Minister of Environment, Energy and Forestry Jamie Ballem promoted Prince Edward Island as a centre for renewable energy research and development during a trade mission to Germany last week.
Minister Ballem was a member of the Canadian delegation at the WindEnergy 2006 – International Trade Fair in Hamburg, Germany. The event is one of the world’s largest wind energy trade shows with 330 exhibitors from 26 nations showcasing their products and services.
Industry Canada co-ordinated a Canadian pavilion at the trade fair. The Canadian delegation consisted of 15 private sector companies including Entegrity Wind Systems Inc., a PEI-based wind turbine manufacturer owned by Malcolm Lodge, as well as business and wind industry association representatives and officials from other government organizations including the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency.
Minister Ballem said the Prince Edward Island focus was on promoting the Wind Energy Institute of Canada to open at North Cape later this year. The new research facility will replace the Atlantic Wind Test Site which has been testing and demonstrating wind energy technologies for the past 25 years.
“With the opening of the Wind Energy Institute of Canada, we will have a world-class research facility in Prince Edward Island and that gives us the opportunity to build new partnerships to advance the development of wind energy,” said Minister Ballem. “I was pleased to see that the institute attracted considerable attention in Germany with several companies expressing an interest in testing both small and large turbines at North Cape.”
Minister Ballem had the opportunity to speak about the Wind Energy Institute of Canada and Prince Edward Island’s Renewable Energy Strategy during the Government of Canada Investment and Partnership Networking Reception. The minister welcomed delegates to the reception on behalf of Canada, provided an overview of the Canadian wind industry and the advantages to doing business in Canada, and he spoke about opportunities in Prince Edward Island.
“With the wind industry in Canada projected to grow 15-fold over the next seven years, European companies have a great deal of interest in the Canadian market so this was an excellent chance to bring together potential partners,” said Minister Ballem. “This event provided an opportunity to promote Prince Edward Island as the perfect research and development laboratory – small enough to serve as a testing ground for new innovations for the North American market, yet large enough to demonstrate the commercialization of new technologies.”
While in Germany, Minister Ballem visited an energy-from-waste plant and a wood pellet manufacturing facility to learn more about the technologies in use and their potential application in Prince Edward Island. As well, he had the opportunity to meet with federal Environment Minister Rona Ambrose in Bonn, Germany.