Improving Energy Performance in Canada – Report to Parliament Under the Energy Efficiency Act For the Fiscal Year 2005-2006

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Chapter 9: General Programs

Outreach

Objective: To increase Canadians' awareness and understanding of climate change and the link to energy use, and to encourage Canadians to take action.

The Outreach program provides information and activities to encourage Canadians to integrate energy efficiency into their energy-use decisions. Outreach supplements program communications activities with publications, exhibits, joint projects and the Office of Energy Efficiency (OEE) Web site.

The Outreach program targets youth as future energy consumers by investing in joint initiatives in the education sector and through promotional projects. Public information activities increase awareness of the environmental impact of energy use. They also encourage consumers to adopt energy-efficient practices and to switch to alternative forms of energy.

The One-Tonne Challenge was launched in March 2004 as a component of the Outreach program. The Challenge was co-managed with Environment Canada, with input from and coordination with other departments such as Transport Canada. It was discontinued as of March 31, 2006.

Key 2005-2006 Achievements

• Distributed over 5.6 million energy efficiency publications and information tools, an increase of 27 percent over 2004–2005. OEE Web site visits were up almost 53 percent from 2004–2005.
• The on-line Energy and Environment Calendar Club continues to grow in popularity with more than 190 000 visits during 2005–2006, a 25 percent increase over the previous year.
• The 2005 One-Tonne Challenge Tracking Survey – Phase II found that over the year awareness of the One-Tonne Challenge jumped fourfold, from 15 percent to 60 percent of the adult population.

For more information:
oee.nrcan.gc.ca/corporate/programs.cfm#Outreach

RETScreen^® International Clean Energy Decision Support Centre

Objective: To build the capacity of planners, decision-makers and industry to implement renewable energy and energy efficiency projects.

This objective is achieved by developing decision-making tools that reduce the cost of pre-feasibility studies, by disseminating knowledge to help people make better decisions, and by training people to better analyse the technical and financial viability of potential projects.

Key 2005–2006 Achievements

• Increased the number of users of the RETScreen International Clean Energy Project Analysis Software to more than 79 000 people in 213 countries. The number of people benefiting from this decision-support and capacity-building tool is growing at more than 400 new users every week. RETScreen is quickly becoming the de facto international standard for clean energy project pre-feasibility analysis.
• Released a number of new or improved RETScreen software and training tools, including a new multilingual version of the Combined Heat and Power software model and training course in 21 languages (including Chinese, Spanish, Russian and Hindi) covering roughly two thirds of the world's population.
• Initiated development of a major new version of the RETScreen Software. In RETScreen Version 4, the software's capabilities are being expanded from renewable energy, cogeneration and district energy to include a full array of financially viable clean power, heating and cooling technologies and energy efficiency measures. To enhance the software's international appeal, action is being taken in cooperation with NASA to increase the amount of climate data required by the tool to cover the entire surface of the planet, and the entire software suite is being translated into 21 languages.

For more information:
retscreen.net

Program of Energy Research and Development (PERD)

Objective: To fund research and development (R&D) designed to ensure a sustainable energy future for Canada in the best interests of our economy and our environment.

The PERD budget for 2005–2006 was approximately $57 million. Natural Resources Canada allocated $38.5 million to energy R&D programs managed and performed in the department, approximately 50 percent aimed at improving energy efficiency in Canada. Efficiencies are sought in energy production, distribution and end-use. Production encompasses both fossil fuels and alternative sources, including biomass.

Examples of funded projects are highlighted in the performance reporting in Chapters 3 to 7 of this document. The remaining $18.5 million has been allocated to 12 federal departments that are PERD partners.

For more information:
www2.nrcan.gc.ca/ES/OERD/english

Climate Change Technology Development and Innovation Program (of the Government of Canada Action Plan 2000 on Climate Change)

Objective: To accelerate the development of cost-effective R&D mitigation technologies in multiple sectors, building the intellectual foundation for long-term technological advances, building alliances and partnerships, and demonstrating federal leadership towards sustainable development.

The Climate Change Technology Development and Innovation Program received $20 million over six years (2001–2006).

Key 2005-2006 Achievements

• Published the Clean Coal Technology Roadmap and the CO₂ Capture and Storage Technology Roadmap.Technology roadmaps are designed to deliver a forecasting tool for determining future market needs, promoting cooperation, and planning the best approach to advancing promising climate change technologies.
• Novel Next Generation Technology Initiative completed the last request for proposals. This initiative sponsored basic research in climate change technologies at universities, federal laboratories and provincial Key 2005–2006 Achievements laboratories. As of March 31, 2006, the initiative has sponsored 21 projects at universities across Canada and 34 projects in provincial and federal laboratories.

Canadian Initiative for International Technology Transfer (CIITT) (of the Government of Canada Action Plan 2000 on Climate Change)

Objective: To identify and develop technology transfer projects and facilitate the expansion of market opportunities for climate change technologies.

The Canadian Initiative for International Technology Transfer received $10 million over six years (2001–2006). The program has developed six initiatives to maximize international technology opportunities for Canada's small- and medium-sized enterprises through on-site technology promotion offices at Canadian embassies in Mexico, India and Poland (Poland covers six Eastern European countries), technology transfer feasibility studies by the private sector, workshops, missions and statistical monitoring of climate change technologies.

Key 2005-2006 Achievements

• Formal evaluation showed that 12 out of 22 feasibility studies funded are likely to proceed to implementation. This would result in $100 million in exports for Canada and reductions of over 500 000 tonnes of carbon dioxide.
• The Clean Energy Portal, created in 2003, actively promotes Canadian companies to foreign businesses, investors and governments through the Portal. The Portal uses Internet services and information technology advancements to enhance communication links and activity between individuals, institutes, industry and government stakeholders, which accelerates and promotes the commercialization and technology transfer of climate- and clean-energy-related technologies. The Clean Energy Portal averaged 61 223 hits per day from May 2005 to March 2006.

For more information:
cleanenergy.gc.ca

Climate Change Technology and Innovation Research and Development (T&I R&D Government of Canada Climate Change Plan – 2003)

Objective: To advance promising greenhouse gas (GHG) technologies through R&D, promote demonstration and early adoption initiatives to achieve long-term GHG reductions, and strengthen Canada's technology capacity.

Implemented in 2003 with $115 million in federal funding over five years, T&I R&D is based on long-term strategic planning that takes into account expected energy futures and visions to the year 2025. R&D is conducted in the five strategic areas of cleaner fossil fuels, advanced end-use efficiency technologies in buildings, transportation and industry, decentralized energy production (including renewables), biotechnology and the hydrogen economy.

The T&I R&D budget for 2005–2006 was $25 million. Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) allocated $18.5 million to energy R&D programs managed and performed in the department. Key NRCan R&D achievements contributing to improved energy efficiency in Canada are included in the performance reporting in Chapters 3 to 7. The remaining $6.5 million was allocated to eight federal departments that are T&I R&D partners.