Electricity regulators and operators received an urgent call to accelerate their move to green energy to help meet Canada’s 2050 net-zero carbon targets. Today at the Electricity Transformation Canada Conference , The Canadian Renewable Energy Association (CanREA) laid out 5 priority actions that can help accelerate Canada’s transformative journey . The key tasks on Canada’s to-do list include:
-
CanREA presented its new 2050 Vision at a special launch event in Toronto on November 17, after which a panel of diverse stakeholders shared their thoughts. From L to R: Robert Hornung (CanREA), Michelle Chislett (Northland Power), Dan Balaban (Greengate Power), Brendan Costigan (National Bank of Canada), Patrick Taylor (Microsoft), Tonja Leach (QUEST), and Isabelle Turcotte (Pembina Institute) .Via – Canadian Renewable Energy Association Decarbonization of the electricity system by 2035.
- Modernization of electricity markets and regulatory structures.
- Diversification and expansion of procurement opportunities.
- Prioritization of efficient use and regional approaches to transmission infrastructure.
- Implementation of comprehensive strategies to support increased use of decarbonized electricity and green hydrogen.
This coming on the heels of Prime Minister Trudeau announcement at COP26 in Glasgow, Scotland, highlighting Canada’s ambitious and enhanced plans to support the global phase-out of thermal coal and to transition to clean fuel and energy alternatives as quickly as possible. “We need a powerful boost from wind energy, solar energy and energy storage,” said CanREA President and CEO Robert Hornung in his opening remarks at the Electricity Transformation Canada conference today.
Lina Coady, Executive Director of Pembina Institute, a think tank dedicated to providing policy, environmental protection and green energy development says this move could attract jobs ” These measures can help attract jobs, investments and businesses with sustainability goals to Canada.”
The push for wind energy, solar energy and energy storage is supported by a diversity of stakeholders, as illustrated in CanREA’s 2050 Vision by statements from prominent energy organizations like Bell Canada, Canada Green Building Council, Clean Energy Canada, Electric Mobility Canada, and Indigenous Clean Energy. Hornung says “We are committed to working with all stakeholders to ensure that Canada fully capitalizes on its wind, solar and energy storage potential in its pursuit of the least-cost, reliable and sustainable pathway to Canada’s net-zero objective.” Robert says that green energy technologies will play a central role in driving the rapid decarbonization and massive expansion of electricity production required to make net-zero a reality.
Be the first to comment