To create a foundation for the development of a network of excellence in use of ocean energy, using a
meeting of researchers and research institutions to generate a scope and a leadership approach.
When the Ocean Renewable Energy Group met in Vancouver this week, they worked on plans to make Canada a major player in the enormous world market to capture the endless energy in tidal currents and in the waves. They were buoyed by the recent federal budget commitments to alternate energy and other initiatives like the release in March of a vision for an alternate energy industry by Premier Campbell of BC.
"OREG is a forum that brings industry, government, academia and utilities together to make sure that Canada has access to Canada's uniquely rich ocean energy resource. We had representatives from the recently announced projects at Race Rocks in BC and on the Burin Peninsula in Newfoundland and Labrador" noted Chris Knight, a tidal energy project developer and chair of OREG. In fact the meeting included representatives of companies from Australia, the UK and the US as well as Canadians.
"Ocean energy can be an opportunity for us to have renewable energy, to export green power and to sell technology services worldwide" noted a veteran of the small hydro and wind power industry. "I just ordered $200 million in equipment for a Canadian wind power project - none of it supplied by Canadian companies-lets make sure that we have ocean power technology and project development companies ready for this market" he added.
"When the whole country sits in one room we realize that we have research, testing and development expertise and facilities from St John's to Victoria. OREG has created a national working group led by UBC to network this remarkable resource and increase the research, training and testing of ocean energy" reported Jessica Johnson. Based on her graduate studies in the UK, she had shared the example of the UK research consortium Supergen Marine.
"25 by 25 in 25" enthused Nigel Protter, OREG board member and "star" of the recent Telus New Ventures television campaign. "25,000 MW of power by 2025, 25 billion in sales and 10, 000 jobs - we will be for ocean what Denmark is for wind power" he challenged.
The oil and gas and mining industry benefit from the resource identification by the Canadian Geological Survey and the wind industry is using a Canadian Wind Energy Resource Atlas compiled by Environment Canada and NR Canada. OREG has created a working group of industry and government to do a similar resource assessment for tidal current, wave and offshore wind.
Other projects are being developed by working groups launched at these meetings. One group intends to launch a project to identify and bring together the Canada wide capability to develop the ocean energy technology, implement ocean energy projects and export our industry worldwide. Another is working to study the fast changing markets for coastal electricity, grid green power, potable water, compressed gases and even hydrogen by electrolysis of water.
"Hydro electricity makes Canada a leader in green power, but in fact only 85% of our electricity is from non renewables. The International Energy Agency meeting this march set a world target of 45% renewable electricity by 2040. That is a big challenge, but Canada must work to meet its own responsibility as well as help others through exports." This was the challenge brought back from IEA meetings in Brussels in early March by Gouri Bhuyan, Canada's representative to their Ocean Energy Systems working group.
"We have a focused bunch or workers going back to work in all corners of the country - to make sure that Canada does not lose this opportunity. We have the chance to showcase Canadian ocean energy in association with events like the World Urban Forum and the "green Olympics" - We'll be ready" notes Executive Director, Chris Campbell.
