From Consensus to Action: How to Transform Canada’s Energy System by Richard Carlson, Pollution Probe & Aïda Nciri, QUEST Canada June 14, 2021 True in Canada as elsewhere, the coming transition to a low-carbon energy system will require changes to the way energy is regulated. To better understand the role regulation will play in innovation, …
Cities consume a lot of energy – in fact, the World Bank recently stated that cities account for two-thirds of global energy consumption and for more than 70% of greenhouse gas emissions. This is partly because cities are such high-density areas, with 55% of the world’s population, or about 4.2 billion people, living in cities. Fortunately, because cities are high-density environments, they’re well-positioned to play a leading role in driving global action to address climate change. One of the ways that cities can do this is by lessening their consumption of energy. This can be done through advocating for the use of low-carbon district energy networks.
Webinar | Beat the Heat Across Canada, cities are in for an increased number of extreme heat days in the coming summers. This is a significant public health and environmental issue that can lead to heat-related illness and death. Vulnerable populations, such as elderly, low-income, and marginalized groups, disproportionately bear this heat risk. Ensuring everyone has access …
Those living in Canada right now, particularly in Ontario and Quebec, are currently grappling with two threats: a historic heat dome and a global pandemic that forces people to spend more time at home. During these extreme temperatures and high humidity, many people rely on their air conditioning (AC) to cool off. In 2017, 60% of Canadian households reported having some type of AC system in their home. Globally, the number of air conditioners is expected to grow from 1.6 billion to 5.6 billion between 2018-2050, according to a report by the International Energy Agency.
With hot weather and easy-to-access outdoor activities, many Canadians embrace the summer season. This year, though, the summertime heat means being really, really hot. According to Environment and Climate Change Canada, temperature predictions for July 2020 indicate a historic heat wave unlike any other, at least out east, with heat warnings in effect for more than 70 districts in Ontario and Quebec. The majority of southern Ontario has received below normal amounts of rainfall in early July, with most areas experiencing recorded rainfall of less than 0.5 mm for 30-50 days between June and early July.
Newfoundland and Labrador leads oil production outside of Western Canada
Newfoundland and Labrador (NL) is the only Atlantic Canadian province currently producing oil, and the largest producer outside of Western Canada. Roughly 6% of Canada’s oil production comes from NL.
In-situ projects lead growth in the Canadian oil sands
In Western Canada, about 80% of oil sands deposits are located more than 75 metres underground. These deposits cannot be developed through open-pit mining as too much rock and soil would need to be removed to access the oil sands. At this depth, extracting oil sands is only workable using what is referred to as in-situ methods, which combines drilling and steam injection.
Incremental growth projected for oil sands mining
Oil sands mining is expected to expand modestly in the future relative to oil sands in-situ projects. According to the Canada Energy Regulator (CER), oil sands mining production will increase by 13% in the next 20 years, from 1.5 to 1.7 million barrels per day.
This growth is not expected to come from new projects, as no new mines are under construction. Rather, this growth will come from expanding existing mines. Many of the projects that are producing today are expected to continue to do so through 2040 and beyond.
The future of crude oil development in Canada is an open question. Government, industry and civil society have mixed feelings about how to balance the environmental impacts and economic benefits of fossil fuel resource development. It’s hard to predict what will happen to the industry, as projections vary greatly from source to source. To complicate matters, the future will not only be shaped by Canadian climate policies, but also by factors that affect oil supply and demand worldwide, such as recovery from COVID-19, new low-carbon electricity and transportation options, international economic growth, and oil production in the US.
Webinar | Reimagining Urban Networks How Can Cities Meet Their Energy Needs Cleanly and Economically? Across Canada, cities are one of the largest drivers of new energy demand. With the need to transition to clean energy sources and anticipated increases in electricity use, meeting urban energy needs represents a significant challenge. At the same time, …
