 2020 O&M Awards winners: Andy Durand of Siemens Gamesa (left) accepted the Health and Safety Excellence Award and Dan Barker of ENERCON Canada (middle) accepted the O&M Outstanding Achievement Award.More than 300 participants gathered at the 2020 O&M Summit to hear from industry professionals at the forefront of the sector and discuss targeted solutions to the challenges and opportunities facing Canada’s wind energy industry.
Background
CanWEA’s O&M Summit is part of a broader CanWEA Operations and Maintenance Program that allows the wind energy industry to collaborate on areas such as health and safety best practices, improved networking, innovation and research, and information sharing on critical issues such as technician training and retention.
Learn more about CanWEA’s suite of eight annual Awards that recognize wind energy leaders making outstanding contributions to Canada’s wind energy industry.
Who: The Canadian Wind Energy Association (CanWEA) proudly welcomes more than 250 wind energy experts from across Canada and the United States, as well as accredited media to gather at CanWEA’s 6th Annual Operations and Maintenance (O&M) Summit at the Hilton Mississauga/Meadowvale, January 29-30.
What: The CanWEA O&M Summit is a critical meeting ground for key stakeholders from across wind energy’s O&M sector. The two-day event will offer a comprehensive series of sessions that include cutting-edge, technological insights and interactive, knowledge-sharing discussions, alongside an exhibition featuring leading companies in the sector. This year’s Summit presents a solutions-focused program with topics that include driving wind energy growth, cyber security, end of financed life, multiple technologies, advanced inspections, climate change and the future of wind energy in Canada and around the world. A new special session, Health and Safety Spotlight, will highlight the development of robust health and safety programs, while an Elevator Pitches session will have five speakers pitch a product or service in just five minutes each. Please see our program for more details. Two annual O&M Awards will be presented in recognition of excellence in Canada’s wind energy industry: the O&M Outstanding Achievement Award and the Health and Safety Excellence Award.
Why: As wind fleets expand and age, the sector’s knowledge base advances and strengthens. The CanWEA O&M Summit has proven to be the best place to get up to speed on the latest technologies, innovations and services. Gathering O&M professionals and stakeholders from across the industry, the Summit will address both the global and regional issues facing a mature industry that seeks in-depth expertise and actionable solutions.
CanWEA O&M Summit to discuss targeted solutions for regional and global landscapes and celebrate industry excellence at Awards Breakfast
Toronto, Ontario, December 12, 2019 – The Canadian Wind Energy Association (CanWEA) will host its 2020 Operations and Maintenance (O&M) Summit in Toronto, Ontario, January 29-30. Now in its sixth year, the newly released O&M Summit program addresses both the global and regional issues facing a mature industry that seeks in-depth expertise and actionable solutions. The O&M Summit is the largest annual wind operations event in Canada and gathers more than 250 wind energy professionals from across Canada and the United States.
The two-day event will offer a comprehensive series of sessions that include cutting-edge, technological insights and interactive, knowledge-sharing discussions. The Solutions Focused opening plenary will set the stage for the event and dig into the details right away. Attendees will hear from industry professionals at the forefront of the O&M sector. Reflecting on the past 12 months, the speakers will reveal the specific solutions they developed or advanced, the challenges they maneuvered through, and the most important file on their desk right now. Day two will open with Behind the Scenes of Canadian Wind Energy Innovation – a plenary of handpicked innovators, who will provide insight into the reality of developing new wind energy solutions in Canada. This session will reflect on recent, specific solutions and then panelists will turn their gaze to the technology and techniques on the horizon. Concurrent sessions and discussion streams will focus on cyber security, end of financed life, multiple technologies, advanced inspections, and other pressing topics.
Health and safety continue to underpin all aspects of the operations and maintenance sector and this will be clearly reflected at the O&M Summit, with its incorporation into every session and discussion. This year will see a new special session, Health and Safety Spotlight, where representatives from two companies will discuss their individual pathways – and roadblocks – toward robust health and safety programs. Also, one of the most engaging and rewarding sessions is back by popular demand, the Elevator Pitches session, which will have five speakers pitch a product or service in just five minutes each – and receive valuable feedback from the audience.
The O&M Summit is also the place to recognize excellence in Canada’s wind energy industry. Two prestigious awards will be presented at the O&M Awards Breakfast: the O&M Outstanding Achievement Award and the Health and Safety Excellence Award. Last year, TECHÉOL and Vestas were honoured with the CanWEA awards, respectively.
The O&M Summit’s hustling and bustling exhibition space will provide attendees the opportunity to learn about the latest technologies, innovations and services, and to connect with wind energy professionals and decision makers from across the industry. With booths located in and around the plenary room, attendees and exhibitors will benefit from easy access to deepen existing connections with their sector colleagues as well as to establish new connections for the future.
