Anouk's Holiday Message
President's Greeting, Anouk Kendall
"The world's future energy demands will be met by both centralized and decentralized energy generation using a variety of fuel sources and digital technologies, energy storage and smart grids will modernise our energy infrastructure."
~ Anouk Kendall, President | WADE Canada
On behalf of WADE Canada, I would like to wish the decentralized energy community, and by extension, our valued friends, a healthy and happy holiday season.
The Canadian clean energy industry continues to grow and with it comes vast business opportunities. Our world of energy is characterised by aging and inefficient energy infrastructures. The challenge is exacerbated by depleting resources, low system efficiencies in traditional energy production, rising price of fossil fuels and immense capital requirements for transmission infrastructure upgrades.
What does the future hold? What changes can we anticipate over the coming years?
The world's future energy demands will be met by energy supply systems that maximize the benefits of both centralized and decentralized energy generation using a variety of fuel sources. Energy will be managed and delivered using advanced transmission and distribution technologies. Digital technologies, energy storage and smart grids will optimise the value of on-grid and off-grid generation.
Energy in rural and remote communities poses extraordinary challenges but also brings opportunity. According to the International Energy Agency (2009) almost 1.5 billion people in the world do not have access to electricity, with 83% of these people living in rural and remote areas. The social and economic benefits brought by increased availability of clean and affordable energy in rural and remote communities make this a priority business focus.
In terms of corporate business models, we are seeing a move from competition to a more collaborative or co-creation mindset. The need for hefty corporate growth targets is being reassessed and cooperatives are emerging as a stronger means for working toward a common goal. While protecting corporate growth and business profits remain important, we are re-examining the way we do it. One thing is certain, the innovation that small to medium-sized businesses (SMEs) bring to the transforming global energy industry is critical to progress.
The WADE Canada team and our ever growing network are committed to accelerating the growth of our national clean energy markets through innovation and collaboration. What brings the clean decentralized energy community together is our common interest in the production, management and storage of clean energy and its economic diversification potential. What keeps us together are trusting relationships built on open and honest discussion and realistic expectations as we navigate through the Clean Energy Revolution.
We have an exciting year ahead: the reveal of our new website, the launch of our Innovation to Commercialization Program (I2CP), the continued roll-out of the Building Capacity Project, the second annual Global Clean Energy Congress to name but a few – all of which provide members a tremendous opportunity to grow their profile, lead generation and capacity. I encourage you to engage us, lean into our growing network – share your news, triumphs and challenges, enjoy our monthly newsletter (DE News 2.0) and Special Alerts, read by 5,000 like-minded professionals and media across the country.
If you want to know why 2012 is the year to join us, I welcome you to contact me directly– your first year's membership could be FREE. (Look, the Year of the Dragon is bringing you power and luck early!)
Thank you to our Board, our valued members and project partners for your commitment to the responsible growth of our industry.
Anouk Kendall
President
WADE Canada
Contact Anouk at: akendall@wadecanada.ca
