CanREA’s Electricity Transition Hub will help Canadian electricity utilities and system operators transition to a net-zero economy by 2050.
Toronto, Ontario, October 28, 2022 – The Canadian Renewable Energy Association (CanREA) is thrilled to launch the CanREA Electricity Transition Hub, supported by nearly $1.6 million in funding, as announced today by Julie Dabrusin, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Natural Resources and to the Minister of Environment and Climate Change, and Member of Parliament for Toronto—Danforth, on behalf of the Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson, Minister of Natural Resources, on the Electricity Transformation Canada conference in Toronto.
“We’re working with energy system operators and utilities from across the country to deliver a net-zero future,” said Minister Wilkinson. “Today’s investment of $1.6 Million in CanREA’s Electricity Transition Hub will enable collaboration on clean energy deployment and grid modernization across the country. Congratulations to CanREA and all those involved on this necessary work.”
The CanREA Electricity Transition Hub (the Hub) is a knowledge-transfer tool helping electricity utilities and system operators speed up their decarbonization efforts. The Hub will equip participants to integrate the larger amounts of wind energy, solar energy and energy storage needed to support electrification and Canada’s net-zero GHG-emission targets.
“During today’s Electricity Transformation Conference in Toronto, I used to be pleased to announce that the Government of Canada is supporting our utilities and systems operators to deliver the clean technologies we want to achieve net-zero,” said Dabrusin. “This support for the Canadian Renewable Energy Association’s Electricity Transition Hub is a vital step on the trail to a prosperous net-zero future.”
Federal funding for this project is provided by Natural Resources Canada’s $1.56-billion Smart Renewables and Electrification Pathways (SREPs) program, which goals to significantly reduce GHG emissions by enabling increased renewable energy capability that may provide essential grid services while contributing to Canada’s 2050 net-zero targets.
“We wish to thank Natural Resources Canada for his or her generous support of CanREA’s Electricity Transition Hub,” said Robert Hornung, CanREA’s President and CEO. “The renewable energy industry has a critical role to play in helping Canada meet its net-zero commitments.”
Through developing a curated resource library, in addition to sharing relevant knowledge and skills through a quarterly report, quarterly meetings and an annual Hub Summit event, the Hub will help participants construct capability to extend the deployment of wind energy, solar energy, energy storage and grid-modernization technologies.
The Hub has 13 founding participants, including Alberta Electric System Operator (AESO), BC Hydro, City of Medicine Hat, EPCOR, Essex Power Corporation, Fortis Inc., Manitoba Hydro, NB Power, Ontario Power Generation, Qulliq Energy Corporation, SaskPower, Toronto Hydro and Utilities Kingston.
“CanREA may be very excited to launch the Electricity Transition Hub. It’s a novel entity that supports electricity system participants and helps them construct capability to speed up the energy transition,” said Phil McKay, CanREA’s Senior Director, Electricity Transition Hub. “CanREA is uniquely positioned to collect global knowledge on wind energy, solar energy and energy storage integration, after which to translate these resources effectively to be relevant in all of Canada’s different regions and electricity systems.”
CanREA, utilities and system operators can even contribute to this project, bringing the whole investment to over $1.9 million.
“We must construct latest wind energy, solar energy and energy storage projects at an unprecedented pace,” said Hornung. “Now could be the suitable time to bring together Canada’s electricity utilities, system operators and renewable energy industry for capacity-building activities related to the deployment and integration of those technologies inside electricity grids. There shouldn’t be a moment to waste.”
For more information on CanREA’s Electricity Transition Hub, visit the Hub page on the CanREA website.
Quotes
“We’re working with energy system operators and utilities from across the country to deliver a net-zero future. Today’s investment of $1.6 Million in CanREA’s Electricity Transition Hub will enable collaboration on clean energy deployment and grid modernization across the country. Congratulations to CanREA and all those involved on this necessary work.”
—The Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson, Minister of Natural Resources
“During today’s Electricity Transformation Conference in Toronto, I used to be pleased to announce that the Government of Canada is supporting our utilities and systems operators to deliver the clean technologies we want to achieve net-zero. This support for the Canadian Renewable Energy Association’s Electricity Transition Hub is a vital step on the trail to a prosperous net-zero future.”
—Julie Dabrusin, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Natural Resources and to the Minister of Environment and Climate Change, and Member of Parliament for Toronto—Danforth
“We wish to thank Natural Resources Canada for his or her generous support of CanREA’s Electricity Transition Hub. The renewable energy industry has a critical role to play in helping Canada meet its net-zero commitments. We must construct latest wind energy, solar energy and energy storage projects at an unprecedented pace. Now could be the suitable time to bring together Canada’s electricity utilities, system operators and renewable energy industry for capacity-building activities related to the deployment and integration of those technologies inside electricity grids. There shouldn’t be a moment to waste.”
—Robert Hornung, CanREA’s President and CEO
“CanREA may be very excited to launch the Electricity Transition Hub. It’s a novel entity that supports electricity system participants and helps them construct capability to speed up the energy transition. CanREA is uniquely positioned to collect global knowledge on wind energy, solar energy and energy storage integration, after which to translate these resources effectively to be relevant in all of Canada’s different regions and electricity systems.”
—Phil McKay, CanREA’s Senior Director, Electricity Transition Hub
Photos
Natural Resources Canada publicizes an investment of $1.6 Million to launch the CanREA Electricity Transition Hub. From L to R: Robert Hornung, CanREA’s President and CEO; Julie Dabrusin, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Natural Resources and to the Minister of Environment and Climate Change; Phil McKay, CanREA’s Senior Director, Electricity Transition Hub. (Photo courtesy CanREA)
Several participants of the brand new CanREA Electricity transition Hub were present on the October 2022 funding announcement with Natural Resources Canada. From L to R:Anthony Clavet of Essex Power Corporation; Mark Peters of SaskPower; Courtney Balkwill of SaskPower; Vittoria Bellissimo, CanREA’s incoming President and CEO; Robert Hornung, CanREA’s outgoing President and CEO; Julie Dabrusin, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Natural Resources and to the Minister of Environment and Climate Change; Phil McKay, CanREA’s Senior Director, Electricity Transition Hub; Steve Ray of Essex Power Corporation; John Avdoulos of Essex Power Corporation; Jamie Hopkins of Manitoba Hydro; Jim Zhao, Electricity Transition Hub Manager. (Photo courtesy CanREA)
Concerning the Canadian Renewable Energy Association
The Canadian Renewable Energy Association (CanREA) is the voice for wind energy, solar energy and energy storage solutions that may power Canada’s energy future. We work to create the conditions for a contemporary 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 assist achieve its net-zero commitments, seek the advice of “Powering Canada’s Journey to Net-Zero: CanREA’s 2050 Vison.” Follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn. Subscribe to our newsletter here. Turn into a member here. Learn more at renewablesassociation.ca
For more information or for interview opportunities, please contact:
Communications
Canadian Renewable Energy Association
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Communications@renewablesassociation.ca
