Improving Energy Performance in Canada – Report to Parliament Under the Energy Efficiency Act For the Fiscal Year 2006-2007

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Chapter 9: General Programs

OUTREACH

Objective: To increase Canadians' awareness and understanding of energy efficiency information and supporting services 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, contests, recognition awards 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. The activities also encourage consumers to adopt energy-efficient practices and to switch to alternative forms of energy.

Key 2006-2007 Achievements

• In 2006-2007, over 1 million OEE publications and information tools were distributed. This number is significant but is a decrease from the previous year.
• Efforts in 2006-2007 focussed on the launch of the new ecoENERGY suite of programs to promote smarter energy use.

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 2006-2007 Achievements

• Increased the number of users of the RETScreen International Clean Energy Project Analysis Software to more than 107 000 people in 217 countries. This number is growing at a rate of 500 new users every week. More than 131 colleges and universities worldwide are now using RETScreen for education.
• Released the beta version of a new software tool to evaluate energy efficiency measures in skating and curling rinks.
• Initiated beta testing of RETScreen Version 4. In version 4, the software includes an array of financially viable clean power, heating and cooling technologies and energy efficiency measures. Collaborated with NASA to increase the amount of climate data required by RETScreen to cover the entire surface of the planet. Coordinated with the Renewable Energy & Energy Efficiency Partnership to translate RETScreen into 25 languages that are used by two-thirds of the world's population.

For more information:
www.retscreen.net

PROGRAM OF ENERGY RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT

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 Program of Energy Research and Development (PERD) budget for 2006-2007 was approximately $56.6 million. Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) allocated $40.7 million to energy R&D programs managed and performed in the department, approximately 50 percent of which contributed to improved energy efficiency and the integration of renewable energy sources in Canada. The remaining $16 million has been allocated to 12 federal departments and agencies that are PERD partners.

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 included in the performance reporting in Chapters 3 to 7 of this report.

During 2006-2007, based on recommendations of an advisory panel and as mandated in Budget 2005, the management of energy science and technology was reviewed, streamlining the delivery along the innovation chain from basic research and applied research to pilot plants and demonstrations, ensuring faster market access to technologies developed with federal funds.

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

CLIMATE CHANGE TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION
Research and Development

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, technology innovation research and development (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 advanced end-use efficiency technologies in buildings, transportation and industry, decentralized energy production (including renewables), biotechnology, the hydrogen economy and cleaner fossil fuels-looking for efficiencies in bitumen and heavy oil, unconventional gas supply and clean coal and carbon capture. Expenditure Review reduced funding to $109 million.

The T&I R&D budget for 2006-2007 was $31.5 million. NRCan allocated $24.1 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 $7.4 million was allocated to seven federal departments that are T&I R&D partners.

A result achieved through investment in energy efficiencies over many years (both PERD and T&I R&D funding) is the conversion to commercial operation of an experimental biomass to energy plant (methane recovery) in the pulp and paper industry, based on black liquor, a difficult to handle residue. The plant supplies up to 90 percent of the mill's heating requirements, displacing 6 million cubic metres of natural gas per year, saving 11 000 tonnes of CO₂ emissions.

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