Calgary, Alberta. Hosted by the Canadian Wind Energy Association (CanWEA) and Hannover Fairs (Canada), the conference will highlight wind energy commitments, opportunities and innovations across all regions of Canada. Additionally, this year’s event will focus on Alberta and Saskatchewan’s significant new renewable energy and climate change commitments. 

This year’s Wind Energy Conference discussion topics include: asset management to maximize value, innovation: integration and interconnection into the grid, social aspects of wind development for emerging markets, latest developments and advancements in resource assessment, the future potential of wind energy storage and industry initiatives and advancements to reduce impacts on wildlife and specifically bat populations.

“As Canada’s national wind energy association, CanWEA is committed to offering all of our members and the international renewable energy community an in-depth look at Canada’s wind energy markets and the challenges and opportunities associated with them,” said Robert Hornung, CanWEA president. “Hosting this year’s annual conference in Calgary brings a special focus to Western Canada, as well as to CanWEA’s ongoing role in helping Canada and the world move toward low carbon economies.” 

In Fall 2015, Alberta committed to phase out all pollution from coal-fired generation and indicated it would take steps to have up to 30 percent of all electricity generated from renewable energy sources in Alberta by 2030. The current figure is nine percent. Alberta ranks third in Canada today with an installed wind energy capacity of 1,500 MW and wind energy is expected to represent the overwhelming majority of new renewable energy development in the province.