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OverviewTheRETScreen Clean Energy Project Analysis Software is the worlds

leading clean energy decision-making software. It is provided completely

free-of-charge by the Government of Canada as part of Canadas

recognition of the need to take an integrated approach in addressing

climate change and reducing pollution. RETScreen is a proven enablerof

clean energy projects worldwide.

RETScreen signicantly reduces the costs (both nancial and time)

associated with identifying and assessing potential energy projects.

These costs, which arise at the pre-feasibility, feasibility, development,and engineering stages, can be substantial barriers to the deployment of

Renewable-energy and Energy-efcient Technologies (RETs). By helping

to break down these barriers, RETScreen reduces the cost of getting

projects on the ground and doing business in clean energy.

RETScreen allows decision-makers and professionals to determine

whether or not a proposed renewable energy, energy efciency, or

cogeneration project makes nancial sense. If a project is viableor if it

is notRETScreen will help the decision-maker understand this: quickly,

unequivocally, in a user-friendly format, and at relatively minimal cost.

RETScreen is:

Used by more than 250,000 people in 222 countries

and territories

Available in 35+ languages covering more than 2/3rds

of the worlds population

Part of the curriculum in more than 270 universities

and colleges worldwide

RETScreen has been directly responsible for over $5 billion in user

savings globally, a number expected to grow to well over $8 billionby 2013. By virtue of enabling clean energy, RETScreen indirectly

contributes to a substantial reduction in greenhouse gas emissionsa

reduction conservatively estimated at 20 million tonnes per annum by

2013. And by 2013, it is estimated that RETScreen will have helped

spur the installation of at least 24 GW of installed clean energy capacity

worldwide with a value of approximately $41 billion.

Software and DataRETScreen is the most comprehensive product of its kind, allowing

engineers, architects, and nancial planners to model and analyze any

clean energy project. Decision-makers can conduct a ve step standard

analysis, including energy analysis, cost analysis, emission analysis

nancial analysis, and sensitivity/risk analysis.

The technologies included in RETScreens project models are all-

inclusive, and include both traditional and non-traditional sources of

clean energy as well as conventional energy sources and technologies.

A sampling of these project models include: energy efciency (from

large industrial facilities to individual houses), heating and cooling (e.g.,

biomass, heat pumps, and solar air/water heating), power (including

renewables like solar, wind, wave, hydro, geothermal, etc. but also

conventional technologies such as gas/steam turbines and reciprocating

engines), and combined heat and power (or cogeneration).

Fully integrated into these analytical tools are product, project, hydrology

and climate databases (the latter with 4,700 ground-station locationsplus NASA satellite data covering the entire surface of the planet), as

well as links to worldwide energy resource maps. And, to help the

user rapidly commence analysis, RETScreen has built in an extensive

database of generic clean energy project templates.

There is no other tool that helps conduct such an extensive

analysis.

RETScreen Internationalwww.retscreen.net

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TrainingTraining is an integral feature of RETScreen. Available within the

downloaded software or on the website are free training modules varying in

length from single lecture to multi-day course. Taken together, the training

modules are sufcient to run a 2-4 week intensive or a 1-2 semester regular

course. Included in the training materials are:

extensive webcasts, presentation slides, and instructor notes;

numerous case studies including assignments, worked-out solutions,

and information about how the projects fared in the real world;

a detailed user manual;

an e-textbook which provides a detailed description

of the algorithms used in the models;

a Clean Energy Legal Toolkit, including sample legal documents

PartnersRETScreens development process exemplies successful international

cooperation. RETScreen is developed and maintained by the Government

of Canada through Natural Resources Canadas CanmetENERGY research

centre in Varennes, Quebec and is supported by an international network

of experts from industry, government and academia. Principal partners

include the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA),

the Renewable Energy and Energy Efciency Partnership (REEEP),

the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the Global

Environment Facility (GEF).

ConclusionWith RETScreen, Canada is at the forefront of clean energy technology

development a critical element of the ght against climate change

Internationally recognized for its unique achievements, RETScreen

is expanding and energizing the global market for renewable energy

technologies, encouraging the implementation of energy efciency

measures, and contributing to a sustainable energy future. As the world

moves towards addressing climate change and further protecting the

environment, Canada intends to help lead the effort at home and

abroad. RETScreen can and will have a substantial positive impact

on the global clean energy industry.

We encourage you to download the software from our website

and experience the power of RETScreen for yourself. And, if

you are convinced of the value of our free software, please

share RETScreen with your friends and colleagues.

www.retscreen.net

Suite of Integrated Databases

Comprehensive Training & Support Material

Five Step Standard Analysis