Enabling Low-Carbon Energy Projects for Investment
This project is led by:
QUEST Canada Publishes New Report Detailing How Canadian Communities Can Overcome Barriers to the Low-Carbon Energy Transition
QUEST Canada recently published a new report, Enabling Low Carbon Energy Projects For Investment. The report is part of a broader research project that aims to support Canadian communities as they overcome barriers associated with the low-carbon energy transition. Read the News ReleaseAbout the Project
Project Objectives & Outcomes
The Enabling Low Carbon Energy Projects for Investment (ELCEPI) project aims to add resolution to the capitalization challenges relating to community low-carbon energy projects and link discovered barriers and enablers to more significant social movements as a means to synergize and advance both low-carbon energy deployment and other social activities in parallel to one another.
Given the dynamic nature of this research project and the importance of staying abreast of emerging insights, the ELCEPI research objectives underwent multiple iterations. Through this process, research findings have discovered that many communities face significant barriers in the early stages of project conception with limited awareness and understanding of aggregation. As a result, we expanded the scope of our research to investigate barriers throughout a project’s life cycle.
Our early findings indicated that lower-income communities, particularly those with a history of marginalization and diversity, face unique challenges in project development. Moreover, we identified a disconnect between Indigenous and non-Indigenous projects. Based on our interviews and research, we settled on four final objectives, which appear disparate but are rooted in the interconnected and holistic goal of overcoming barriers to the low-carbon energy transition.
Initial Objective: To resolve community barriers to aggregate low-carbon energy initiatives to unlock capital from investors.
Final Objectives:
Incorporate and showcase the principles of reconciliation and the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) into energy development practices to support the process of Land Back and recognize Indigenous peoples’ inherent right to self-determination. Prioritize the revitalization of traditional knowledge and Indigenous-led approaches to energy development.
Timeline
Resources
Co-Authors:
Greg Goubko
Heldagardis Renyaan, QUEST Canada
Executive Summary
Co-Authors:
Greg Goubko
Heldagardis Renyaan, QUEST Canada
Final Report
Project Funder
Empowering Canadian Communities
QUEST Canada develops and implements programs and projects with the aim to nurture strategic partnerships, facilitate connections, empower community champions, and influence decisions makers, supporting communities across Canada on their pathway to net-zero. Find out more about our programs and projects:
New Brunswick Smart Energy Communities Accelerator Pilot Program
The NB SECA Pilot Program successfully established a community energy planning accelerator to assist a series of New Brunswick communities and one First Nation, equipping them with the tools and knowledge to develop and implement community energy plans and understand the net economic benefit they can provide.
Accelerating Implementation of Renewable Energy for Indigenous Communities
Accelerating Implementation of Renewable Energy (AIRE) for Indigenous Communities is a three-year project designed to help rural and remote Indigenous communities reach emission reduction targets by increasing their capacity to plan and implement land-based renewable energy initiatives (solar, wind, biomass, and geo-thermal). This project supports rural, remote Indigenous communities on their pathway to net-zero.
Equitable Engagement
The Equitable Engagement project works to incorporate Indigenous knowledge as well as equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) considerations into QUEST Canada’s capacity building-based initiatives. The aim of this project is to ensure current and future participating communities are equipped with the tools, resources, and knowledge required to engage all stakeholders on the pathway to a durable and just net-zero future.