Today, energy security and global climate change are two major problems affecting people and the environment worldwide (IEA, 2010). These problems are highly integrated with each other and mitigating the global climate change without affecting the energy security is becoming a significant challenge for many governments and policy makers in the twenty-first century (Brown & Sovacool, 2011).
According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration’s International Energy Outlook (IEO) 2011 Reference case (EIA, 2011), the world’s total energy consumption is projected to increase by 53 percent from 2008 to 2030. In recent years, energy security is becoming a major concern in many jurisdictions with the increasing energy demand, rising
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The growing demand for energy and the increased use of fossil fuels to meet energy services is increasing the world’s atmospheric greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions - primarily carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), and nitrous oxide (N2O) (EPA, 2011). It is acknowledged that the energy sector is a significant contributor to the world’s GHG emissions and one of the principal drivers of global climate change (World Energy Council, 2007).
1.1 Canada’s Primary Energy Demand
From 1990 to 2009, the primary energy consumption in the Canada has increased by one-third (StatsCan, 2011). In 2009, Canada produced 15,326 petajoules (PJ) of primary energy (i.e. energy before any conversion or transformation process) to meet the country’s total energy demand (StatsCan, 2009). Figure 2: Canada’s Primary Energy Production - 2009 (StatsCan, 2009)
From Figure 2, it is observed that fossil fuels sources accounted for the greatest share of the Canada’s primary energy production- notably crude oil, natural gas and coal representing roughly about 85 % of the total primary energy production. In Canada, hydro is the important source of primary electricity production, and with nuclear it accounted for approximately 10.9 percent of the total primary energy production (StatsCan, 2009). Natural gas is the dominant source of primary energy production, representing 41 percent, and coal is the least one, representing about 9 percent of Canada’s total primary
The issue that I have chosen is electric cars. This issue is significant because there are many people that choose electric cars over gas-powered cars. Electric cars are known for eliminating oil from transportation and being the better choice; But is it really? In the article I chose it says "Your battery powered vehicle is only as green as your electricity supplier". Electric vehicles are a smarter choice because they are economically feasible. This means that if you own a gas-powered car, it will be more expensive to keep filling up your tank with gas. The cost per mile for gas-powered vehicles is a lot more when filling it with fuel. Gas vehicles are at an average of $3.65 a gallon while electric vehicles fill up for an average of $1.14 per Gallon. The negative traits about electric vehicles is that the battery has to be replaced about every eight years and it doesn’t do so well in the winter because it has to be charged every night can could go up to 80 MPH, which is an expense that gas-powered car owners don’t have to worry about. Reading on this topic more I have learned that the first cars that were made were all mostly electric and as time has gone on gas-powered cars started to get more popular.
Canada ranks among the leading energy producers in the world, through oil production. These oil deposits rank oil sands of Canada as the largest oil deposits in the world after the Saudi Arabia and Venezuela. The only challenge with the oil sand deposits is that oil deposits are seen as unconventional. In effect, tar sands are recognized as one of the dirtiest energy sources in the world (Bailey & Droitsch, 2015). This fact is founded on the production factor; in producing one barrel of tar sands oil, the hazardous emissions are three to five times that of producing the equivalent of conventional oil. The Alberta oil sands are viewed as the single largest economic project in human history. The Canadian government and oil
The reason this question has to be answered is simple, Canada sits at a very important junction in its evolution; does it continue to push forward to become an energy superpower or does it let the environmental conversation win, pushing forward instead with a clean energy agenda? This essay will hopefully drive this conversation forward.
Global warming and climate change is one of the most pressing issues in the contemporary society given its continued impacts on human life and the world’s ecosystem. The considerable effects of this issue have raised huge concerns among policymakers, governments, and the public. As a result, various initiatives have been developed in attempts to lessen global warming or climate change, especially those related to reducing the emission of greenhouse gases to the Earth’s atmosphere. Governments across the globe including the United Kingdom government have adopted various policies that focus on dealing with the issue. There are various policies that help in dealing with the issue including lessening greenhouse gases emissions, adapting to the effects of climate change, and geo-engineering of the climate system. The attempts by the UK government to address this problem require an understanding of the increasing energy demands and its future impact and use of suitable renewable energy sources.
