Canada’s “clean tech” (or Clean Technology) credentials include its vast supplies of renewable resources, advanced manufacturing expertise, a highly-educated workforce, generous tax and R&D incentives and progressive “green” policies.  Those looking for partnership and investment opportunities to bring innovative green technologies, products and services to a world searching for sustainable solutions need look no further than “green” Canada. 

• Wind energy is the fastest growing renewable energy source in Canada.  Rapid growth in the industry has resulted in a growing number of manufacturing firms entering the market. Plans to close coal generation plants and government support for renewable energy generation provide major opportunities for further growth in the sector.
• Solar power is also growing strongly domestically and Canadian firms are securing a significant share of the international markets with their offer of novel technologies, products and services. By 2007, solar collectors in Canada alone were displacing an estimated 38,000 tonnes of CO2 annually.
• Bioenergy, produced from Canada's abundant biomass resources, currently accounts for about 6 percent of Canada's total energy supply. Canadian companies are developing leading edge conversion technologies and positioning themselves as responsible and innovative global leaders in sustainable and renewable development.
• Hydropower, the oldest green industry in Canada, produces about 97 percent of Canada's renewable electricity generation and nearly 13 percent of hydropower globally.  Names like SNC-Lavalin, GE Hydro and Alstom Power Canada are recognized world leaders in large hydro-generation projects.

• Ocean energy:  Starting with the 1984 construction of a tidal energy plant on the Bay of Fundy (Nova Scotia), Canada is a leader in the search for environmentally sound and profitable ways to harness it abundant tidal current and wave energy resources. Canadian expertise is increasingly recognized in marine fabrication and operations; turbines for tidal and current-based generation stations; specialized sub-sea remote tooling systems; and wave technology test and simulation.
• Green transportation:  From zero-emission vehicles to fuel cells, anti-idling technologies and vehicle components manufactured from renewable materials, companies like Ballard Power Systems, Bombardier, Global Emissions Systems, and Cummins-Westport are changing the way the world travels from point A to B.  As host for the 2010 Winter Games, Canada has set out to stage clean, green Games that rival anything ever seen.  Evidence of this will be on full display in plans to reduce traffic congestion, minimize local air pollution and limit greenhouse gas emissions.  Vancouver and Whistler city streets will be a showroom for the latest in low-emission technologies and use of alternative fuels, hybrid and active fuel management vehicles.  See www.olympic.org/vancouver-2010-winter-olympics 
• Green building:  The 2010 Winter Olympic venues offer an excellent illustration of Canadian efforts to make our buildings and building practices more environmentally friendly. The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certified venues are built to maximize energy and water efficiency, while reducing waste and pollution. Existing facilities have been upgraded to highlight energy conservation and efficiency and to demonstrate alternative heating and cooling technologies.  See www.olympic.org/vancouver-2010-winter-olympics  

Green materials and manufacturing: Canadians are leading the way when it comes to embracing green technologies to find more environmentally-friendly ways to produce the materials industry needs to meet the ever-increasing demands of the global market place.  In 2009, for example, GreenCentre Canada started advancing the commercialization of research into cleaner, less energy-intensive solutions for traditional chemical products and manufacturing processes.  See www.greencentrecanada.com

Look Who Chooses Canada

• In 2009, Mainstream Renewable Power announced an $840 million joint venture with Alberta Wind Energy Corporation (AWEC) to build over 400 MW of wind energy plants in Alberta by 2013. 
• In September 2009, Norway’s Umoe Solar announced plans to expand its solar research program in New Brunswick and to spend $700 million on a New Brunswick facility to produce materials used to produce solar panels. 
• In 2009, Alstom Power (US), Marine Current Turbine Ltd. (UK) and Openhydro (Ireland) team up with Canadian companies to test tidal power generation turbines in a Bay of Fundy.

A Few of Canada’s Green Players

• AMEC Earth & Environmental
  
• Arise Technologies
  
• Ballard Power Systems
  
• Bennett Environmental Inc.
  
• BGP inc.
  
• BioteQ Environmental Technologies
  
• CanTest
  
• Carmanah Technologies
  
• CH2M Hill Canada
  
• Conestoga-Rovers & Associates Conserval Engineering Cummins Westport Inc.  Dessau-Soprin Inc. 
  
• DMI
  
• Earth Tech
  
• Enerkem Corporation
  
• Ensyn Technologies Inc.
  
• GE Hydro
  
• GL&V
  
• GreenWare Environmental Systems
  
• Jacques Whitford (owned by Stantec)
  
• Logen Corporation
  
• Klohn Crippen Berger
  
• LM Fibreglass
  
• Plasco
  
• RWDI Air
  
• Shred-Tech
  
• SNC-Lavalin
  
• Stantec Consulting International
  
• Trojan Technologies
  
• Wardrop Engineering WaterGroup / Culligan
  
• Xantrex Technologies Inc. Zenon Environmental 
  
• 6N Silicon