Canada on the World Stage: Inerjys CEO Talks Renewable Energy In Durban

DURBAN, South Africa--(BUSINESS WIRE)--While governments continue to face uncertainty in their negotiations to replace the Kyoto Protocol, the private sector has some ideas on solutions to climate change.

“I have a vision where renewable energy is available everywhere, and at a price cheaper than coal. But, we need innovation. At Inerjys we are taking the first steps to make this vision a reality.”

Stephan Ouaknine, Managing Partner of the Montreal-based firm Inerjys Ventures, spoke at the World Climate Summit in Durban to discuss how the private sector can help make clean energy affordable and abundant.

The second annual Summit is the largest international business conference that occurs alongside the government COP17 climate change negotiations.

Ouaknine spoke about the need for new business models and financing models that help better energy technologies get into the marketplace.

Technologies that harness energy from the sun, wind, ocean, and rivers, and technologies that store energy, need to become cheaper and not rely on government subsidies, according to Ouaknine.

"I will paraphrase Steve Jobs, who said the people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world, are the only ones that do", said Ouaknine. "I have a vision where renewable energy is available everywhere, and at a price cheaper than coal. But, we need innovation. At Inerjys we are taking the first steps to make this vision a reality."

Government negotiations in Durban continue until Dec. 9.

About Inerjys: Inerjys is a leader in the renewable energy and green finance space, comprising two sister companies, a venture funding arm, Inerjys Ventures, and a renewable energy utility and development arm, Inerjys Renewables. By developing renewable energy projects worldwide while simultaneously investing in pre-commercial technology companies, Inerjys can deliver innovative technologies and shareholder value at an unprecedented scale. Founded in 2011 by Stephan Ouaknine, a proven entrepreneur who has delivered over $1 billion in total shareholder value over a career spanning two decades and multiple successful exits, the Inerjys leadership team aims to transform the global energy market by commercializing large-scale renewable energy technologies.

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