The Canadian Solar Industries Association (CanSIA) states that the Government of Alberta is leading by example as the first provincial or territorial government in Canada to explore the feasibility of meeting 50% of their annual electricity needs from solar energy. Minister Shannon Phillips, Alberta's Minister of Environment & Parks (and Minister responsible for the Alberta Climate Change Office) announced their intent today at the Solar West 2016 conference in Edmonton, hosted by CanSIA for the solar energy industry (listen to audio on CanSIA's Public Appearance webpage). The process, if successful in identifying a supplier or suppliers that can construct and operate a solar farms that meet the province's economic criteria, could give rise to 100 MW of new installed generation capacity in the province - enough to power 18,750 Alberta homes for a year. The announcement received significant media attention including in the Global News, Calgary Herald and Edmonton Sun. Further details on the Request For Information (RFI) can be viewed on the Alberta Purchasing Connection (interested parties should register as a Vendor).
From CanSIA
Canada Ratifies Paris Agreement, Announces National Carbon Pricing Details
The Government of Canada formally ratified the Paris climate accord on Wednesday October 5th, after easily beating back an effort from the opposition to give provinces the sole authority to deal with carbon pricing. Members of Parliament approved a motion supporting both the United Nations agreement and the federal-provincial declaration issued last March in Vancouver that committed Canada to undertake the joint action needed to "meet or exceed" its Paris commitment to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions by 30 per cent from 2005 levels by 2030.
Earlier that week, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau introduced the motion on the Paris accord with the announcement that Ottawa would require provinces to have a carbon-pricing plan - either a tax or cap and trade - in effect by 2018. Where premiers refuse to do so, Ottawa will impose a tax of $10 per tonne, rising to $50 per tonne in 2022, the equivalent of 11 cents per litre at the pump. The approach led to much politicking in the media, here is one with some well-crafted arguments that we enjoyed.
From CanSIA
Capture Every MWh – Wind O&M Dallas Program Launched for 2017
October 12, 2016
The program for Wind O&M Dallas 2017, the world’s foremost conference for global wind energy stakeholders, is today October 12, being launched by Wind Energy Update.
Taking place April 10-12, 2017, and with its most ambitious agenda and impressive speaker line-up yet, it marks a major turning point in the wind energy industry by helping executives achieve genuine wind park ROI and learn to maximize value from every single turbine collectively.
“In order to truly succeed in this industry, issues such as major power purchase investments from industrial giants, the explosion of independent service companies, advanced energy storage technology, the utility of data driven software, and more, demand a complete re-think.
“And, it’s for this reason that we’re proud to invite 600+ of the world’s top wind stakeholders, from right across the value chain, back to Dallas next spring for our most value added, business driven program ever,” says Kerr Jeferies, Project Director at Wind Energy Update.
All-new case studies, workshops, seminars, keynote panels and networking will ensure that attendees will leave with all the critical tools, insights and connections they need to protect the integrity and transform the productivity of their portfolio well into the future.
Powerful C-Level keynote addresses, from the likes of Patrick Woodson, Chairman, E.ON Climate & Renewables; Chris Brown, President, Vestas; Mark Albenze, CEO Siemens Wind Power & Renewables; Andy Holt, CEO Renewables, GE Renewable Energy; Tom Kiernan, CEO, AWEA and many more, will break new ground by raising the bar for the O&M industry’s imminent +$3Billion growth spurt.
While a good O&M strategy for wind energy will make or break the business case for a single turbine park, an innovative yet considered and well executed Asset Management approach will unlock expansive long-term economic opportunities for entire wind portfolios.
“We’re excited to be presenting a brand new ‘Asset & Risk Management Track’ to go alongside our premier ‘Rethink Reliability – The Core O&M Topics Track’ to ensure that asset value can be protected, nurtured and grown by asset managers chasing risk, revenue and reward as well as field technicians and engineering specialists can,” he explains.
Importantly, this annual gathering – which has enjoyed a 30% growth in attendee quality year-on-year since 2012 - provides the platform true leaders need to establish thought leadership, dominate market thinking and harness the collective strength of this truly exciting global market.
Major stakeholders from E.ON, Duke Energy, Pattern Energy, EDF Renewable Energy, SunEdison, Siemens, Goldwind, GE Renewable Energy and Vestas have already confirmed their attendance at this - the most important wind stakeholder meeting to hit Texas in years. NGC Transmission & Equipment, EDF Renewable Services and Tech Safety Lines have joined as Diamond, Silver and Bronze sponsors respectively.
