MYGreen Education and Career » Ontario

Korean Companies Will Make $7 Billion Investment in Ontario’s Green Economy

SBurke — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 00:50:41 +0000

The Ontario provincial government has signed an agreement that will bring more green energy and new jobs to Ontario. In fact, the $7 Billion dollar investment is expected to create 16,000 new green jobs in the province.

A consortium led by Samsung C&T Corporation and the Korea Electric Power Corporation (KEPCO) will invest $7 billion to generate 2,500 megawatts of wind and solar power. These projects will triple Ontario’s output from renewable wind and solar sources and provide clean electricity to more than 580,000 households.

The investment will also lead to more than 16,000 new green energy jobs to build, install and operate the renewable generation projects.

The Korean consortium will also work with major partners to attract four manufacturing plants. This will lead to the creation of 1,440 green manufacturing and related jobs building wind and solar technology for use in Ontario and export across North America.

The consortium fully intends to use Ontario-made steel in its renewable energy projects, such as constructing its wind turbine towers.

This is the single-largest investment in renewable energy in provincial history. The consortium chose Ontario because our Green Energy Act guarantees stable rates for renewable energy.

Renewable energy provided by the Consortium would qualify for Feed-In Tariff prices available to all eligible projects.

Stimulating ManufacturingIn addition to the standard rates for electricity generation, the Consortium will be eligible for an economic development adder (EDA). This adder is contingent upon the Consortium manufacturing partners operating four manufacturing plants according to the following schedule:

Towers – in full operation by March 31, 2013
Solar Inverters – in full operation by March 31, 2013
Solar Module Assembly – in full operation by December 31, 2013
Blades – in full operation by December 31, 2015

These manufacturing facilities will produce wind turbine towers, wind blades, solar inverters and solar assembly in Ontario, creating more than 1,440 manufacturing and related jobs in the renewable energy industry. The local availability of these manufactured components will also help other renewable energy developers meet the Feed-In Tariff (FIT) domestic content requirements. An additional 700 manufacturing jobs are also anticipated to supply components not manufactured by the Consortium.

In addition, working with their manufacturing partners, the Consortium fully intends to use Ontario-made steel in their renewable energy projects, such as the steel needed for wind turbine towers.

Ratepayer Impact

The total cost of the EDA, assuming the manufacturing facilities are built according to the schedule set out in the agreement, will be approximately $437 million (net present value) over the lifetime of the contracts.

The EDA is expected to add on average $1.60 annually to a residential bill over the lifetime of the generation contracts. This equates to an increase of about 0.1 per cent on a typical residential electricity bill.

QUICK FACTS

Over 1,200 megawatts of new renewable projects, representing $2.8 billion of investment, have started up in Ontario since 2003.
Ontario is Canada’s leading province in wind and solar power.
The Green Energy Act will create 50,000 new jobs in the green energy sector.
CO2 emissions from coal-fired power generation are 73 per cent lower than 2003 levels, with four more units coming offline in fall, 2010.

Algonquin College Eyes Prestigious Platinum LEED Status with New Centre for Construction Excellence

SBurke — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 06:23:19 +0000

Armed with shovels, backhoes, and help from elected officials from all levels of government, Algonquin College’s President Robert Gillett broke ground on the new $77‐million Algonquin Centre for Construction Excellence today, in Ottawa, Canada’s capital city. “We are tremendously excited to have this project officially underway. We couldn’t have done it without the support from the entire college community as well as all levels of government,” said Gillett. “This new facility will not only help to address the skills shortage in the construction industry, it will be a showcase for green construction and training in Eastern Ontario.” Scheduled to open in the fall of 2011, the 180,000‐square‐foot building will house 600 additional construction seats and provide space for thousands more students studying in related programs.

The uniquely green, designed to be Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Platinum‐certified, building will also be a showcase and teaching laboratory for best practices in sustainable construction. “This will be a truly memorable, green facility,” adds Gillett. “The Algonquin Centre for Construction Excellence will be visually and functionally different as it aims to be the largest building in Canada to meet the exacting standards for Platinum LEED status.” The new facility will feature a storm water recovery system that will capture rainwater to flush toilets; solar panels to provide some power and hot water and serve as a working demonstration of solar’s potential; and a “Biowall,” a five‐story living, green entity covered with plants, that helps control humidity and clean the air.