These goals support the Canadian Federal Government targets set in 2012, allowing Nova Scotia 7.5 million tonnes of CO_2 emissions by 2020 (a 25% reduction from 2007 levels) and 4.5 million tonnes by 2030 (a 40%
Canada has the potential to be a “sustainable energy superpower” due to the vast amount of resources it contains. It has a large landmass and diversified geography which can be used to produce renewable energy from such resources; watermill, wind, biomass, solar, geothermal, and ocean energy. Renewable energy is energy obtained from natural resources that are able to be naturally replenished within a human lifespan (Natural Resource Canada, 2014). Currently, fossil fuel burning is the major source of energy in Canada and although it can be re-used, the process is so long that it is considered to be non-renewable. Also, fossil fuel burning for coal, natural gas, and petroleum gas pollutes the environment with greenhouse gases on a large scale, causing global warming. Non-renewable energy is taken from sources that re available on Earth in limited quantity, likely vanishing within fifty to sixty years from today (Conserve Energy Future, 2014). Thus, it is important for Canada to invest their money on resorting to more environmentally friendly and renewable ways to make electricity. Being a developed country, Canada has the financial stability to purchase the technologies over time in order to produce renewable energy. In addition, many organizations and the government have taken a step to educate the society about issues regarding energy usage, and to create programs which conserve energy for the future. In the future generations, Canada will be able to generate sufficient
The objective of this paper is twofold. First, we introduce the modern condition of Canada’s energy consumption and the economic benefits. Second, we define and analyze the projections of Canada’s future with respect to the renewable energy frontier. The demand for Energy across the globe has drastically increased since the Industrial revolution. From coal to steam, all the way to electricity and nuclear energy, modern economies and industries rely on sustainable sources of energy to produce their desired output levels (Zelby 2002). Ontario, and Canada in general are on the frontier of energy production and sustainability with regards to smart grid technologies and so forth (Ontario Energy Plan). Canada specializes in many of the
Hydroelectricity is created and sent out to the U.S. One of the biggest hydroelectric plants in the world is close James Bay. Québec creates more than 33% of Canada's paper pulp and paper items including paper, newsprint, boxes, tissue, and cardboard. Lumber is utilized to make furniture and to construct homes. The area is Canada's principle maker of maple syrup. The principle cultivating zone is the St. Lawrence Lowlands. The dairy business is one of the biggest in Canada. Raising hogs, cattle and poultry and growing hay, corn, and oats for animals are imperative farming exercises. All sorts of leafy foods are developed in southern Québec. Manufacturing includes the aerospace industry, airplane and passenger trains, PC and electronic items. Pharmaceuticals is another main industry in
World needs energy and Alberta need the oil sands to strengthen the economy. When considering Canada, especially Alberta has been in the oil market, bringing heaps of economic benefits to the country. Besides, energy has turned out to be one of the essential and basic needs, mandatory for the economic progress of a nation. Depending on consumption of the main energy sources, oil is used in a percentage of around 38%, gas is around 21% and also, coal is around 28%. As the developing countries and developed world continue to grow rapidly, many obstacles arise from our dependence on these burnable energies. The availability and consumption of energy resources need to be related to the costs of the global economy and as well as to the ecological impacts. Mainly, the environmental risks associated with energy consumption are related to oil abstraction and their discharge related problems. In addition, these natural resources like coal, oil and gases generate difficulties in both ways, while extracting as well in their use. Besides, the other main problem is the supply of these fuels from other countries and they highly rely on transportation methods or pipe lines which could cause massive destruction to our nature. And at the same time, many arguments take place in regard to the damage cause by these oil sands. Yet, there are no primary energy origins which are free of economic or
Canada 's unique geographical location and its harsh weather conditions, requires extra use of energy to keep the houses warm."[Moreover we have to transport goods, to far of places including territories, therefore as a result we use extensive amount of fuel for the transportation purposes]" (Energy, Statistic Canada). "[Per capita consumption of electric power in Canada was 16,473.16 kWh in 2011. In 2010 Canada’s average energy consumption was, 41% from petroleum, 31% from natural gas and 1% consumption from coal]" (Energy, Statistic Canada). We produce about 65 million metric tons of coal each year but, consume 50 percent of it and the remaining is exported to many countries of Asia, including Japan and South Korea (ILC 2007, CGW4UA, U2, L10, P 24). As per Statistic Canada our total consumption of energy was divided as: "34% of the energy was consumed by transportation. Residential and Agricultural sector consumed 20%. Manufacturing 19%, whereas mining, oil and gas extractions consumed 10% of the energy. Moreover 74% of the total energy consumed was in the provinces of Ontario, Alberta and Quebec. Canada produces 3 million barrels of oil, and consumes 2.2 million of it" (Energy, Statistic Canada). The rest is exported to the United States for sale. Furthermore Canada has cross border trade of electricity with the US and it exports "30 billion kWh of electricity" (ILC 2007, CGW4UA, U2, L10, P 25).
Natural gas would be a great investment in the Canadian economy. Natural gas is widely used within Canada and other countries, as natural gas is used for commercial, residential and transportation purposes. It is a source of energy to heat, cook and used for electrical purposes. As well as, one third of Canadian energy use is from natural gas (CAPP, ), due to accessibility through the pipelines. Therefore, natural gas is considered as an inelastic commodity, in other words individuals would buy natural gas regardless of the price because of the needs of individuals.
On the same note, the energy revolution spoken of above brings forth another advance in the ongoing global climate situation. The nature of the Kyoto Protocol calls for nations to increase research and eventually semi-convert their energy usage to accommodate for cleaner energy. Products such as solar power, wind power, biomass, geothermal power, and hydropower are now widely being studying to create processes that use less coal, oil, and natural gas in production. Altogether the results have
With American population expected to increase by approximately fifty percent over the next fifty years, some sort of energy reform is needed (Lehrman 2). The most commonly proposed idea is for America to stop relying so heavily on fossil fuels, and to turn its focus onto renewable sources of energy, such as solar power and hydroelectricity (Energy Information Administration). If the United States could realize the benefits of renewable energy, then much of the world’s energy problems could be solved.
Coal and natural gas are the United States’ main fossil fuels used as energy sources. These fossil fuels both contain mixtures of hydrocarbons, which is a chemical compound of carbon and hydrogen (Olah, 2005). Currently, fossil fuels provide eighty-five percent of commercial energy, such as businesses, worldwide and this eighty-five percent does not even account for residential use. Imagine if the residential energy use was accounted for in that eighty-five percent (Davison, 2007). According to Goodell (2006), “Between 1950 and 2000, the world population increased by 140 percent and fossil fuel consumption increased by 400 percent. By 2030, the world’s demand for energy is expected to more than double,” with most of the electricity
The International Energy Agency estimates that by the year 2003 forty percent of the world's energy production will be from sources other than fossil fuels or nuclear power. Nevertheless, the need for