Promoting solar energy
(continued)

Utility programs

Utilities are starting to encourage the development of renewable energy by others to supplement their power supplies. In Saskatchewan, for example, SaskPower’s Environmentally Preferred Power program creates the opportunity for the company to partner with independent power producers to build and operate small-scale generation projects, such as solar power, with up to five megawatt capacity. In 2003, SaskPower issued requests for proposals for innovative environmentally preferred power generation projects.

Industry investments

Canada has a small but growing PV cell industry with over 150 organizations actively promoting PV power in the country. Most of these are system resellers, distributors and installers. In 2002, the Canadian PV cell industry generated revenues of about $95 million.