Canada’s Clean Tech Agreement with China

Originally published on the ECOrepot

Zhigang Wang, China’s Minister of Science and Technology, was in Ottawa yesterday. He discussed possible areas of collaboration with Jim Carr, Canada’s Minister of Natural Resources. At the end of their meeting they discussed ways our nations could collaborate in developing renewable technology and signed a clean tech agreement with China.

Their shared objectives include:

• Sharing best practices to determine policy approaches to clean technology
• Addressing economic and social challenges through clean technology
• Exploring the possibility of clean energy technology demonstrations
• Facilitating collaboration between small and medium-sized enterprises

“The opportunity associated with the global clean energy market—which saw a third of a trillion dollars of investment last year—is immense,” said Dan Woynillowicz, Policy Director of Clean Energy Canada.

The Chinese invested $110 billion US in renewable energy last year. The country installed 79 gigawatts (GW) of renewable power capacity, as opposed to 28 GW of coal-fired capacity, and 6 GW of natural gas-fired capacity.

“We have a range of technology and service providers (that could move into the Chinese market). Canadian Solar is the World’s second largest solar panel manufacturer and already have a footprint in China. We have lots of companies that can help China build out their electricity system: on the services side, grid integration and demand side on efficiency,” said  Woynillowicz.

He added, “It’s not so much that the Chinese don’t have (these technologies). China is just a clean energy market that is growing so fast it is creating opportunity. A lot of these opportunities are filled by Chinese companies, but that is where greater engagement with China on the trade file can ensure there are opportunities for Canadian companies.”

“Collaboration with China on clean technology, best policy practices, and to promote clean energy creates opportunities for Canadians, and has tremendous potential to create real economic, environmental and social benefits for both countries,” said Carr.

Photo Credits: IBM Green Horizons research staff members Dr. Weida Xu and Green Horizons project lead Dr. Jinyan Shao examining a solar panel that supplies daily power to the IBM Research-China Lab. Photo credit: IBM via Flickr (CC BY SA< 2.0 License); Parliament Buildings in Ottawa by John Vetterli via Flickr (CC BY SA, 2.0 License)