“This annual gathering, above all others, continues to tap into the progressive business models that’ll secure the industry’s future, making it the can’t-miss event for all top energy decision makers,” concludes Victoria Auckland, Project Director at Wind Energy Update.
So make sure to save the date: 10 April 2017 in Dallas, Texas and for more information visit http://www.windenergyupdate.com/operations-maintenance-usa/
Government of Ontario suspends LRP II from CanSIA
On September 27th, the Government of Ontario announced the immediate suspension of the second round of the Large Renewable Procurement (LRP II). For the solar industry in Ontario this means that 250 MW of utility scale solar projects will not be procured in 2018 as was previously planned. The Government has also communicated, however, that this decision will not affect ongoing FIT and microFIT procurements.
John Gorman, President and CEO of the Canadian Solar Industries Association (CanSIA) released this statement following the announcement:
"CanSIA is disappointed with the Government of Ontario's decision to suspend the LRP II procurement as it represents a significant back-step from previously committed renewables procurement in the Province that we believe will be required to deal with supply and GHG emission risks, such as delayed nuclear refurbishment schedules, un-met conservation targets, or increased demand as a result of electrification to meet the province's climate change targets. Cancelling or delaying the procurement of renewable electricity could leave Ontario unprepared to effectively deal with these risks cost-effectively and without increasing electricity sector GHG emissions. CanSIA remains hopeful that the upcoming Long Term Energy Plan (LTEP) process will provide further opportunities for the industry. Both the Ministers of Energy and Environment and Climate Change have received mandate letters which include a strong focus for reducing electricity sector GHG emissions even under high electrification scenarios, encouraging the growth of renewables, and making Ontario one of the most cost effective North American jurisdictions for installing solar panels. Through the LTEP CanSIA will be advocating for the Ministry of Energy to adopt policies that encourage greater consumer choice in the adoption of energy solutions to meet communities' power needs and GHG reduction targets."
CanSIA will continue to inform members of new information and new developments as they arise. CanSIA remains hopeful that the upcoming Long Term Energy Plan (LTEP) consultation process will provide opportunities for all renewables, including large-scale solar. Participate in CanSIA's LRP II Forum to be a part of the on-going discussion and if you have questions or comments please contact, Ben Weir, CanSIA's Director of Policy and Regulatory Affairs
Alberta announces firm target of 30% by 2030, Support for 5,000 MW
On November 30 2015, Alberta's Minister of Environment and Parks and Minister Responsible for the Climate Change Office Shannon Phillips, announced that the province will commit to a firm target of 30% by 2030 and support 5,000 MW of additional renewable energy capacity. During a session later in the day at the conference where the announcement was delivered, CanSIA and CanWEA representatives Patrick Bateman & Evan Wilson delivered the key message that "30% renewables by 2030 is achievable in Alberta both cost-effectively and without compromising reliability of supply". The announcement was covered by several news outlets including the CBC, Globe and Mail and Calgary Herald and the practical implications of this target will be discussed during CanSIA's Solar West 2016 in Edmonton from October 5th to 7th.
Questions about Solar, please contact
Information courtesy of CanSIA
October 3, 2016: Energy Matters: Climate Change
Courtesy of American Energy Society
Policy
- Featured: At root, the case against the Clean Power Plan is about whether, not how, power plants can be regulated by the EPA for carbon dioxide emissions. So far, arguments have centered on one issue: are the changes mandated by the CPP "transformative?" If so, then such changes can only be required by Congress, thus making the CPP unconstitutional.
- Of the 27 states challenging the EPA Clean Power Plan, Arkansas, North Carolina, Oklahoma and South Dakota are already on track to meet the CPP targets.
- PRESIDENTIAL MEMORANDUM: for the Heads of Executive Departments and Agencies
SUBJECT: Climate Change and National Security
DATE: September 21, 2016
MESSAGE: By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, I hereby direct the following:
SECTION 1. Purpose. This memorandum establishes a framework and directs Federal departments and agencies (agencies) to perform certain functions to ensure that climate change-related impacts are fully considered in the development of national security policies, and plans.
SECTION 2. Background. Climate change poses a significant and growing threat to national security, both at home and abroad.
AES Members have access to the full memorandum.
