Vancouver Sun and Province, April 3, 2006

Power Technology Alliance builds momentum

By Jane Mundy

Under the auspices of the Power Technology Alliance (PTA), a group of alternative energy and power technology companies are planning to boost B.C.’s economy through the organized development of the province’s clean energy potential – from hydro electricity to renewables.

The PTA’s Alternative Energy and Power Technology Task Force recommendations were recently presented to the BC Government.

BC’s clean energy cluster has some success stories and is potentially a huge win, one that can help BC meet its own energy needs, boost the province’s export capacity, and develop a world class technology cluster.

British Columbians tend to take energy for granted. Energy may be an invisible commodity— until your car runs out of gas or there’s a power outage at home. But we do have increasing concerns about climate change and the environment in general.

“There is a change in perception about energy and understanding its future value -- implications of resource depletion and the issues of burning fossil fuels,” says Julian Taylor, executive director of Power Technology Alliance (PTA).

“For example, new technology is being deployed commercially in the forest industry: Nexterra builds gasifiers to turn wood waste into combustible gas, thereby replacing natural gas. This company has potential for job creation and economic contribution to the province.

He says the provincial government is reworking its energy plan to realize BC’s potential.

It is likely that government funding will be needed to develop technology and services that we can sell globally,” says Taylor.

According to Bruce Sampson, Vice-President, Sustainability at BC Hydro, the company’s focus is on sustainable development. “When you look at increased customer load, our first focus is making sure we do everything we can for existing customers to help them use energy efficiently, including new construction,” he says.

BC Hydro is working with urban planners to achieve energy-efficient long-term development, such as Dockside Green in Victoria. “We are supporting developments that can generate their own power and sell back into the grid,” says Sampson. “In the False Creek development, they are looking at a heat source coming from sewer pipes, and smart metering systems within homes so residents in new developments will be able to monitor their energy use on a daily basis; all ways that the home owner can minimize consumption and lower environmental impact.”

He adds BC Hydro is looking at incentive schemes to help promote energy- efficient sustainable infrastructures. “The government has also come out with its strategic plan for energy efficiency buildings, which will further help to drive efficiency and conservation,” says Sampson.

Mossadiq Umedaly, Chairman of Xantrex Technology and Chair of the Power Technology Alliance and author of the Alternative Energy and Power Technology Task Force recommendations, wrote about enhancing the energy system and what companies can do for the entire cluster.

“The implementation plan has been submitted to the government and momentum has gained. For example, the BC Government’s energy plan is being updated. BC Hydro has built its own strategic plan and our recommendations are consistent with their plan. And we are working with VANOC and the Power Technology Cluster. We are trying to get everyone on the same page to increase the likelihood of success.”

Bottom line: We must enhance and improve our energy system, keeping in mind economic developmental potential by picking areas to focus on. We must understand global potential markets, such as remote power and the smart grid. And we must use these export markets to create economic development by using BC’s power technology sector.

“In the long term consumers will be positively affected by the PTA and it will bring another area of economic activity with immense opportunity. We want to be green and sustainable and BC has the opportunity to take a world-leading role,” says Julian Taylor.