Green Energy Futures CKUA Radio Podcast
By David Dodge, GreenEnergyFutures.ca
“It’s go time for wind energy, energy storage, and solar energy,” says Vittoria Bellissimo the new President and CEO of the Canadian Renewable Energy Association.
“What we need is rapid decarbonization and a great expansion of electricity production to achieve a net-zero economy” she told Green Energy Futures CKUA Radio Podcast.
Bellissimo replaces the long serving and much lauded Robert Hornung who also formerly headed up the Canadian Wind Energy Association before they merged with the Canadian Solar Energy Industry Association.
“Our members are offering low cost energy at a time when customers want low cost energy,” says Bellissimo.
CANRea’s vision document says that Canada needs 30 plus gigawatts of new wind and solar energy by 2030 to meet its GHG emissions targets and a net-zero grid,” says Bellissimo.
$50 Billion Investment Opportunity for Canada
“We’ve estimate that this represents a potential $50 billion investment opportunity for Canada’s wind and solar industries. And we aim to unlock this value for our members.”
“Go time” is indeed an apt description of the future of renewable energy.
Almost one gigawatt of wind and solar energy was added to the grid in Canada in 2021 and projections are 3 gigawatts more will be added in each of 2022 and 2023.
Bellissimo predicts renewable energy will become the dominant new sources of electricity generation in Canada she says. This is because “they are low cost and because Canada has abundant and enviable wind and solar resources.”
And in these times of a climate crisis these technologies “can be deployed more rapidly and more affordably than other technologies.”
Bellissimo replaces Robert Hornung, a giant of a figure in the renewable energy industry. She attended his retirement party and says “I heard lots of stories. I heard about an early wind energy conference that was held in a barn in Pincher Creek, Alberta. For contrast this year we had over 1,600 participants attend ETC in Toronto,” says Bellissimo.
Full disclosure Bellissimo and I both served on the board of Energy Efficiency Alberta (EEA).
“We [EEA] supported businesses, industrial facilities, public institutions and households, and I believe we generated almost a billion dollars in economic growth and nearly $3 in value for every $1 invested through Energy Efficiency Alberta.
EEA isn’t around any more, but today Bellissimo also serves on the board of Emissions Reduction Alberta.
Renewable Energy is booming in Alberta today thanks to it’s open electricity market and other provinces are stepping up too. Ontario is seeking to procure up to 2,500 megawatts of energy storage and Saskatchewan wants to add 2,000 megawatts of wind and solar by 2030. Quebec and Nova Scotia are also developing their own plans to expand renewable energy.
Will it be enough to help Canada get to net-zero. Time will tell, but meanwhile Bellissimo says “You’re going to hear some new announcements soon.”