- Inside the Beltway: US Department of Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz is talking to Congress about passing tax credits for utilities that burn coal more cleanly and allowing private companies to dispose of the growing stockpile of nuclear waste at US power plants. Previous attempts to store nuclear waste on public lands have been blocked.
- California regulators have established the first mandatory energy efficiency standards for computers and monitors - gadgets that account for 3 percent of home electric bills and 7 percent of commercial power costs.
Climate Change:
- The most sustainable city in the world? Zurich. The most sustainable city in North America? Vancouver. The most sustainable city in the United States? New York City. AES Premium Members have access to the full report and rankings.
- A coalition of 25 military and national security experts, including former advisers to Ronald Reagan and George W. Bush, have warned that climate change poses a “significant risk to US national security and international security” and requires more attention. AES Premium Members have access to the Briefing Book by the Climate and Security Advisory Group.
- The chemical hexavalent chromium, also known as chromium-6, gained notoriety as the carcinogenic water contaminant that Erin Brockovich sued a utility over in California. Water supplies in a number of US cities appear to contain unsafe levels of chromium-6. The worst offenders: City of Phoenix, Missouri American Water (St. Louis County), City of Houston, City of Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, and Suffolk County Water Authority in New York.
- About 5,600 animal species and about 30,000 plant species receive some sort of endangerment protection. The upcoming Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) 17th Conference of Parties (CoP17) in Johannesburg, South Africa, held through October 4, will decide which new species will receive protection and which will not. About 500 species, ranging from tropical timbers like rosewood and agarwood to marine species like corals, nautiluses, sharks, and rays to iconic mammals like African elephants and lions, and lesser known ones like pangolins, are up for review.
- About 100,000 beetle-infested trees die every day in Wyoming ... and also in Colorado, Montana, Idaho, and especially California.
- Obama is getting a new namesake — a species of fish. Discovered 300 feet deep in the waters off Kure Atoll, the fish reminded scientists of Obama's campaign logo. The dorsal fin coloration of the male is a circular red spot ringed with blue. It's the one fish known to live only within the Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument that President Obama set aside for protection.
Liberals set carbon price to start at $10 a tonne in 2018
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says the federal Liberal government will establish a "floor price" on carbon pollution of $10 a tonne in 2018, rising to $50 a tonne by 2022. Trudeau is making the announcement as he kicks off a debate in the House of Commons over whether Canada should ratify the Paris accord on climate change.
ENERGY STORAGE ONTARIO TO REBRAND AS ENERGY STORAGE CANADA
Industry Association to Offer New Platform, Expanded Value to Members
ENERGY STORAGE ONTARIO TO REBRAND AS ENERGY STORAGE CANADA
Toronto, September 28, 2016 – Energy Storage Ontario (ESO) today announced it is rebranding to become Energy Storage Canada – a move that reflects the industry association’s expanded advocacy and engagement at the federal level on behalf of members.
The change provides a stronger platform to build the market for energy storage across Canada to achieve multiple benefits: improve the flexibility and resiliency of the power grid for electricity system operators and customers, offer a proven channel for federal and provincial climate change initiatives, and drive economic development and innovation.
“Rebranding as Energy Storage Canada reflects the growing interest and momentum in the energy storage industry across the country,” says Patricia Phillips, Executive Director. “We need to capitalize on the opportunities in order to realize the economic and environmental value of energy storage on a broader scale for utilities, businesses and residential customers."
Energy storage adds value at all points in the energy system. It can increase the value of the energy produced by other sources and adds capacity value to the system. It can act as a load and as a generator and provide a range of balancing services both short-term and long-term such as capacity and congestion management and ancillary services. It allows for the deferral of costly transmission and distribution infrastructure investments. And storage can help consumers manage energy in their own homes.
As Energy Storage Canada, the association will continue to focus on expanding the energy storage infrastructure in Ontario, a leading jurisdiction for energy storage in North America. The association will also leverage the strength of its membership of technology providers, project developers, power generators, local electricity distribution companies, and NGOs to advocate for regulatory changes to open other storage markets in Canada.
The new website address is energystoragecanada.org.
Federal engagement activity will build on achievements made by Energy Storage Ontario since 2013. In Ontario, the association has made energy storage a key focus for policy makers by driving awareness about the value energy storage delivers, working to create a competitive market, promoting economic development, and ensuring regulatory fairness. Among other successes, the association was instrumental in advocating for a 50MW energy storage procurement in the province’s 2013 Long-term Energy Plan.
