The Canada Energy Regulator considers energy to be renewable if it is derived from natural processes that are replenished at a rate that is equal to or faster than the rate at which they are consumed. Essentially, renewable energy sources exist naturally, do not originate from fossil fuels, and can be replenished after use. Examples of renewable energy include wind, solar, tidal, geothermal, and more!

Traditional, non-renewable, sources of energy (oil, coal, and natural gas) are not only harmful to the environment, but they are finite, meaning they will eventually run out. Unlike renewable energy sources (sun, wind, tides, etc.) which provide us with an infinite amount of resources, non-renewable energy will not last forever, which means we will eventually have to find a substitute. With the impacts of climate change seen now more than ever, it is important that we stray away from fossil fuels, which have a huge impact on the environment.

What happens to solar power without sun? What about wind power when there’s no wind?

Some forms of renewable energy, including solar and wind power, are “variable”, meaning that their availability can change depending on the environmental conditions at the time (i.e., if the sun is shining and the wind is blowing). Whether you are a large-scale producer or an individual producer, you must manage this variability. An easy way to manage variability is to store the excess energy produced in a battery, allowing you to have a back-up in case of a power outage or in times of low sun or wind.

Whether you are a business, municipality, or homeowner/renter in Canada, there are renewable energy options out there just for you! We have created resources for each of you, depending on the province in which you reside. Check it out, here.

Incentives available depend on what province you live in and whether you are a business, municipality, or homeowner/renter. Use our provincial resources to discover what is available for you!