Renewable Energy

Prince Edward Island has established itself as a North American leader in renewable energy and is positioned for leadership in emerging renewable energies.

The development of the Clean Tech Park and funding opportunities through the Cleantech Research and Innovation Fund will ensure PEI continues to be a leader in all renewable energies. 

Before it was trendy, Prince Edward Island recognized that there was value in the strong winds that blew across the Island. The Atlantic wind test site was established in North Cape, PEI, more than 40 years ago. Since that time, it has evolved into the Wind Energy Institute of Canada, the wind energy industry's centre of excellence. The institute has vast experience serving the North American wind industry and recently spearheaded the establishment of the Canadian Wind Energy Research Network.

Solar and Battery Storage has been expanding on PEI in recent years with the City of Summerside leading the charge on many fronts emerging.  For example, they demonstrated the ability of the Grid, their Solar and battery, to work together at their Credit Union Place Installation and then expanded on that success with their Sun Bank project.

The province has a vision for the future that sees Academia and industry mixed together to ensure emerging technologies are well suited to prosper.  The development of the Clean Tech Park and funding opportunities through the Cleantech Research and Innovation Fund will ensure PEI continues to be a leader in all renewable energies. 

Prince Edward Island is ideally placed to continue to be a leading pioneer in renewable energy based on:

• the ability to mix knowledge and industry at UPEI’s Sustainable Design Engineering Program 
• building on research capacity at the Wind Energy Institute of Canada
• highly skilled and capable workforce with industry specific programming, such as the Wind Energy Technician program at Holland College.
• funding opportunities through the Cleantech Research and Innovation Fund
• the establishment of a Clean Tech Park and Clean Tech Academy to foster growth in business mixed with academia
• the province's small size makes it an ideal test site for research and development.

Setting sails beyond wind

Prince Edward Island continues its pioneering tradition in renewable energy and has set its sights on next generation renewable technologies. These will create economic wealth, improve environmental sustainability, operate self sufficiently, and expand the Island's renewable energy cluster.

To further strengthen and diversify the green cluster, the province will build on strengths such as:

• the tradition as the million acre farm to develop sustainable bio-mass and bio fuel initiatives;
• attracting new renewable energy research, development and commercialization activity by combining programming opportunities with the Island's strong research community; and
• exploring opportunities that incorporate sound renewable energy technologies within a sustainable network on PEI.