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