“On top of this ‘super green’ construction will be a roof comprised of grass‐like vegetation and knee‐high plants that will look like a green meadow once construction is completed,” says Michael Leckman, Principal, with Diamond & Schmitt Architects. This will add campus greenspace and help with insulation, lowering the demands on the heating and cooling systems. “This is a great opportunity for students and faculty to learn first hand about the building of a leading‐edge green facility,” adds Gillett. The Algonquin Centre for Construction Excellence will also continue the greening of Algonquin’s curriculum, as its construction will serve as a model and applied learning laboratory for sustainable building.

EllisDon Corp. was selected in September as the design‐build contractor for the Algonquin Centre for Construction Excellence. “This building will be an architectural landmark in Ottawa’s west‐end and will be the focal point of the Centrepointe redevelopment project,” says Mark Fazio, Vice President and Area Manager, EllisDon Corp. Built on land donated by the City of Ottawa, and with $35‐million from both the provincial and federal governments, the Algonquin Centre for Construction Excellence will connect a relocated Baseline bus station and a new below‐grade transit roadway to the main Campus via a $4‐million pedestrian bridge to be constructed across Woodroffe Avenue.

“This project has been at the top of my list as Algonquin’s local Member of Parliament,” said Minister John Baird. “Through our $35 million federal investment in the new skilled trades centre, we are putting more trades people to work to help create jobs and stimulate our local economy right here in the City of Ottawa.”

“The construction of this exciting new facility at Algonquin College will produce jobs and provide important economic stimulus for Ottawa and Eastern Ontario,” said Jim Watson, MPP for Ottawa West – Nepean and Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing. “Once the centre is completed, Algonquin College will be at the leading edge of Construction and Skilled Trades training, and will produce the skilled trades leaders of tomorrow. The Province of Ontario is pleased to contribute $35 Million to this forward thinking initiative.”

“Today’s ground‐breaking demonstrates the commitment of Algonquin College and all three levels of government to continually improve education and transportation,” said Ottawa Mayor Larry O’Brien. “The Southwest Transitway work at Baseline Station is an example of our long‐term plan for sustainable transit that will support our community in years to come.” “Four years ago the Algonquin ACCE building, the re‐design of the Centrepointe Community, the Pedestrian Safety bridge over Woodroffe, the new City Archives and the redesign of Baseline area transit were all proceeding as separate projects without integration,” said Rick Chiarelli, City Councillor, College Ward. “The smartest thing we ever did was to see the power in working together and in the amazing synergies available to us. The community made it all work and they were the magnet that helped to pull everyone together to achieve double the value for taxpayers.” The Algonquin Centre for Construction Excellence will be a hub for industry bringing together students, professors, and researchers, with local builders and tradespeople, creating synergies that will produce highly skilled graduates familiar with the team work requirements of today’s modern construction sector.

With support from all levels of government, Algonquin is now calling upon industry and community partners to raise the final $7 million through the Constructing our Future Capital Campaign. “We have the support we asked for from all levels of government and construction industry is now stepping in and providing the final piece of funding for this project,” says Gillett. “Our campaign is steadily building momentum, and today’s $1 million pledge by Roger Greenberg, CEO of Minto Group Inc., is also a significant milestone as it is the largest individual gift in the history of Algonquin College.” The centre has also received strong support from the community. During initial planning and advocacy phase of this project the college was inundated with over 700 letters of support encouraging the college to stay the course and make sure this facility gets built.

For more information please visit: www.algonquincollege.com/expansion

First Solar Sells Largest PV Solar Energy Facility Project in Canada to Enbridge Inc

Tracey A. Smith — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 12:36:31 +0000

Enbridge Inc. and First Solar, Inc. announced that they have entered into an agreement for Enbridge to acquire a 20 megawatt (MW) solar energy project that First Solar has developed and is constructing near Sarnia, Ontario.