Want to reach wind energy leaders and decision makers directly? Take advantage of our limited exhibiting opportunities.
Showcase your organization’s commitment and leadership in the Canadian wind energy sector by becoming a sponsor. To learn more about sponsorship opportunities, contact Kathryn Boire at Kathryn@canwea.ca or by phone at 613-614-8501.
Background
CanWEA’s O&M Summit is part of a broader CanWEA Operations and Maintenance Program that allows the wind energy industry to collaborate on areas such as health and safety best practices, improved networking, innovation and research, and information sharing on critical issues such as technician training and retention.
By the end of 2018, Canada had 6,596 wind turbines totaling more than 12,816 MW of installed capacity in operation; the eighth largest wind generating fleet in the world.
Connect with over 250 wind energy professionals and decision makers at the CanWEA 2020 O&M Summit in Toronto!Learn from industry experts about the latest technologies, innovations and services at the largest wind energy operations event in Canada.TECHÉOL inc. won the O&M Outstanding Achievement Award, while Vestas Canadian Wind Technology won the Health and Safety Excellence Award at the 2019 Operations and Maintenance Summit in Toronto on January 30. Join the 2020 O&M Awards Breakfast to celebrate industry excellence!
A decline in investor confidence will add costs to Ontario’s electricity system in the future
Toronto, Ontario, December 10, 2019 – The Canadian Wind Energy Association (CanWEA) issued the following statement in response to the December 4, 2019 decision by the Ontario government to revoke the Renewable Energy Approval (REA) for the Nation Rise wind farm currently under construction in North Stormont, Ontario:
“This decision is shocking and unprecedented and is one of a series of decisions taken by this government with respect to renewable energy that have dramatically reduced the confidence of the electricity industry and its investors in the Ontario market. The decision of the Minister to revoke his own Director’s Renewable Energy Approval, and to overturn the decision of the Environmental Review Tribunal, is disturbing considering the due diligence and rigorous processes that were followed according to the scientific and technical framework set out under the Renewable Energy Approvals process in Ontario.
“Ontario has long been considered an attractive place for businesses to invest because of its rules-based economy and low investor risk. Maintaining investor confidence is important for Ontario’s short- and long-term economic prosperity and a decline in investor confidence will add costs to Ontario’s electricity system and the broader economy as new investors incorporate increased risk into their investments. This decision does little to signal to investors that Ontario is “Open for Business”.
“This project was competitively procured under the Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO) Large Renewable Procurement and also represents a significant investment for the local and provincial economy. In fact, wind energy projects in Ontario have already resulted in billions of dollars of local investment and job creation. These projects provide an important source of sustained revenue for municipal and Indigenous equity partners as well as for pension plans, farmers and community initiatives throughout Ontario while also producing greenhouse gas emissions-free electricity.
“Looking ahead, Ontario will have a need for new electricity generation in the 2020s. Ontario’s future electricity grid will need to be reliable and cost-competitive while also promoting economic development and protecting the environment. No other source of potential new electricity generation in Ontario can better meet these multiple priorities than wind energy. Securing such investment at the lowest cost for Ontarians will require a more positive and stable investment climate.”
– Robert Hornung, President, Canadian Wind Energy Association (CanWEA)
New multi-technology association will focus on wind energy, solar energy, and energy storage effective July 1, 2020
Toronto, Ontario, November 28, 2019 – Today, in Toronto, votes were counted on special resolutions proposed to the members of both the Canadian Wind Energy Association (CanWEA) and the Canadian Solar Industries Association (CanSIA). At separate Special Meetings of Members, the voting delegates for all members in every category of membership within each association were asked to vote on the amalgamation of the two organizations into a new multi-technology association focused on wind energy, solar energy and energy storage.
The votes in support of amalgamation within both associations exceeded the required two-thirds threshold in every membership class. Therefore, the amalgamation will proceed.
The effective date for the new multi-technology association is July 1, 2020 and the first Annual General Meeting (AGM) will be held in conjunction with the inaugural Electricity Transformation Canada event in Toronto in November 2020.
Quotes
“Canada’s electricity system will need significantly increased amounts of wind energy, solar energy and energy storage in a more flexible electricity grid if Canada’s supply is to be affordable, reliable, flexible and climate-friendly. That will require increased deployment both in front of the meter and behind the meter – putting this new collaborative framework in place will allow us to fully leverage this tremendous opportunity for our industries.”
– Robert Hornung, President, Canadian Wind Energy Association
“On behalf of the Boards of Directors for both organizations, I would like to reiterate our shared belief that amalgamation will deliver a significantly strengthened value proposition to the members of both associations as we work together to bring forward comprehensive solutions and advocate with a stronger voice to increase the deployment of solar energy, wind energy and energy storage technologies across Canada.”
– Wes Johnston, President & CEO, Canadian Solar Industries Association
