With up to $50 billion to be spent on renewable energy projects in Alberta and Saskatchewan over the next 14 years, suppliers want details on how the money will be spent and which projects they can bid on.
More than 400 renewable energy industry movers and shakers are in Calgary trying to figure how to get some of the billions governments will soon spend on renewable energy.
Alberta will unveil its program in the fall and begin accepting bids from the private sector by end of the year. The province is currently reviewing a report by the Alberta Electricity System Operator about how to have a competitive procurement process for renewables.
Alberta's goal is to rely on renewables for 30% of electricity consumption by 2030.
In Saskatchewan, the provincial government has a 50% renewable energy target for 2030.
Already, 25%of Saskatchewan's electricity generation is from renewable sources (20% hydro and 5% wind). Three new wind power projects are expected to nearly double the province's wind generation by 2020.
In addition, SaskPower will invest in a utility-scale solar power generation project, with a competitive procurement this year.
The Alberta government is introducing a price on carbon, set to take effect Jan. 1, 2017, predicted to raise $9.6 billion over five years, which will help finance renewables such as large scale solar and wind as well as micro-generation at homes and businesses.
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