“As society and governments increasingly accept green energy, we believe that solar energy represents meaningful opportunities for long-term growth,” said Patrick D. Daniel, President and Chief Executive Officer, Enbridge, Inc. “The Sarnia Solar Project is right in the sweet spot of Enbridge’s renewable energy strategy. It has risk and return characteristics which are fully consistent with Enbridge’s low-risk business model, and similar to our crude oil pipeline business. At the same time it represents a further step towards our corporate goal of a neutral environmental footprint.

“We’re pleased to work with First Solar, the global leader in solar energy, in the commercialization of this project,” Mr. Daniel continued. “In 2009, Enbridge’s investment in solar energy will be approximately C$100 million. We plan to continue to invest in further renewable energy investments which have similar risk and return characteristics, including potential additional investments in Ontario.”

The Sarnia Solar Project is expected to be completed by the end of 2009 and be the largest photovoltaic solar energy facility in operation in Canada and one of the largest in North America. At 20 MW, Enbridge expects the project will generate enough power to meet the needs of about 3,200 homes and help to save the equivalent of approximately 6,600 tonnes of CO2 per year.

“Enbridge’s investment underscores the fact that large-scale solar photovoltaic power generation is becoming a reality,” said Bruce Sohn, President of First Solar. “This agreement is the first that realizes the value of the OptiSolar project development pipeline that we acquired in April. First Solar’s project development and engineering, procurement and construction capabilities have enabled us to complete over 65 per cent of the 20 MW project in less than three months.” First Solar did not recognize revenue from this project in the fiscal third quarter.

Under the terms of the agreement, First Solar is constructing the solar project under a fixed price engineering, procurement and construction contract, utilizing its thin film photovoltaic technology. First Solar’s advanced thin film technology has been deployed in over 1,000 MW of installations in the U.S. and Europe.

First Solar will also provide operations and maintenance services under a long-term contract. The power output of the facility will be sold to the Ontario Power Authority pursuant to a 20-year Power Purchase Agreement under the terms of the Ontario Government’s Renewable Energy Standard Offer Program. Subject to certain conditions, Enbridge may participate with First Solar in future solar energy projects at the Sarnia site.

The Sarnia project will complement Enbridge’s four existing wind energy projects which have a combined capacity of 260 megawatts. Enbridge’s share of the power generated by the wind facilities provides enough green energy to meet the equivalent of 35 per cent of the power requirements of the Company’s Canadian crude oil mainline. Enbridge also has interests in emissions-free hybrid fuel cell technology and waste heat recovery facilities.

“Enbridge is pleased to invest in infrastructure projects like the Sarnia Solar Project that are creating near term employment in Ontario, as well as advancing Ontario’s green energy policy objectives,” said Mr. Daniel. “Ontario’s Green Energy Act demonstrates the commitment of Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty and the Honourable George Smitherman, Deputy Premier and Minister of Energy and Infrastructure to a diversified portfolio of green energy solutions and to encouraging investment in Ontario. We already own and operate the 190 MW Enbridge Ontario Wind Project in Bruce County, Ontario, the second largest in Canada, and we welcome the opportunity to help create additional environmentally preferred energy solutions and to support a diversified, interconnected and stable supply of green energy in Ontario.”

Sarnia Solar Energy at a glance:

Capacity peak: approx. 20,000 kilowatts

Module surface area: approx. 250,615 m2; approx. 337,200 thin film modules(First Solar)

Annual yield: around 30 million kWh (corresponding to the annual consumptionof around 3,200 households)

CO2 saving: approx. 6,600 tonnes per year

Ontario’s Rocky Road Towards Becoming International Renewable Energy Leader

admin — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 07:03:25 +0000

The Province of Ontario’s new Green Energy Act is intended to make Ontario a global leader in clean, renewable energy and conservation, creating thousands of jobs, economic prosperity, energy security and climate protection. While the government is receiving widespread international praise and local environmental group support for the four new programs announced today, disappointment has been expressed by local labour groups who feel the local content requirement is too low to provide the quality and quantity of green jobs the government promised.