Energy Storage Canada (ESC) is the voice of leadership in energy storage in Canada and represents the full supply chain of energy storage. ESC focuses on advancing opportunities and building the market for energy storage through advocacy, knowledge-sharing, networking and stakeholder education.
For more information, contact: Patricia Phillips – 416-575-8539 pat.phillips@energystoragecanada.org
If you have questions about Energy Storage, contact ORTECH at Michael Tingle mtingle@ortech.ca or visit our Energy Storage services page.
LRP II and EFW Procurement cancelled by the IESO.
This is a bit surprising.
The IESO received a direction from the Minister of Energy on September 27, 2016, that indicated the government’s intention to suspend the Large Renewable Procurement (LRP) and the Energy from Waste (EFW) procurement. As a result, the IESO is cancelling the LRP II RFQ process and will not be commencing the subsequent LRP II RFP process. Additional details will be provided over the coming days to RFQ applicants regarding the next steps associated with the cancellation of the LRP II RFQ process. The IESO will also not proceed with the current EFW procurement.
I like what the Federal Government is doing about Emissions, CleanTech and Energy Storage
Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) is the new name for Environment Canada. I mention this because the Federal Government is in unchartered territory;
Our Prime Minister is planning the following:
- Invest an extra $100 million more in supporting clean-tech companies
- Shift federal subsidies away from fossil fuels and into renewables
- Create a $2 billion fund to support projects aimed at cutting carbon emissions
- Partner with the private sector to unlock venture capital
- Support energy efficiency and electric vehicles
- Work with the provinces to combat climate change through carbon pricing and developing green power sources
If you have questions about clean tech or emissions reporting, please contact us at info@ortech.ca
F.I.T 5.0 Application Window Extended to October 31
The time the Application Period will be opening on October 31st has been updated; the Application Period will now open at 11:00:00 a.m. EPT. This has been updated on the Defined Terms for the Current Application Period page.
Defined Terms for the Current Application Period
The following table shows the defined terms for the FIT 5 application period that are referenced in the FIT Rules, Version 5.0 as being located on the FIT website.
1.The base capacity available is 150 MW. This will be combined with capacity that has become available from any contract terminations under small FIT and microFIT as per the April 5, 2016 direction from the Minister of Energy. The total procurement target, including the CCSA targets, will be calculated and updated by December 31, 2016.
2.The Indigenous CCSA is subdivided into the First Nation CCSA and the Métis CCSA.
CCSA = Contract Capacity Set-Asides
Minister Phillips Announces Procurement of 5,000 MW of Renewables by 2030
Have you been waiting for Alberta to commit to Renewables? Well, it has happened.
Today at the 4th Annual Alberta Power Symposium, Shannon Phillips, Minister of Environment and Parks and Minister Responsible for the Climate Change Office, announced in her keynote address that Alberta will procure 5,000 MW of additional renewable energy capacity by 2030. This will support the Government's firm target of having 30 per cent of Alberta's electricity generated by renewable sources such as solar, wind and hydro by 2030.
CanSIA President & CEO, John Gorman, made the following statement:
"For too long, discussions about climate change have focused on what we can't do. Now that renewable technology costs have reached new lows, it's time to focus on what we can do with our tremendous renewable energy resources. Today's announcement sets a renewable energy target that is achievable while establishing Alberta as a progressive and leading jurisdiction in the global effort to reduce emissions. Solar energy is ready to be a big contributor to a strong and clean Alberta economy."
The remainder of the Government of Alberta's press release can be found here.
Content Source: CanSIA
New studies to open door to 99.9% wind turbine reliability from Wind Energy Update
Improving turbine reliability to 99.9% will require new data analysis approaches across the industry, according to a researcher linked to Sandia National Laboratories.
“We’re no longer talking about 50 or 60% reliability,” said Carsten Westergaard of Texas Tech University, a Sandia affiliate. “A good turbine is probably 98%. We want to go to 99.9%. And you can’t just do that with a logistics mindset.”
In a paper due to be published in Probabilistic Prognostics and Health Management of Energy Systems, Carsten says existing data acquisition and analysis techniques are insufficient to develop models that can improve reliability above current levels.
“Understanding wind farm reliability from various data sources is highly complex because the boundary conditions for the data often are undocumented and impact the outcome of aggregation significantly,” it says.
Sandia has been tracking multiple wind farm supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) streams since 2007, through its Continuous Reliability Enhancement Wind (CREW) project, but has reached the limits of how this data can help in understanding reliability.
