"By creating consistency, uniformity and interchangeability, standards help speed up the development of alternative energy technologies and can help smooth the adoption process," says Keindel. "We have seen in the IT industry how common protocols have helped build market growth. Similarly, by developing standards relating to green house gas emissions, Canada has an opportunity to bring world-leading technologies and services, as well as sound environmental policies, to the fore."

CSA has more than a decade of proven experience in providing solutions for the fuel cell industry, including publishing the world's first fuel cell standard, revised as the new ANSI/CSA America FC 1-2004, Stationary Fuel Cell Power Systems standard (FC 1). The newest standard incorporates the latest industry technologies and includes new requirements for fuels such as hydrogen gas, methanol, ethanol, kerosene, diesel, gasoline, zinc particulate, as well as natural gas, methane gas mixtures and liquefied petroleum gases.

    Other alternative energy initiatives by CSA include:
    -   The publication of the first of 15 new leading-edge standards
        developed for the global use of fuel cells
    -   The development of a new standard that will set requirements for the
        process of extracting hydrogen from fuels, such as natural gas, to
        power fuel cells
    -   The certification of the first-ever fuel cell power systems to the
        new FC 1 standard
    -   The development of standards for the interconnection of renewable
        energy - such as wind, solar power, biomass or fuel cells - into the
        power distribution grid
    -   The development of standards on behalf of the U.S. Department of
        Energy for hydrogen products and systems
    -   Administering the world's most recognized environmental management
        system standards, the ISO 14000 series

    About CSA

Canadian Standards Association (CSA) is a membership association serving industry, government, consumers and other interested parties in Canada and the global marketplace. A leading developer of standards and codes, CSA aims to enhance public safety, improve quality of life, preserve the environment and facilitate trade. To help people understand and apply standards, CSA offers information products and training. The Canadian Standards Association is a division of CSA Group, which also consists of CSA International for product testing and certification, and QMI for management systems registration. For more information visit www.csa.ca.