Solar Power: What’s on the horizon?

Toronto, February 24, 2010 – Cleantech industry leaders Deloitte and Ogilvy Renault, along with MaRS Discovery District, hosted the latest in the Cleantech in Canada seminar series today at MaRS. Industry experts shared their thoughts on key emerging opportunities for cleantech entrepreneurs, investors and government in the solar energy industry.

“Ontario is a hub for the Canadian solar industry and its prospects for continued growth are very promising. That’s particularly good news when you consider the economic shadow cast on the solar energy industry during the global economic crisis. In many parts of the world, there is an overcapacity, but Ontario is one of the bright spots,” says John Ruffolo, national leader of Deloitte’s Technology, Media & Telecommunications Industry Group.

The Cleantech in Canada panel was moderated by Rick Sutin, Co-Chair of Ogilvy Renault’s Cleantech practice. This event was generously supported by Macquarie Capital Markets Canada and Centre for Environment of the University of Toronto. Panellists included:

  • Kerry Adler, President & Chief Executive Officer, SkyPower Limited
  • Paul Huebener, Managing Director, Macquarie Capital Markets Canada
  • Nick Morgan, VP Business Development, Morgan Solar Inc.
  • Scott Nichol, Founder, President and CTO, 6N Silicon Inc.
  • Prof. Ted Sargent, Ph.D, B.Sc. Eng., University of Toronto

“In Ontario, the Green Energy Act and its Feed-in Tariff program has already stimulated sizeable investment,” says Sutin. “This includes the recent proposed $7 billion deal between Ontario and Samsung to develop renewable energy projects, including the development of 500 megawatts of solar energy. The long-term prospects for solar continue to be strong.”

As Canada’s leading innovation centre, MaRS brings together leaders across a range of disciplines—in science, business and beyond—to help boost the success of emerging ventures and to stimulate a broader culture of innovation.

“The question is whether Canada will be a buyer or a seller of solar technology solutions in the global green economy. Canada is making that choice in real time,” says MaRS CEO Ilse Treurnicht. “Ontario has set the stage with its new green energy policy framework, and MaRS is excited about helping cleantech entrepreneurs play a big role.”

For additional news, resources and information regarding this event and upcoming seminars as well as other cleantech-related topics, visit our Cleantech in Canada Web site at www.cleantechincanada.com.

You can also follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/canadacleantech.


About Deloitte
Deloitte, one of Canada’s leading professional services firms, provides audit, tax, consulting, and financial advisory services through more than 7,700 people in 58 offices. Deloitte operates in Québec as Samson Bélair/Deloitte & Touche s.e.n.c.r.l. Deloitte & Touche LLP, an Ontario Limited Liability Partnership, is the Canadian member firm of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu.

Deloitte refers to one or more of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu, a Swiss Verein, and its network of member firms, each of which is a legally separate and independent entity. Please see www.deloitte.com/about for a detailed description of the legal structure of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu and its member firms.


About Ogilvy Renault
Ogilvy Renault LLP is a full-service law firm with close to 450 lawyers and patent and trade-mark agents practising in the areas of business, litigation, intellectual property, and employment and labour. Ogilvy Renault has offices in Montréal, Ottawa, Québec, Toronto, and London (UK), and serves some of the largest and most successful corporations in Canada and in more than 120 countries worldwide. Find out more at www.ogilvyrenault.com.


About MaRS
MaRS Discovery District (www.marsdd.com) is a large scale, mission driven innovation centre located in Toronto and networked across Ontario, focused on building Canada’s next generation of technology companies. MaRS works closely with entrepreneurs to grow and scale their ventures into global market leaders in life sciences and health care, information, communications and digital media technologies, cleantech, advanced materials and engineering, as well as innovative social purpose business.

 

Contacts

Robyn Matsumoto
Director, Marketing and Communications
Deloitte
416.601.6118
rmatsumoto@deloitte.ca

Peter Zvanitajs
Senior Advisor, Media Relations
Ogilvy Renault
416.216.1871
pzvanitajs@ogilvyrenault.com

Linda Quattrin
Director, Communications
MaRS Discovery District
416.673.8104
lquattrin@marsdd.com