At the same time, the financial models widely employed by the industry are of only limited use in enhancing reliability, since they tend to focus on the cost of faults rather than what causes failure.
Benchmark averages
Westergaard said benchmark averages drawn from current data sets might fail to account for the impact of discrete events such as lightning strikes.
Lightning typically causes multiple small fractures which the industry has become adept at spotting and repairing, often within a week or two instead of over 12 months as was previously the case, Westergaard said.
However, being able to repair the damage does not mean asset owners are closer to understanding why it happens in the first place.
“Out of a thousand turbines you may have three major lightning strike damage incidents a year, on a fleet of, say, seven different types of turbine,” Westergaard explained. “That’s not enough to get clever on. It’s an area where shared knowledge would really be good.”
To date, he said, the wind industry has not been good at sharing data. This means current reliability benchmarks may be inaccurate. In the case of lightning, benchmarks are based on experience gained in the North Sea.
But the North Sea has an average of 50 days a year of lightning, which means conditions are not comparable to California, which has almost zero, or Texas, which has 75.
Complex analytics
In order to overcome this problem, Sandia is working to make it easier to aggregate wind industry data so that more complex analytics can be applied to gain a greater technical understanding of reliability.
A first step in this process is to create a common format for data that allows different sets to be integrated. Sandia is currently developing a common data-tagging framework that can be used on future and past data sets.
Westergaard said the framework could be incorporated into an audit process to ensure it is used across the industry. This could help asset owners gain a greater understanding of the causes of failure and ultimately lead to “a 1.5% reduction in faults,” he said.
It is hoped the work will also uncover fault patterns that cannot be predicted on a single-turbine basis.
One of the more surprising findings in Westergaard’s work is that identical turbines can have very different performance and reliability profiles even on the same wind farm.
Westergaard said this could be because of the way each turbine interacts with others, and with other elements in the environment. Such variability is not fully captured in current reliability and performance models.
Turbine fault counts based on data over 1.5 years, showing massive variability between machines (source: C.H. Westergaard, S.B. Martin, J.R. White, C. Carter and B, Karlson, ‘Towards a more robust understanding of the uncertainty of wind farm reliability’, to appear in Probabilistic Prognostics and Health Management of Energy Systems).
“We’re so used to thinking of a turbine as a turbine, but we’re not really thinking of it as an element that is interacting with other elements,” Westergaard said. “Looking at the data, it was mind-blowing in its diversity.”
The Sandia initiative to standardize, integrate, analyze and understand reliability data is still in its early stages and the development of a proof-of-concept system is dependent on further funding.
If this is forthcoming, Westergaard said the proof of concept could start yielding results in around a year’s time.
Scott Abramson, director of operational excellence at Duke Energy Renewables, one of the largest asset owners in the US, welcomed the prospect of better knowledge about turbine reliability and performance.
“As an owner-operator, we find there is a large disparity in operation and downtime between technologies,” he said. “When we look at information or data from wind turbines, it is most helpful to have it broken down by specific technology.
“Ths allows us to analyze and compare data most accurately.”
This article has been released in conjunction with the 3rd Annual Wind O&M Canada 2016 (Nov 29-30, Toronto
For further information please contact Kerr Jeferies t Wind Energy Update at kerr@windneergyupdate.com or call +44 (0) 207 375 7565
Wow, Enbridge to buy Spectra Energy (UnionGas) for $37B USD worth of Stock
Enbridge Inc. of Calgary plans to buy Houston-based Spectra Energy Corp. for stock worth $37 billion.
The combination of the two pipeline companies would create a North American energy infrastructure giant, to be called Enbridge Inc. and headquartered in Calgary.
The combined company's natural gas pipelines business would be based in Houston, and the liquids pipelines business would be based in Edmonton.
More on this from CBC. click here
Final LRP II RFQ Question and Comment
Independent Electricity System Operators ("IESO") posted the final set of responses to questions that were received during the second Large Renewable Procurement ("LRP") II Request for Qualifications ("RFQ") Question and Comment Period from August 6 to August 25, 2016.
In addition, the LRP II RFQ FAQs have also been amended and an updated version has been posted. Both documents can now be found on the LRP Program Resources section of the IESO website. Now that the Question and Comment Period has ended, the IESO will not be answering any further questions on the LRP II RFQ.
If you have any questions, please contact ORTECH at mtingle@ortech.ca
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Ontario IESO Releases New FIT and mFIT Price Schedule
Finally, the wait is over.
