Edmonton: The Alberta government’s efforts to encourage development of the province’s abundant wind energy resource and diversify its fossil-fuel dependent economy has captured the attention of investors who see a long-term opportunity for growth in the market, according to wind industry leaders who met May 9 at The Westin Edmonton for the Canadian Wind Energy Association’s (CanWEA) Alberta Summit.
About 185 established and emerging players in Canada’s wind energy sector attended the one-day event, which explored the economic and environmental benefits of Alberta’s plan to get 30 per cent of its electricity supply from renewable sources by 2030.
With billions of dollars of new investment expected to flow into the province as it adds 5,000 MW of new renewables to its grid over the next 14 years, delegates discussed opportunities for Alberta-based companies to generate new business by participating in the wind energy supply chain.
“Alberta’s aggressive, but achievable, target to have 30 per cent of its electricity come from renewable energy by 2030 promises significant opportunities for our industry and significant economic and environmental benefits for the province,” said Robert Hornung, President of the Canadian Wind Energy Association. “Our focus as an industry needs to be on delivering those benefits to Albertans in a responsible and sustainable way.”
Alberta has 1,479 MW of wind energy, the third largest installed capacity among Canadian provinces. Wind currently supplies about six per cent of the province’s electricity demand, and Alberta’s target of 30 per cent renewable electricity by 2030 has made it the leading market for new wind energy development in Canada, CanWEA says.
The Alberta Electric System Operator has launched a competitive process for the purchase of 400 MW of renewable energy, the first in a series of planned procurements that will support the installation of 5,000 MW of new generating capacity between now and 2030.