Canadian Council on Renewable Electricity

Canada is a global leader in using renewable electricity to power our homes, businesses and economy. With more than 65 percent of our electricity coming from renewable energy, we are a leader amongst the G7 group of countries.

The story of renewable electricity powering the Canadian economy is almost as old as the country itself; in 1881, the Ottawa Electric Light Company built the first Canadian hydropower facility at Chaudière Falls.

Yet with so much potential, the most compelling story about Canadian renewable electricity has yet to be written.

Now the rest of the world is shifting to renewable electricity. From the United States to Europe to Africa and Asia, global investment in new renewable electricity capacity now outpaces fossil fuel sources. Technological innovation continues to drive down costs, and unlike fossil fuels, there’s no fuel cost.

The wind, water, oceans and sun provide an inexhaustible supply of renewable fuel to power our economy.

Ensuring our electricity grid is powered by clean, renewable energy offers a key climate change solution. And the more we electrify our economy—from buildings, to industry, to transportation—with renewable resources, the faster and deeper we can cut greenhouse gas pollution and ensure Canada stands out as a climate change leader.

With abundant and diverse renewable electricity resources distributed across the country, Canada has the potential to lead the world.

And when Canada leads, Canada wins.

“Providing more than 60% of Canada’s clean and renewable electricity, hydropower is the backbone of our electricity system and a critical asset in reaching our national deep decarbonisation objectives.”

-Anne-Raphaëlle Audouin, President, Canadian Hydropower Association

The Council

In 2015, a group of four industry associations together established the Canadian Council on Renewable Electricity to educate and engage Canadians about the opportunity to expand the production and use of renewable electricity across the country. An initiative of Canada’s leading, national renewable electricity associations, the Council will work to build public support for increased development of our abundant renewable electricity resources in order to further decarbonize North America’s energy system.

The founding members of the Council are the Canadian Hydropower Association, Canadian Solar Industries Association, Canadian Wind Energy Association, and Marine Renewables Canada.

“With abundant wave, tidal, and river resources, Canada is poised to benefit from the emerging marine renewable energy industry at home and in the growing global marketplace.”

-Paul McEachern, Executive Director, Marine Renewables Canada

Our Members

The founding members of the Council are the Canadian Hydropower Association, Canadian Solar Industries Association, Canadian Wind Energy Association, and Marine Renewables Canada.

To view detailed information on each of the Council members, select a link below.

Canadian Hydropower Association

Founded in 1998, the Canadian Hydropower Association (CHA) is the national trade association dedicated to representing the interests of the hydropower industry. Its members span the breadth of the industry and, with nearly 50 members, include hydropower producers, manufacturers, developers, engineering firms, organizations and individuals interested in the field of hydropower. CHA members represent more than 95% of the hydropower capacity in Canada.

Anne-Raphaëlle Audouin is a public affairs and environmental management specialist with experience working in both the private and public sectors. She holds an undergraduate degree in Political Science and Business Administration from the University of Nantes, France, as well as Civil Law and Common Law degrees from the University of Ottawa. She also earned a Master’s degree in Natural Resources and Environmental Management from Dalhousie University.

Before joining the Canadian Hydropower Association, Anne-Raphaëlle was an Environmental and Social Impact Management Specialist for an international engineering consulting firm for several years. In that role, she worked on a variety of local and international assignments, including stakeholders consultation and engagement, environmental planning, corporate social responsibility, government affairs and project management. Prior to engineering consulting, Anne-Raphaëlle was involved in the public sector working and volunteering with local non-profit organizations. This work included legal reform projects and communication planning for both non-governmental and government agencies.
Anne-Raphaëlle speaks French, English and Spanish and is certified in Project Controls and Planning.

For more information on upcoming events for the Canadian Hydropower Association, please click here.

Marine Renewables Canada

Marine Renewables Canada was established in 2004 and focuses on advancing the development of wave, tidal, and river current energy in Canada. By aligning industry, academia and government, Marine Renewables Canada works to ensure that Canada is a leader in providing marine energy solutions to a world market. A national non-profit association, Marine Renewables Canada works endlessly to aid in the realisation of Canada’s marine energy resources, technologies, and project capabilities.

Paul McEachern is the Executive Director of Marine Renewables Canada, which he joined Marine Renewables Canada in September of 2018 and plays a key role in working with industry, the supply chain, research community, and government to advance marine renewable energy development.

