Renewable Energy Technologies (RET) Group

Country	Canada
Year Implemented	2006
Policy Status	In force
Date Effective	2006
Agency	•Natural Resources Canada
Policy Type	•Education and Outreach   •Advice/Aid in Implementation •RD & D   •Research Programme   •Technology Development
Policy Target	•Hydropower •Multiple Renewable Energy Sources •Solar •Wind
Policy Sector	•Multi-sectoral Policy
Description	The Renewable Energy Technologies (RET) Group supports the development and deployment of cost-effective renewable energy technologies. RET provides funding for laboratories and test facilities to ensure their continued availability to industry. Facilities include: - National Solar Test Facility (NSTF) in Ontario: (www.na.bodycotemt.com/docLibrary/Solar_Test_Facility.pdf); - Atlantic Wind Test Site (AWTS) - dedicated to the testing, evaluation and certification of wind energy conversion systems for electricity production: (http://www.awts.pe.ca/); - Hydro Turbine Testing and Simulation Centre - Laval University's Small Hydro Turbine Test Facility combines computer simulation and modeling of hydro turbine flow with laboratory testing and research services. The Group's software assets include: RETScreen Renewable Energy Project Analysis Software: a unique decision support tool that can be used to evaluate the energy production, life-cycle costs and greenhouse gas emission reductions for various types of renewable energy technologies anywhere in the world; Integrated Method for Power Analysis (IMP): a suite of software programmes for small scale hydro projects and for other hydrological applications; SWIFT: a software programme that models the behavior of solarwalls; Enerpool: a software programme that models the performance of a solar collector used for heating indoor and outdoor swimming pools; CANMET Energy Technology Centre - Varennes Scientific Reports and Business Documents - CETC-Varennes Online offers electronic versions of publicly available scientific reports and general business documents. The Processing and Environmental Catalysis (PEC) Group conducts research and development to solve industrial process problems and improve their environmental and economic benefits. The Group's work includes: development of technologies for NOx removal from engine emissions; enhancing market opportunities for natural gas by its conversion to hydrogen and other value-added products; process development for the production of high quality transportation fuels from low-value used oil or from renewable sources. The Group's catalyst testing facilities are available to research groups and industrial clients on a confidential basis.
URL	canmetenergy-canmetenergie.nrcan-rncan.gc.ca/eng/renewables.html