Renewable and Electrical Energy Division

The Renewable and Electrical Energy Division, promotes the development of a sustainable renewable energy industry in Canada. The division promotes investments in renewable energy systems for heating and cooling and provides information on renewable energy technologies. It also provides analysis and advice to the Minister on electricity issues in Canada. By strengthening markets for the renewable energy industry, the programs will contribute to greenhouse gas reductions, as well as job creation and export sales.

Renewable energy sources are those that produce electricity or thermal energy without depleting resources. Renewable energy includes solar, wind, water, earth and biomass power, and energy from waste.

In order to promote the use of renewable energies and to establish strong partnerships with stakeholders including industry, communities, other federal and provincial departments and environmental groups, Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) developed the Renewable Energy Strategy (1996). The strategy is a blueprint for cooperative action with stakeholders to accelerate the development and the commercialization of renewable energy technologies.

NRCan delivers several initiatives to encourage the development and use of emerging renewable energy sources and technologies, among them are Renewable Energy Deployment Initiative (REDI), Wind Power Production Incentive (WPPI), Market Incentive Program (MIP) For Distributors of Emerging Renewable Electricity Sources and Government Purchases of Electricity from Renewable Resources (PERR).