Renewable Energy
The term, renewable energy, refers to several energy sources that share one characteristic: they all produce electrical, thermal or mechanical energy without
unnecessarily depleting resources. The renewable energy sources are generally classified as water, biomass, wind, solar, earth and energy from wastes ("water"
usually means small hydroelectric uses, while "earth energy" means using heat stored in underground rocks and water).
The development and use of renewable energies is one of the two major strategies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from energy consumptions (the other being
energy efficiency improvements and use of alternative fuels).
Case Studies
The Canadian Renewable Energy Network has established an initiative
to identify high-potential projects in Canada in order to help accelerate
the implementation of renewable energy technologies. This initiative
started in the autumn of 1999. A total of 34 projects were identified
from among hundreds of substantial projects scattered across Canada,
and were evaluated based upon their success and degree of innovation.
These project descriptions illustrate the importance of renewable
energy and provide information on the cost-effectiveness of the
projects, energy and technical statistics and environmental impacts
of the projects. The 34 projects are in four technology categories
(water, biomass, solar and earth energy). The projects serve as
prime examples of how renewable energy can be implemented into the
Canadian energy market. This is by no means an exhaustive list of
Canadian projects; it simply highlights a few of the most current
and innovative projects.
Each case study is significant as it demonstrates applications
of renewable energy that Canadians can integrate into their daily
lives. Natural Resources Canada has been a supporting partner in
each of the projects, either as a funding, research and development
or managing organization.
Besides Natural Resources Canada, organisations involved with the
projects include academic institutions, provincial and municipal
governments, research and development institutions and private industry
such as resource and service-based companies. Many of the case studies
highlight installations of small-scale projects that offset the
use of more traditional, non-renewable energy fuels.
Readers will notice that many of the case studies are located in
and around major urban areas. This is a result mainly of the concentration
in these areas of population, economic support and technical expertise.
Natural Resources Canada and its partners are working to expand
the role of renewable energy applications in the Canadian energy
market, with one emphasis being projects in remote communities and
The Canadian Renewable Energy Network will work to expand the public
awareness of these applications and projects.
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