This afternoon the Ontario Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO) released the 2017 FIT and microFIT Price Schedule. Prices for solar projects have seen a reduction of between 0.5% - 8% depending on size tranche. microFIT projects will have a smaller price reduction than FIT projects.
Now, that you have the pricing. ORTECH can assist you with a number of services to complete your applications.
If you have any questions, please contact us at mtingle@ortech.ca
Proposed Changes to the Environmental Activity and Sector Registry
The Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change ("the Ministry") has implemented an Environmental Activity and Sector Registry (EASR) that requires people to register certain activities with the Ministry rather than require them to obtain an Environmental Compliance Approval (ECA). The EASR is a public, online system where people engaging in selected activities are required to register the activity and meet operating requirements set out in regulation.
As part of the Ministry’s ongoing work to implement a risk-based environmental approvals program, additional activities and sectors are being evaluated for their potential inclusion in the EASR. This work involves comprehensive technical analysis and two periods of public consultation to ensure registry activities are developed in a transparent and science-based manner and that the resulting registry rules are protective of the environment.
The Ministry is seeking input on a technical discussion paper as a first step in considering the inclusion of select plant and production processes with air and noise emissions in the EASR. The proposal would require persons engaging in eligible activities that meet specified environmental requirements to register their activities in the EASR rather than apply for a traditional ECA under section 9 of the Environmental Protection Act (EPA). The key elements of this proposal include:
A list of sectors, defined by NAICS codes, that have been considered high risk and/or complex and would not be eligible for EASR registration. Sectors and activities which are not specifically excluded from the proposed EASR will be required to register once the mandatory pre-registration assessments have been completed.
The requirement that, prior to registration and prior to making any process or facility modifications, assessments of any air, noise or odour emissions be prepared, reviewed, and confirmed by a licenced engineer following ministry guidance and meeting required environmental guidelines and standards.
Additional requirements including: operation and maintenance, complaints recording and reporting, record keeping and updating requirements.
Exclusions from section 9 of the EPA for certain activities and specific facilities including: primary and secondary schools as well as standard systems and equipment, such as dust collection systems, heating and ventilation systems that are typically found in multi-tenant residential, retail or commercial facilities.
The development of new technical guidance to ensure that Ministry expectations are clear and are adhered to (e.g. Odour Policy Framework).
The development of a risk-based compliance and audit process utilizing existing tools to promote, assess, enforce and manage compliance-related matters.
Increased public transparency through the requirement that information from the technical assessments (e.g. Emission Summary Table) be made available online.
Implementation of the new EASR regulation will help the ministry improve service standards for the environmental approvals process and give certainty for businesses as they plan for investments to upgrade their facilities to reduce greenhouse gas emissions under the cap and trade program.
In brief, the attached technical discussion paper:
summarizes the rationale for moving specific plant and production processes from the ECA process under the EPA to the self-registration process on the EASR;
outlines the eligibility and operating requirements associated with EASR registration; and
- proposes exclusions for certain activities/equipment from section 9 of the Environmental Protection Act.
Types of environmental approvals
Depending on the nature of your business activities, you’ll apply or register for one of the following:
- Environmental Compliance Approval: This approval covers emissions and discharges related to air, noise, waste or sewage. Find out when you need an ECA (Environmental Compliance Approval) and how to apply.
- Environmental Activity and Sector Registry: The registry is for business activities that pose minimal risk to the environment and human health, and are already regulated by pre-set rules. Find out which activities are eligible for the EASR (Environmental Activity and Sector Registry) and how to register.
- Renewable Energy Approval: This approval is needed for most solar, wind or bio-energy projects. Find out when you need to get an REA (Renewable Energy Approval) and how to apply.
If you have any questions, please reach out to us. mtingle@ortech.ca
Frequently Asked Questions – Multi-Sector Air Pollutants Regulations
1. What is the purpose of these regulations?
The primary purpose of the Multi-Sector Air Pollutants Regulations (the Regulations), made under the authority of the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999, is to protect the environment and health of Canadians by setting mandatory, nationally consistent air pollutant emission standards for nitrogen oxides (NOx) and sulphur dioxide (SO2) from the cement sector and from the boilers, heaters and stationary spark-ignition engines that are used in several industrial sectors at a level that is consistent across the country.
