The world’s nations are concerned about the potential end of fossil fuels and the effect this would have on their energy infrastructures. Equally of concern is the economy, both the global economy and the economies of the individual nations. There is broad agreement amongst them that these two concerns – green energy and economy – are intertwined. Amongst the nations looking for solutions is Canada.
Total global investment in renewable energy, in 2008, was greater than all combined investment in nuclear, natural gas and coal electricity. Renewable energy initiatives attracted almost US$148 billion worldwide. Nations that work to create renewable energy solutions will attract the bulk of this money. Therefore, if it wishes to remain globally competitive in this new world market, Canada needs to present itself as an attractive market in order to win these investments and prevent them going elsewhere, most likely the United States.
The United States Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 invests nearly fourteen times as much in renewable energy than Canada’s Federal Budget of that same year.
As well as the ailing economy, the worsening environment is impetus to develop economies sustained by natural energy. Carbon emissions must be reduced in order to combat climate change and according to the International Energy Agency the nations comprising the major Economies Forum, one of whom is Canada, will have to spend 3 to 6 times as much every year than they are now if the goal of reducing 2005 levels of carbon emission to 50% of what they were by the year 2050.
A notable initiative toward that end is the development of procedures and technologies for carbon capture and storage. Canada has put itself forward as an innovator in this area of research and development and has committed some considerable amounts of money toward this end. But nations who are not yet fully sold on the necessity of curbing carbon emissions such as Australia and the USA still spend hundreds of millions more than the nineteen million spent by Canada.
If Canada wishes to enter fully into the renewable energy economy, it already has a strong base from which to develop this capacity. Hydroelectric dams already produce most of Canada’s electricity. Quebec, Manitoba, Labrador, and Yukon produce over 90% of their electricity this way.
It is noted that Ontario, Quebec and the Prairies region of Canada are regions with strong potential for solar power. Canada does not yet use much solar energy to produce electricity, though its government has produced studies showing this could change by 2025, with solar power providing 5 percent of electricity by then. Canada does use solar power more regularly for heating buildings and water as well as drying lumber and crops.
Canada has stretches of territory that are sparsely populated. Many others are difficult to access and so are off the country’s main energy grid. Photovoltaic cells are used as standalone units to insure that remote communities still have power. PV cells are batteries whose semiconductors directly generate electrical power when exposed to light. The only other option is to use costly standalone diesel fuel systems to power crucial sources such as remote homes, telecommunications equipment and navigational devices.
Currently 1.1 percent of Canada’s electricity is produced by ninety-nine wind farms. The Canadian Wind Energy Association states it could reach a capacity of 55,000 MW by 2025, meeting 20 percent of Canada’s needs.
The impact on the economy is already on display in parts of the country. Ontario’s Green Energy and Green Economy Act of 2009 incentivizes homeowners to use renewable energy generators like solar panels by offering low- or no-interest loans to finance the cost.
Further west, in British Columbia, the push to change to a green economy has produced 117,000 full time jobs and contributed fifteen billion dollars to the province’s GDP. Per the GLOBE Foundation of Canada, this initiative may be worth over twenty-seven billion dollars by 2020.
However the debate in government and amongst citizens goes, it is clear that Canada has plenty natural energy, has proven skilled at creating energy systems that harvest it and in some provinces has already shown economic growth as a result of developments in green alternative energy and economy.
Solar Power devices, green energy sources like the field of science is around every day. The children learn with fun optical equipment, telescopes and science lab equipment.
July 31st, 2010 by A Noton in environment | No Comments