According to the Green Energy Act Alliance (www.greenenergyact.ca), there has been widespread praise for the legislation and associated programs. “We are thrilled that the government has followed through on its pledge to make Ontario a global leader in renewable energy,” said Deb Doncaster, Executive Director of the Community Power Fund. “The new feed-in tariffs and approval process provide an excellent environment for the renewable energy industry, while new resources for the community power sector mean that individuals and communities will directly benefit from the government’s plans.”

“Ontario is quickly emerging as a global leader in renewable energy with policies that rival those of the renewable energy superpowers in Europe and elsewhere,” said Dr. Hermann Scheer, President of EUROSOLAR, General Chairman of the World Council for Renewable Energy and Member of the German Bundestag (Germany’s federal parliament). “The success of feed-in tariff programs in many European countries has shown they are the right choice for regions serious about renewable energy. Ontario has chosen wisely and will surely reap the rewards.”

The most prominent of the announcements, Ontario’s new feed-in tariff program (FIT), guarantees a price paid to producers for energy generated from renewable sources based on the technology used, the size of the project and ownership for 20 year terms. This approach has been successful in various European countries and has been adopted in countries around the world including regions of China and India. The Ontario Power Authority is responsible for administering the new FIT program.

“Ontario is breaking ground in North America and embarking on an important journey, one that we hope more governments will follow, including state and federal agencies in the United States,” said Denis Hayes, President and CEO of the Bullitt Foundation, Former Director of the US National Renewable Energy Laboratory and founder of Earth Day International.

The revised renewable energy approvals process, developed by the Ministry of the Environment, provides more straightforward rules for planning renewable energy projects. The new rules allow projects to be planned more efficiently while maintaining province-wide standards for health, safety and the environment.

Community ownership of renewable energy projects is widely recognized as a key part of developing a successful renewable energy industry, and encompasses everything from homeowners installing solar panels on their homes, to community wind co-ops owning wind farms.

To encourage community power, the government announced two funds to help communities develop renewable energy projects and municipalities deal with infrastructure costs associated with accommodating projects in their regions. This is in addition to the two funds announced last week to support the direct participation of Aboriginal communities in Ontario’s emerging green energy sector.

“This program and the feed-in tariffs are great incentives for people in communities throughout Ontario who want to generate clean energy, while the streamlined regulations should remove many of the barriers that have been preventing communities from developing green energy projects. We will be closely monitoring how effective the programs and regulations are and we welcome the opportunity to review them in two years,” said Kristopher Stevens, Executive Director of the Ontario Sustainable Energy Association, which represents many communities developing power projects.

The one element of the government’s announcement that was not met with as much optimism was the local content requirement for renewable energy projects, part of the government’s plan to bring new manufacturing jobs to the province. The government announced only a modest local requirement for wind developments, the industry with the highest potential for jobs in manufacturing in Ontario. The 25 per cent is only expected to promote local construction jobs and transmission components, not the turbines themselves as hoped.

“We are disappointed that the domestic content requirement is only 25% until 2012,” said Ken Delaney, United Steelworkers Canada. “If you want wind turbines manufactured in Ontario you need higher domestic content. I am afraid this policy leaves a lot of green jobs on the table.”

“We need to look at all available opportunities to bring these green manufacturing jobs to the region,” said Dr. Rick Smith, Executive Director of Environmental Defence. “It would be a shame if Ontario’s renewable energy revolution is not truly made in Ontario and all this great work does not truly benefit every Ontarian.”

About the Green Energy Act Alliance: The Alliance’s vision is to make Ontario a global leader in green energy development through the use of renewable energy, distributed energy and conservation, creating thousands of jobs, economic prosperity, energy security, while ensuring climate protection. Member groups include: the Ontario Sustainable Energy Association, Community Power Fund, the David Suzuki Foundation, Environmental Defence, United Steelworkers, the First Nations Energy Alliance, the Ivey Foundation, the Ontario Federation of Agriculture and the Pembina Institute.

