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, WaterPower Canada

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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 WaterPower Canada, Marine Renewables Canada, Canadian Solar Industries Association (CanSIA), and the Canadian Wind Energy Association (CanWEA). CanWEA and CanSIA unified into the Canadian Renewable Energy Association on July 1, 2020.

“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.”

-Elisa Obermann, Executive Director, Marine Renewables Canada

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Our Members


The members of the Council are the WaterPower Canada, Canadian Renewable Energy Association, and Marine Renewables Canada.

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

WaterPower Canada

Founded in 1998, WaterPower Canada (WPC) 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. WPC members represent more than 95% of the hydropower capacity in Canada.

member_ceo_hydroAnne-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 WaterPower Canada, 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.

Contact: anne@waterpowercanada.ca

For more information on upcoming events for WaterPower Canada, 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.

Elisa Obermann is the Executive Director of Marine Renewables Canada.

Elisa joined Marine Renewables Canada in 2012, first as the Atlantic Director and then as executive director in 2015. In this role she works to facilitate technology innovation in the sector by advocating for supportive policies, identifying international business development opportunities, and enhancing the capacity of the local supply chain. Elisa has also designed and led numerous engagement and outreach activities to grow knowledge and support for marine renewable energy development.

Elisa is a founding member of the Canadian Council on Renewable Electricity (CanCORE), an advisory board member for the National Research Council’s Ocean, Coastal and River Engineering Research Centre and a director on the Offshore Energy Research Association’s Board. She has also worked at several other organizations, focused on clean technology, tidal energy, and the broader renewable energy sector including Sustainable Development Technology Canada, the Fundy Ocean Research Center for Energy (FORCE), and Nova Scotia Department of Energy.

Contact: elisa@marinerenewables.ca

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

Canadian Renewable Energy Association

The Canadian Renewable Energy Association is the voice for wind energy, solar energy and energy storage solutions that will power Canada’s energy future. Our association works to create the conditions for a modern 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.

Robert Hornung has been President of the Canadian Wind Energy Association (CanWEA) for nearly 17 years. During his time as President, he represented the interests of CanWEA members who are Canada’s wind energy leaders – wind farm owners, operators, project developers, consultants, manufacturers and service providers. Together with members and stakeholders, Robert helped facilitate wind energy growth in Canada from under 300 megawatts to over 13,000 megawatts of installed capacity through advocacy and engagement efforts. Prior to joining CanWEA, Robert worked on climate change issues with the Pembina Institute, Environment Canada, the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development and Friends of the Earth Canada. Robert is currently on the Advisory Council of Positive Energy, a University of Ottawa research project that seeks to strengthen public confidence in Canadian energy policy.

Contact: rhornung@renewablesassociation.ca

For more information on upcoming events for the Canadian Renewable Energy Association, 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.

member_ceo_canweaRobert 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, wind energy and energy storage are uniquely positioned to deliver clean, low-cost, reliable, flexible and scalable solutions for Canada’s energy needs.”

-Robert Hornung, President and CEO, Canadian Renewable Energy Association

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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

Waterpower provides more than 60% of Canada’s electricity making us the fourth largest waterpower generator in the world, ensuring our electricity grid is one of the cleanest globally.

Hydroelectricity produces no air pollutants and has ultra-low greenhouse gas emissions. From a full life cycle assessment basis, Canada’s hydropower is amongst the lowest emitting resources available.


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

Solar energy costs have declined 89% since 2009.

There are more than 43,000 solar energy installations in Canada.


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.

Take a look at the latest initiatives as part of CanCORE’s commitment to a fully non-emitting electricity grid for Canada: