A Look at Year Two
Since its inception, the CCEMC has allocated $126.15 million to 27 technology projects that are at the leading edge of impacting and reducing energy emissions.
Supporting and building on the strategic direction established in Alberta’s 2008 Climate Change Strategy will make significant contributions to a more efficient and cleaner energy industry. By applying these guidelines, the CCEMC will grow its portfolio of projects that develop cleaner and more efficient energy production.
The CCEMC’s inaugural year was dedicated to getting its feet firmly planted in the cleaner energy sector. Now, the CCEMC is emerging as a leader in stimulating clean technology development in the province. Through transformative change, the CCEMC will play a part in enhancing Alberta’s competitiveness, and enhance the economic and environmental value of the province’s energy resources. More importantly, this momentum is helping Alberta facilitate the growth of clean technologies that can be exported around the world. New economic opportunities in various sectors are becoming available through the CCEMC’s funded projects and Alberta will soon emerge as a leader in the creation of highly skilled jobs that advance transformative energy technologies.
New Projects
With a new approach in mind, June 2010 brought a targeted call for expressions of interest that focused on industrial energy efficiency projects. Soon after, the CCEMC made another call in September 2010 directed at renewable energy projects. These areas were under represented in the portfolio and offered immediate potential for greenhouse gas reductions. In total, 115 proposals were received and 34 candidates were invited to submit full proposals. After a robust review, six energy efficiency projects and five renewable projects were selected for their game-changing approaches to reducing Alberta’s energy emissions.
11 Game-Changing Projects
The 11 projects receiving CCEMC funding make a statement for Alberta, and to the world. Some of the greatest innovators are working in our province and their technologies are transformative in nature. Projects selected for the most impact are focused in two key areas:
- Renewable energy – $27.65 million
- Industrial energy efficiency – $27.2 million
Project proponents estimate that all of the CCEMC projects to date will cut emissions by a combined total of 772,000 tonnes a year. You can learn more about these projects throughout this report.
Stepping up to Clean Innovation
In May 2010, a Conference Board of Canada2 report concluded that CCEMC funding efforts will make a meaningful contribution to Alberta’s environment by promoting clean innovation and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. More than $6 billion is expected to be spent on climate-friendly technology in Alberta between 2010 and 2014 – more than all other provinces combined. Pivotal to the CCEMC’s contribution is project leverage; for every dollar CCEMC invests in a project approximately another four dollars are also invested.
The CCEMC anticipated a steep learning curve in its first year of operation, and is applying some of the lessons learned to a more targeted approach in its sophomore year. During the past year, the CCEMC refined its approach and began to invite proposals for more targeted investment in projects throughout the innovation chain that have the possibility of breakthrough success. From inception, the objective has been to uncover good ideas and this year it became apparent that brilliant ideas can come from unexpected places.
Biological Program Advancement
Knowledge is crucial to identifying emission reduction opportunities in biological systems and management – particularly agriculture, forestry, waste to energy and landscape level/large scale integrated management. In December 2010, the CCEMC brought approximately 45 of Canada’s leading climate change thinkers together to discuss Canada’s biological management needs.
The CCEMC recognizes the significant potential to manage Canada’s GHGs through biological opportunities. In fact, more than 30% of our emissions can be potentially eliminated through this approach3. The December workshop provided the foundation to launch CCEMC’s biological project.
The need to manage GHGs through biological methods is apparent, and Alberta is prepared to lead the way in its development. With this in mind, the CCEMC commissioned a comprehensive report to identify what the GHG potential could be and where the opportunities for improvement are. The report assesses each opportunity area and the gaps or barriers that limit its potential.
A conceptual biological program was developed and the CCEMC Board approved to proceed with business plan development. The biological program is expected to be implemented in the next operating year.
Knowledge Network Inventory Work
To tackle climate change issues, the CCEMC strongly believes in continually enhancing its knowledge on climate change issues and technology. This year, the CCEMC established an inventory of key knowledge networks within North America that will help the CCEMC expand climate change knowledge and support technology advancement.
The CCEMC intends to pursue pivotal working relationships with four “super networks”: the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (“NREL”), National Energy Technology Laboratory, Joint Institute of Strategic Energy Analysis (led by NREL) and CanmetENERGY, Natural Resources Canada.
The relationships with these super networks will enhance the CCEMC’s knowledge base, maintain currency in science and business applications and track the evolution and development of key technologies.
The GHG Reduction Summit
Fostering a Climate for Change
CCEMC Operations Management Committee
The CCEMC GHG Reduction Summit concluded on May 17 after bringing together an audience of 200 from industry, policy and research and development fields to discuss opportunities to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. CCEMC Chair Eric Newell and then Alberta Environment Minister Rob Renner opened the Summit on May 16. Keynote speakers such as Jeremy Rifkin, Josh Linkner and Sean Wise challenged the audience to act quickly and creatively.
Conversations were sparked that cross the boundaries of industry and profession. By bringing together industry leaders, technologists, policy-makers, financers and key stakeholders from diverse backgrounds, the aim was to develop recommendations to move toward a world-class system.
The program addressed topics and issues that are relevant to the industry while the networking activities focused on building connections between delegates. By providing a forum for such frank discussion, we dug into the core issues currently affecting the system.
Panel discussions included speakers such as Bob Page, Chair of the National Roundtable on the Environment and the Economy, Roger Gibbins from the Canada West Foundation, University of Alberta Dean of Engineering Dr. David Lynch, entrepreneur Joey Hundert and James Chepyha, Vice President of Investments, Alberta for Chrysalix. Following panel discussions, participants were divided into smaller facilitated breakout groups to discuss issues and recommendations. A report, including recommendations, will be made available Fall 2011.
Progress To Date
NOTE: Graphs report aggregate total from May 2009 to May 2011.