Air pollutant emissions negatively affect human health, place a burden on the health care system, degrade the environment and have an adverse impact on the economy. In particular, air pollution can worsen existing conditions, such as asthma and heart disease, as well as drive daily changes in ozone and fine particulate matter that are associated with increased hospital admissions, medical visits, and premature deaths.
2. What are the key elements of these regulations?
The Regulations include mandatory performance standard requirements for:
- NOX emissions from large boilers and heaters that burn gaseous fossil fuels, such as natural gas, and which are used in several industrial sectors
- NOX emissions from stationary spark-ignition engines that burn gaseous fuels, such as natural gas, and which are used by several industrial sectors
- NOX and SO2 emissions from cement manufacturing facilities
3. How do these regulations affect Canadian businesses?
Businesses most affected by the Regulations are those that:
- Own or operate large new and existing boilers and heaters that burn gaseous fossil fuels, such as natural gas, at facilities in eleven industrial sectors (alumina and aluminum; base metal smelting; cement; chemicals and fertilizers; electricity; iron ore pellets; iron, steel and ilmenite; oil sands; potash; pulp and paper; and oil and gas).
Ongoing emission testing and reporting will be required for the larger boilers and heaters (>105 GJ/hr). There is a transitional period of up to three years to ease financial impacts during which some equipment will be required to meet NOX emission intensity limits that are less stringent than equipment that is installed after the transitional period.
- Own or operate new and existing stationary engines at facilities in the oil and gas sector (defined in the Regulations as the upstream oil and gas and the natural gas transmission pipeline sectors, and related underground storage facilities in those two sectors); or that own or operate new engines in eleven other industrial sectors (alumina and aluminum; base metal smelting; cement; chemicals and fertilizers; electricity; iron ore pellets; iron, steel and ilmenite; oil sands; potash; pulp and paper; and petroleum refineries).
Compliance with the NOX requirements for existing engines can be achieved on a per engine basis or based on the average of the annual emissions of all of a company’s engines. Engine registration and ongoing emission testing and reporting will be required;
- Own or operate new and existing cement manufacturing facilities that must continuously monitor the release of NOX and SO2 and meet emission intensity standards.
The regulations are expected to result in compliance costs of $86.6 M for owners and operators of boilers and heaters, $385.4 M for owners and operators of engines, and $7.3 M for grey cement facilities producing clinker over the 2016 to 2035 period. It is expected that some of the compliance costs would be passed on to consumers, however, the degree of this pass through would depend on the specific circumstances and the competitive position of the affected sectors as well as, in some cases, facility-specific circumstances, including geographical location.
4. What is the timeline for implementation?
The Regulations include separate coming-into-force provisions for covered sector and equipment types, including:
- Boilers and heaters put into service after the Regulations come into force are subject to an emission limit for NOX. All existing boilers and heaters whose NOx emission intensity exceeds 70 g/GJ have an obligation that is phased in over the intitial 20 years. All owners or operators of existing boilers and heaters must send Environment and Climate Change Canada, within the first 18 months of the Regulations coming into effect, a report that classifies their existing equipment.
- Engines manufactured on or after September 15, 2016 are subject to an emission limit. New engines must be registered within a year of starting operation. Existing engines must be registered by 2019. Existing engines must meet NOx emission limits which are phased-in, with a first phase starting in 2021 and a more stringent second phase in 2026.
- New and existing cement manufacturing facilities must comply with performance standards for NOX and SO2 per tonne of production. Owners and operators are required to monitor emissions from cement kilns by 2018 and be in compliance with the performance standard by 2020.
For more information, please visit our Emission Testing page, or contact us at mtingle@ortech.ca
CanSIA : Strong Focus on Solar in Ontario's Climate Change Action
Strong Focus on Solar in Ontario's Climate Change Action
"Ontario's Climate Action Plan is putting the focus and the tools to realize this change where they belong, with individuals and businesses. By empowering Ontarians to implement changes in how they use and generate energy, the plan will allow more Ontarians to shift from fossil fuels to sustainable and cost efficient forms of energy, like solar." - John Gorman, President & CEO of CanSIA
Nice to see CanSIA pushing this very important issue.
June 7, 2016 - Today's release of Ontario's Climate Change Action Plan marks another important milestone for the province's ambitious strategy to tackle climate change and bring about a fundamental shift in the way people utilize energy. Ontario's Climate Change Action Plan has a strong focus on solar and is putting the tools to realize this change where they belong, with businesses and individuals. Read more...
