Canada: Towards a Greener Future

Canada, a country that is boundless and rich in natural resources, is now travelling full speed ahead toward an ever greener future. The second largest country in the world, Canada has a goal to phase out coal, and in 12 years’ time, will see it become 100% green. The plan announced by the Minister of the Environment and Climate Change, Catherine McKenna, more than a year ago, calls for 90% of electricity to come from renewable sources by 2030. To reach this ambitious achievement, the country is moving on multiple fronts: the federal Government is committed to using only energy from clean sources in federal and military public offices, reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the country by 40%; it has also planned to retrofit public buildings with the idea of containing energy consumption. "In 2017, $21.9 billion dollars were allocated to green infrastructure, giving priority to electrical grid interconnections for renewables plants, to charging stations for electric vehicles, and to wastewater management." A Cleaner, More Efficient and Reliable Energy System Canada’s energy generation mix is already one of the cleanest in the world, with hydro being the primary source of the country’s renewable energy. More than 80 percent of Canada’s electrical energy comes from renewable sources or from those with very low carbon emissions, and wind and solar have been growing steadily in the last decade. But at the moment, water is the most important source of renewable energy: it is the primary source of Canada’s renewable energy provides 59.3% of Canada’s electricity production. Wind is next with 3.5%, and then biomass, which covers 1.4% of the country’s energy generation. "Canada is the second largest producer of hydropower in the world, after China. But now, the Ottawa government wants to push for wind and solar photovoltaic energy for consumer energy." The Renewable Electricity Program has been launched with this in mind. It was instituted within the Climate Leadership Plan of the government of Alberta, a province in western Canada, aimed at creating a cleaner, more efficient and reliable energy system. The program calls for the development of 5,000 MW of production capacity from renewable sources to be connected to the Alberta grid by 2030. The Winds of Change With a renewed focus on Canadian wind, Enel Green Power will lead this full green transition. The Group was awarded two Renewable Energy Support Agreements lasting 20 years, for 146 MW of new wind capacity in Alberta, following a tender called by the manager of the province’s electrical system, Alberta Electric System Operator. Based on the two contracts, Enel Green Power will build two wind farms for an overall investment of $170 million dollars. "Enel Green Power is leading this important growth of renewables in Canada. Growth in terms of megawatts of clean energy; growth of the specialised workforce; growth in relationships with institutions and local businesses; and growth in our relationships with some of our most valuable stakeholders: the communities where we work. Through dedication, innovation and teamwork, the EGP-NA team will continue to make giant strides across the continent." Rafael Gonzalez, Head of Renewable Energy North America The new wind farms of Riverview Wind and Phase 2 of Castle Rock Ridge (an expansion of EGPNA’s existing 76.2-MW plant, Castle Rock Ridge), are both located in Pincher Creek, Alberta, and should be operational by 2019. Once active, the two plants are expected to generate about 555 GWh a year. The capacity that EGPNA obtained in the tender will more than double the company’s installed capacity in Canada, which currently stands at more than 103 MW. "This award in Canada is an important achievement for our company, being the first regulated tender for renewables we’ve ever won in the country." Antonio Cammisecra, CEO of Enel Green Power In Canada, EGP already manages two wind farms, the above-mentioned Castle Rock Ridge (76.2 MW) in Pincher Creek and the St. Lawrence (27 MW) wind farm in Newfoundland, in service since 2012 and 2009, respectively. Commitment to the Country Innovation is a key part of the company’s pursuit of sustainable growth and EGP-NA has adopted an open approach to dialogue with all stakeholders to build a better world, working together. "This collaborative philosophy also guides EGP-NA’s local commitment in Canada, bringing value to nearby communities." In Canada, our colleagues carry out many volunteer activities in their communities. During “Green Up Our Community Week” last October, our colleagues helped clean up access roads and paths to the plant following heavy snows, and participated in beach and park beautification projects. All of the volunteering initiatives demonstrate once again the full integration of Enel Green Power’s business in the economic, social and naturalistic fabric where we live and work.

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Canada: Towards a Greener Future

Canada: Towards a Greener Future