The Legal and Regulatory Treatment of Cogeneration in Alberta

Cogeneration is the simultaneous production of electricity and heat from a single fuel source in a process. It allows for a more efficient and effective use of valuable primary energy resources when compared with the independent production of electricity and heat. Cogeneration is therefore attractive to both the private sector and policy-makers because it delivers a range of economic benefits and can be an important strategy in meeting greenhouse gas mitigation targets. This article examines the current legal and regulatory treatment of cogeneration in Alberta in the industrial sector. The authors argue that, given the scale and importance of cogeneration to the province’s industrial sector, and to the province generally, it is perhaps time that Alberta developed a clear and coherent policy on cogeneration.