Manitoba & Mitsubishi sign renewable-energy MOU

Dec. 17, 2010 – The Manitoba government and
Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) of Japan will work together to explore
renewable energy development opportunities under a memorandum of understanding
signed by Premier Greg Selinger and Ichiro Fukue, senior executive
vice-president and representative director of MHI. Headquartered in Tokyo, MHI
develops and manufactures innovative high-efficiency power generation systems,
including renewable energy technologies and leading-edge energy-efficiency
solutions that contribute to a low-carbon society.

“Our government and MHI share an interest
in renewable energy sources and associated clean technologies that are
economically and environmentally sustainable, moving away from carbon-intensive
fossil fuels to low- and non-emitting sources of energy,” says
Selinger. “Ultimately, we hope to see more of those technologies
developed, tested and manufactured in Manitoba for local and global
markets.”

The agreement creates the structure for a
series of potential collaborative projects between Manitoba and MHI in eight
areas:

• Electrification of transportation and recharging infrastructure projects;
• Battery-storage technologies;
• Heat-pump technologies;
• Advanced biofuels technologies;
• Wind-energy technologies;
• Energy-efficiency technologies and systems;
• Solar technologies and silicon processing; and
• Integrated energy production, storage, and use demonstrations.

A combination of Manitoba’s natural
resources, cold-weather testing capabilities, and the growing expertise of
academic institutions, private companies, Manitoba Hydro, and governments in
clean energy initiatives make this the perfect place to focus on innovative
renewable energy technologies, Selinger says. The province continues to use its
advantages to develop renewable energy sources, he adds. They include vast
waterways allowing for the production of hydroelectricity and a variety of
biomass sources from forests and the agricultural sector to produce renewable
heat, electricity, and transportation fuels.