Released on: July 9, 2008, 2:25 pm

Press Release Author: canadian association for renewable energies (we c.a.r.e.)

Industry: Energy

Press Release Summary: Total consumption of renewable energies in Canada will grow
by 1.6% per year until 2030

Press Release Body: OTTAWA - Total consumption of renewable energies in Canada will
grow by 1.6% per year until 2030, behind the growth in nuclear but ahead of natural
gas, according to the U.S. Department of Energy.

DOE's International Energy Outlook 2008 presents an assessment of international
markets through 2030, and projects that marketed energy consumption around the world
will grow by 50% between 2005 and 2030 under a reference case. The reference case
does not include the impact of specific policies in any country to limit carbon
emissions or to mitigate climate change.

Worldwide, consumption of both hydroelectric and emerging renewables will increase
by 2.1% per year until 2030, while coal consumption increases by 2.0%, natural gas
by 1.7%, nuclear by 1.5% and liquids by 1.2% per year.

In Canada, the total consumption of renewable energies was 3.7 quadrillion Btu in
2005, and will rise to 4.1 quad in 2010, 4.6 in 2015, 4.9 in 2020, 5.2 in 2025 and
5.5 quads in 2030. In the residential and commercial sectors, renewables are too
small to be shown at any time during the forecast period while, for electricity,
renewables grow by 1.6% per year compared with 1.7% for nuclear and 1.5% for natural
gas. The quantity of green power in Canada in 2005 was 3.7 quad, and will grow to
4.1 quad in 2010, 4.5 in 2015, 4.9 in 2020, 5.2 in 2025 and 5.5 quad in 2030, but
Canada has one of the highest hydro capacity in the world.

"Sustained high prices for oil and natural gas encourage expanded use of renewable
fuels" which are "attractive for environmental reasons," and the DOE report says
government "policies and incentives to increase renewable energy sources for
electricity generation are expected to encourage the development of renewable energy
even when it cannot compete economically with fossil fuels."

The U.S. projections for Canada do not include non-marketed sources of energy, of
which solar thermal and off-grid wind and solar PV are major components.

Web Site: http://renewables.ca

Contact Details: Bill Eggertson
we c.a.r.e.
+1-613-222-6920
eggertson@renewables.ca
(fax) 613-822-4987