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The Next Renewable Energy Workshop is scheduled for March 28th in North Bay Ontario. The event will be held at Nipissing University in their theatre. Check back here for updates.
March 17th - Draft Agenda Added |
Click here to download the flyer for March 28th
Draft Agenda - March 28th
Day 9:00 to 15:00:
- Welcome and Introductions (D. DeYoe – ULERN) (10)
- 9:10 am. Social, Economic and Environmental Factors Driving the Shift to Renewable Energy Options (D. DeYoe – ULERN) (25)
- 9:35 am. Energy Conservation First (P. Gagnon – ULERN) (50)
- Renewable Energy Options:
- HEAT Only
- 10:25 am. Biomass (forest, agriculture, MSW) (D. DeYoe – ULERN) (40)
- 11:05 am. Geothermal R. Gagnon/D. DeYoe – ULERN) (25)
- 11:30 am. Solar Heat (R. Garcia – OSEA) (30)
- LUNCH BREAK 12:00 pm (40)
- ELECTRIC Power
- 12:40 pm. Solar Electric (Photovoltaic) (R. Garcia - OSEA) (30)
- 13:10 pm. Wind (R. Garcia – OSEA) (30)
- RE-CHARGE BREAK 13:40 pm (10 minutes)
- 13:50 pm. GEA/Community Utilities/Grassroots Power (R. Garcia – OSEA) (45)
- 14:35 pm. A Community Planning Tool for Renewable Energy: Mapping community infrastructure for planning and action of renewable energy options (20)
- 14:55 pm. Closing (5)
Agenda – Tradeshow 15:00 to 17:00:
- Interactive Forum: Time with Speakers and other Experts
- Mini-Trade Show: Discussion and demonstration of renewable energy options for residential business and institution settings by local vendors/distributors
- User Tid-bits and Testimonials: Experiences and advice from local users
Renewable Energy Workshops
REWs are a strategic partnership between;
Introduction
- The purpose of the Renewable Energy Workshop (REW) event is to provide awareness and a basic understanding of renewable energy alternatives suitable for residential, small business, and institutional settings individually or as part of cooperative ventures.
- The objectives of the workshops are to:
- Provide individuals with appropriate information to ask questions relevant to their particular interests or needs.
- Conduct workshops in rural areas to enable access to people for whom it is difficult to travel to regional centres or larger cities.
- Provide information/tools that enable individuals to explore options.
- Provide access to sites/contacts that can assist individuals in making more informed decisions.
- Stimulate interest in development of renewable energy committees and/or cooperatives, as appropriate.
- It is also our intent to use these “introductory” renewable energy workshop events to help prepare people to better understand and gain more from larger “energy conference and trade shows” which would include technical experts, equipment manufacturers, sales and marketing representatives, and investors, etc.
Progress to Date
- Three REW’s were delivered in northern Ontario from November, 2008 to February 2009. The workshop flier and the agenda are provided(pdf to the left).
- The Wawa workshop was attended by 55 people. Six private sector and government organizations participated in the trade show. Survey results from the workshop and comments from the Wawa EDO are provided (pdf to the left).
- The Echo Bay workshop was attended by 80 people. Seven private sector and government organizations participated in the trade show. Survey results from the workshop and comments from the Echo Bay renewable energy alternatives committee are provided (pdf to the left).
- Posters were produced for both workshops that acknowledge those organizations which provided financial support for the workshops (pdf to the left).
Synopsis
The communities were very appreciative that the workshops were designed and targeted for rural communities and the focus on systems relevant to their personal and small business needs. To date most of the emphasis at workshops, in publications, and by government has accommodated larger systems used in industrial settings for process heating and/or for which the primary purpose is to increase electricity output for sale to the grid to meet conditions of the standard offer program. This is not considered a fault but it has lead to reduced consideration and attention to the needs and interests of individuals and small businesses and institutions that also need lower cost, clearer solutions, particularly in those areas hurt most by hard times in the forest, agriculture, and mining sectors.
The partnership between ULERN (Upper Lakes Environmental Research Network) and OSEA (Ontario Sustainable Energy Association) to deliver the workshops also provided value added. OSEA, a Toronto-based non-profit specializing in wind and solar alternatives, which provided the impetus and leadership for the standard offer program three years ago and more recently the Green Energy Act, proved to be an ideal partner. Importantly, their interest and focus is well suited to the needs and interest of rural communities and First Nations. ULERN complemented their expertise by providing knowledge in energy conservation strategies, the use of forest and agricultural biomass and associated conversion technologies, and geothermal energy production (heat pumps). The OSEA and ULERN partnership offers considerable potential to broaden their activities in the north, particularly given the strategic alliance underway between ULERN, the Sault Ste. Marie Innovation Centre (SSMIC) and Innovation Initiatives Ontario North (iiON), a key financial contributor to the workshops.
The workshops were made possible by financial support from four key sources, iiON, Brookfield Renewable Power, McDougall Fuels, and the NOHFC Event Partnership Initiative. Additional contributions were also forthcoming from local businesses and the communities. ULERN and OSEA are grateful to these sponsors for their willingness to support and participate in the REW events.
There are two additional REW events planned for the spring in northeastern Ontario. ULERN has also submitted a proposal to the Canadian Rural Partnership Fund to help support delivery of these two workshops and perhaps an additional workshop. The timing is good and the interest is high. iiON has also already pledged to support the continuation of this project.
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Communiqué-Hearst.pdf