Canadian Solar’s PV Reliability Testing Centre Joins Intertek’s ‘Satellite Program’

Tracey A. Smith — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 14:24:05 +0000

ONTARIO, Canada, Sept. 17 — Intertek and Canadian Solar announced today the official designation of Canadian Solar’s PV Reliability Testing Center as the first PV partner to join Intertek’s “Satellite Program”.

This designation by Intertek is another recognition of Canadian Solar’s quality control system and its state-of-art ISO17025 accredited internal laboratory. Intertek developed its “Satellite Program”, a new Client Data Acceptance Program, in response to the ever increasing market requirements for product certification. Conducting tests in customers’ own labs, on their own schedule, customers obtain Intertek’s market-leading certifications for their products.

Under the “Satellite Program”, customers can choose the level of service that’s right for their compliance and sales goals. When the testing results meet all certification requirements, Intertek will issue the requested certificate, such as ETL based on UL1703 standards. The practice under the “Satellite Program” can greatly reduce the testing/certification lead time, thus facilitating the timely introduction of new products into the market place.

Dr. Shawn Qu, the President and CEO of Canadian Solar, commented: “In July of this year, our photovoltaic reliability testing center became the first PV manufacturer owned testing center to receive the ISO 17025 accreditation. I am glad that Canadian Solar’s state-of-the-art PV Reliability Center became the first center in the PV industry to partner with Intertek in its ‘Satellite Program’. This recognition is another example of our reputation in stringent quality control in our products and our deep knowledge in reliability testing of PV products.”

Mr. Frank Pan, President of Intertek Commercial and Electrical Asia Pacific, remarked: “We have been looking for a business model that best accommodates the market requirements and customers’ product and service needs.

The ‘Satellite Program’ is the outcome of our search. The PV market has a great potential for further development globally. Intertek undertakes its mission and mandate to work together with PV manufacturers around the world to further facilitate the process of quality management in each stage of PV manufacturing. Canadian solar is well-known for its unwavering adherence to the highest quality standards in its production. We are honored to have Canadian Solar join this ‘Satellite Program’.”

About Intertek

Intertek is a leading international provider of quality and safety services to a wide range of global and local industries. From auditing and inspection, to testing, quality assurance and certification, Intertek people are dedicated to adding value to customers’ products and processes, supporting their success in the global market place.

Intertek has the experience, expertise, resources and global reach to support its customers through its extensive network of 1000 laboratories and offices and over 24,000 people in more than 100 countries around the world.

The Commercial & Electrical division of Intertek provides product testing and certification services, including safety testing and certification, electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) testing, and performance testing. These services provide global market access to customers in industries such as Audio and video products, Automotive, Building products, Cables and wiring accessories, Electronics, Gas appliances, Household appliances, HVAC, IT, Industrial machinery, Installation accessories, Lighting, Medical devices, Power supply, Security, Semiconductor, Telecommunications, Wireless technology etc. For further information, visit http://www.intertek.com .

About Canadian Solar Inc. (NASDAQ: CSIQ)

Canadian Solar Inc. is a leading vertically integrated provider of ingot, wafer, solar cell, solar module and other solar applications. Canadian Solar designs, manufactures and delivers solar products and solar systems for on- grid and off-grid use to customers worldwide. Canadian Solar is one of the world’s largest solar module producers by manufacturing capacity. With operations in North America, Europe and Asia, Canadian Solar provides premium quality, cost-effective and environmentally-friendly solar solutions to support global sustainable development. For more information, visit

http://www.canadian-solar.com .

SOURCE Canadian Solar Inc.

MYGreen Education and Career » Ontario

Korean Companies Will Make $7 Billion Investment in Ontario’s Green Economy

Related posts

Algonquin College Eyes Prestigious Platinum LEED Status with New Centre for Construction Excellence

Related posts

First Solar Sells Largest PV Solar Energy Facility Project in Canada to Enbridge Inc

Related posts

Ontario’s Rocky Road Towards Becoming International Renewable Energy Leader

Related posts

Canadian Solar’s PV Reliability Testing Centre Joins Intertek’s ‘Satellite Program’

Related posts