EnergyBC

Alternative Energy Sources

It has been estimated that investment in renewable energy is expected to increase from US$7 Billion to US$82 Billion during this decade (Marshall, 2001). A recent review commissioned by Environment Canada compiled research on the job creation potential of various energy projects. The study concluded that “energy efficiency and renewable energy should be aggressively pursued as important positive contributors to the federal government’s job creation strategy.” This conclusion was based on the fact that conventional energy supplies create 7.3 Jobs per Million (JPM), which is consistent with the 7.5 JPM calculated for the Hibernia offshore oil and gas project. Marshall (2001) noted that by comparison, renewable energy projects create 60% more jobs, and that even energy efficiency/conservation projects create almost five times more jobs than conventional-energy projects. The reason for the large job creation potential of conservation was two-fold: retrofitting buildings so that they need less energy is highly labour-intensive, and decreased energy use means that people have more money to spend in the local economy, which in turn creates even more jobs.

Wind Energy

Energy is created by using the power of the wind to to generate electricity. This is done with large turbines composed of three basic parts: blades, a shaft and a generator. As wind moves over turbine blades, it cause “lift” — the same effect used by airplane wings. Lift makes the blades rotate. The turning blades turn a shaft. The turning shaft moves a magnetic field in the generator which in turn creates electricity. Several pilot projects already exist in the Alberta, Saskatchewan, Quebec and in the Maritimes.

For more information on wind energy:

Canadian Wind Energy Association

BC Hydro Wind Power Feasibility Studies

Solar Energy

The energy of the sun is harnessed by using solar panels (cells) to convert sunlight into electricity. Solar cells are composed of photovoltaic cells or modules (modules are simply a group of cells). Photovoltaic (PV) cells are made of special materials called semiconductors.

For more information on solar energy:

Solar Energy Society of Canada

Canadian Solar Industries Association

Tidal Energy

Energy is generated by using wave and natural tides to generate electricity. Similar to the turbines used in used in wind energy, the devices used can be considered a kind of underwater windmill. A subsea rotating shaft turns a gearbox linked to a turbine with the help of large, slow-moving rotor blades. Horizontal-axis turbine prototypes are now being tested in northern Europe (the UK and Norway). A vertical-axis turbine has already been successfully tested in Canada. British Columbia has taken the first steps to estimating the energy-generating potential of tidal current energy on its coast.

For more information on tidal energy:

BC Hydro Tidal Current Energy Study

Tidal Energy Primer from Blue Energy Canada

Geothermal Energy

Energy is generated using the natural heat of the earth. Geothermal heat has been used on a commercial scale since the 1920s. In most cases, communities take advantage of naturally occurring geysers, hot springs, and steam vents (called fumaroles) to gather hot water and steam which is then carried to communities in insulated pipes to heat homes and businesses. In some cases the water is superheated (heated under pressure to temperatures greater than 100C), which turns to high-pressure steam and is used to turn high-speed turbines that drive electrical generators. The countries currently producing the most electricity from geothermal reservoirs are the United States, New Zealand, Italy, Iceland, Mexico, the Philippines, Indonesia and Japan.

For more information on geothermal energy:

United States Department of Energy Geothermal Program

Canada's National Energy Board has found that there are a number of significant obstacles to changing the mixture of fuels or to achieving any large gains in energy efficiency due to the nature and structure of the Canadian economy. Over time, the patterns of energy use will slowly change, however Canada will likely continue to fill most of its energy needs via fossil fuels until the year 2025. During this time, natural gas will likely be in high demand as a cleaner-burning fossil fuel. As well, the production of oil sands will increase and begin to replace traditional crude oil production.

The decision on whether or not to proceed with offshore oil and gas development will have a tremendous impact on BC’s environmental and energy policies for the next several decades. Many critics of offshore development argue that the continued consumption of fossil fuels must be weighed against their undesirable environmental impacts. Could funds proposed for offshore exploration be better applied to the research and development of alternative, more environmentally sensitive forms of energy? Can these alternative energy sources meet the growing demand for energy in BC and the rest of Canada?

Other Web Sites

The Canadian Renewable Energy Network (CanREN) was created by Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) and its stakeholders. Its purpose is to increase the understanding of renewable energy to accelerate the development and commercialization of renewable energy technologies.

Re-Energy.ca is a renewable energy educational site. Re-Energy.ca explores wind energy, water energy, solar energy, biomass energy and more. Re-Energy.ca provides educators with background information, hands-on learning activities, resources and links on renewable energy and sustainable energy technologies.