The Importance of Renewable Energy Projects in Canada

Energy collected from clean, renewable sources, with a lower environmental impact, is known as Renewable Energy. Natural Resources Canada defines renewable energy as being "derived from natural processes that are replenished at a rate that is equal or faster than the rate at which they are consumed". 

Renewable energy projects are important because they can help reduce a company, organisation or government's carbon footprint and help produce new technologies to contribute to the long-term sustainability goals. An increase in the use of renewable energy can help lower the amounts of fossil fuels and greenhouse gases released, reducing overall air pollution. Further use of each of these energy sources can help diversify energy supply, and increase the number of jobs in energy efficiency (manufacturing, installation, etc.) and contribute to overall economic development.

Renewable Energy Sources

• Hydro power - contributes electricity
• Wind power - contributes electricity
• Tidal power - contributes electricity
• Earth - geothermal energy contributes heat; high temperature contributes electricity
• Solar power - photovoltaic contributes electricity; thermal contributes heat
• Biomass - contributes electricity, heat and fuels

Facts About Renewable Energy in Canada*

• 17% of Canada's total primary energy supply is provided by renewable energy sources
• The fastest growing electricity sources are wind and solar energy
• Canada is #7 on the international scale of world renewable energy production, producing 3%
• 17.4% of Canada's energy comes from renewables
• 58% of Canada's electricity generation comes from moving water (Canada's primary renewable energy source)
• Canada was the second largest producer of hydroelectricity in the world in 2016 (80,859 megawatts)
• 5% of Canada's electricity generation comes from wind

Renewable Energy Training

With a focus on renewable energy sources comes a need for skills workers in the energy efficiency workforce; those who can evaluate the savings associated with these energy sources, practices and technologies.

CIET offers a wide variety of training programs focused on most renewable energy topics, as well as custom training.

Relevant Courses

• Certified RETScreen^® Expert (CRE)  Participants of the CRE course will learn to use the RETScreen^® Expert software to identify, assess, optimise and track the performance of clean energy investments over a project lifecycle. Using the software, you can learn how to analyse and assess the financial viability and risk for renewable energy technologies. Learn more.
• Dollars to $ense  Energy Management Workshops  With 30 modules, the D2$ training material covers many energy efficiency topics, including a renewal energy module which identifies where renewable energy is appropriate, the major sources of renewable energy, and the tools used to estimate savings potential for renewable energy systems. Learn more.
• Certified Energy Manager (CEM)  Professionals in energy management are closely involved in the planning and monitoring of energy use at an organisational or facility level. They are the drivers of projects, the authority on reporting and regulations, and managers of renewable energy projects. The CEM program will teach you to evaluate energy supply, uses and much more. Learn more.

Custom Training

If you're looking for training on a specific topic related to renewable energy, CIET offers custom onsite training which can be delivered by subject-matter experts. To learn more about custom training email Olivier Cappon at ocappon@cietcanada.com

*source: Natural Resources Canada.