Paul brings a range of experience and expertise having also held roles with the EY Consulting Team in London UK working with the UK Department of International Trade, the Maritimes Energy Association (formerly OTANS), the Nova Scotia Department of Energy, and assignments for Atlantic Canada including inward investment attraction client targeting on behalf of ACOA’s Atlantic Canada Energy Office, and inward investment work including an assignment on behalf of Enterprise Saskatchewan in the mining engineering area.

Paul is a graduate of Robert Gordon University, Aberdeen UK holding a Master of Business Administration in Oil & Gas Management (MBA). His consultancy thesis, undertaken on behalf of Aberdeen City and Shires Economic Futures, was an analysis & strategy plan to expand international capture rate for UK oil/ gas & renewable supply chain.
Contact: paul@marinerenewables.ca

For more information on upcoming events for Marine Renewables Canada, please click here.

Canadian Solar Industries Association

CanSIA is a national trade association that represents the solar energy industry throughout Canada. Since 1992, CanSIA has worked to develop a strong, efficient, ethical and professional Canadian solar energy industry with capacity to provide innovative solar energy solutions and to play a major role in the global transition to a sustainable, clean-energy future.

John Gorman is the President and CEO of the Canadian Solar Industries Association, and is the spokesperson for the solar energy industry in Canada. John is a seasoned, strategic and thoughtful leader and recognized expert in building effective partnerships and coalitions to affect positive change. John brings expertise in government relations and public policy to the CanSIA Team developed during his 20-years of professional involvement in the solar energy and sustainable infrastructure sectors. John is a native of Ottawa where he lives with his wife and two children in their solar-powered home.
Contact: jgorman@cansia.ca

For more information on upcoming events for CanSIA, please click here.

Canadian Wind Energy Association

CanWEA, the Canadian Wind Energy Association, is the voice of Canada’s wind energy industry, actively promoting the responsible and sustainable growth of wind energy. A national non-profit association, CanWEA is Canada’s leading source of information on wind energy’s social, economic, health and environmental benefits for Canadian communities and provincial economies. Established in 1984, CanWEA represents the wind energy community — organizations and individuals who are directly involved in the development and application of wind energy technology, products and services.

Robert Hornung has been President of the Canadian Wind Energy Association (CanWEA) since August 2003. He represents the interests of CanWEA members who are Canada’s wind energy leaders – wind farm owners, operators, project developers, consultants, manufacturers and service providers; and organizations and individuals interested in supporting Canada’s wind energy industry. Robert is also a Board Member of the Global Wind Energy Council and was named a Fellow of the Royal Canadian Geographical Society in 2009.
Contact: roberthornung@canwea.ca

For more information on upcoming events for the Canadian Wind Energy Association, please click here.

“Solar energy is positioned to play a major role in the global transition to a sustainable, clean energy future.”

-Wesley Johnston, President and CEO, Canadian Solar Industries Association

Resources

The wind, water, waves and sun provide an inexhaustible supply of free fuel to power our economy.With abundant and diverse renewable electricity resources distributed across the country, Canada has the potential to lead the world.

To view detailed information on each of the renewable resources, select an icon below:

Hydro

Hydro Energy

Canada punches above its weight in hydro power, 3rd largest hydro producer in the world.

$125 billion will be invested in hydro projects in next 20 years creating upwards of 1,000,000 jobs.

Marine

Marine Energy

Over the next twenty-five years, the tidal energy industry could contribute up to $1.7 billion to Nova Scotia’s gross domestic product (GDP)

Canada has the highest tides in the world, with 160 billion tonnes of seawater flowing into the Bay of Fundy during a tide – comparatively, that is 25x more volume than flows over Niagara Falls in the same 6 hour interval.

Solar

Solar Energy

Canadian and Indian companies recently signed 2 solar power deals worth more than $1 billion.

Solar installations in Canada grew by 41% from 2013 to 2014, 52% from 2012 to 2013 and a whopping 670% from 2010 to 2014.

Wind

Wind Energy

Wind power in Canada produces enough electricity to power the equivalent to over 3 million average Canadian homes.

Wind energy: the largest source of new electricity generation in Canada for over a decade.

As part of CanCORE’s commitment to a fully non-emitting electricity grid for Canada, following are a series of submissions, made to the Federal Government respecting CanCORE’s views on federal regulations and pricing signals for carbon.

In addition to these submissions, CanCORE has testified before federal Parliamentary Standing Committees. Read our interventions.