Energy Sources

The global level of carbon dioxide released from energy emissions continues to grow. This is despite the small decline in fossil fuel emissions caused by reduced economic activity as a result of the economic crisis experienced in the industrialized world. Canada is the fifth-largest global power producer. It has an unparalleled wealth of both renewable and nonrenewable energy resources. Of course, it is widely known for the dirty tar sands production in Alberta, which constitutes 40 percent of Canadian oil production. Over 66 percent of its oil production is exported and almost all since 1995 has been sold to the United States. Yet, the statistics of renewable energy reveal that Canada is using renewable energy more, even as it continues to rely on the star product of Alberta for export and trade revenue.

The technologies of renewable energy vary widely in their technical, economic maturity and cost competitiveness. These include wind, solar thermal, solar photovoltaic, sustainable biomass, ocean, geothermal, and hydroelectric power. While emitting barely any greenhouse gases, they are a sustainable source of energy that can be naturally replenished or is renewable unlike fossil fuels that emit greenhouse gases and are not renewable. However, Biomass is a renewable resource only if our rate of consumption does not exceed the rate of regeneration. This type is energy is what we need to use more as our need to consume more energy grows along with our need to protect our environment from escalating climate change caused by greenhouse gas emissions.

Renewable energy sources supply about 16 percent of the energy needs of Canada. Water is the dominant source in this providing approximately 59 percent and about 11 percent of total supply from all energy sources. There are many rivers that flow from Canadian mountains to its three oceanic borders. In 2006, there were 499 hydroelectric stations that made this country the second largest producer of hydroelectricity in the world. Quebec, British Columbia, Ontario, Labrador and Manitoba are the major provinces active in this sector.

Biomass is the second most dominant source. Primary sources are wood and agricultural crops. Every year, almost 500 petajoules of bioenergy are used by the industrial sector with the pulp and paper industry the largest user. It accounts for over half of the energy used in this industry. By the end of 2006, there were 62 bioenergy power plants. Most of the biomass capacity was in the leading provinces with forestry activities. These were British Columbia, Quebec, Ontario, New Brunswick and Alberta. The principal crops used for ethanol production are corn, wheat and barley. Canada is a leading producer and exporter of these grains. In 2006, the capacity of biofuel production was approximately 600 million litres for ethanol and 100 million litres for biodiesel from vegetable oils and animal fats.

The emerging sectors of wind and solar energy are showing high growth rates. Installed wind power capacity has expanded quickly in recent years with increased interest from utilities and government initiatives. By December 31, 2007, there were 1,400 wind turbines on 85 wind farms with a total installed capacity of 1,846 megawatts. This was up from 60 wind turbines on 8 wind farms and 23 megawatts 10 years before. The provincial leaders in wind are Alberta, Ontario and Quebec. Use of solar energy has increased, although it remains small relatively in terms of market penetration. Installed capacity for solar thermal power has been with average annual growth of 17 percent since 1998. It reached 290 megawatts of thermal power by 2005. The installed capacity for solar photovoltaic power has risen by 27 percent per year since 1993, reaching 25.8 megawatts by 2007. Of these, 89 percent are off the grid applications. Known geothermal steam resource is limited, but approximately 3,150 heat pump units were installed in buildings by 2006.

Eurostat has revealed a report that in 2009 Europe has generally advanced renewable energy uses while simultaneously reducing reliance on fossil fuels. According to its report, energy usage went up by 8.3 percent. However, the use of coal was reduced by 9.2 percent and natural gas by 10.1 percent. Generally energy usage declined by 5.5 percent. This reveals the negative effects of the global financial crisis on European economies. Meanwhile, for the six consecutive year, the amount of energy used to produce energy has declined as a result of reliance on more nonfossil based energy sources. The amount of such energy was 18.4 percent in the past year. This amount is just below the 19.3 percent of energy use from natural gas in the region.

Europe sets the standard with Germany the largest wind power user in the world. Its growth is highlighted by the fact that 16 years ago it hardly used any wind power. The second place wind user, Spain, is also on this continent. Germany is also the second largest solar power market in the world, despite its cloudy weather. QCells a world leader as a solar cell producer is based in Germany. The German goal of reducing carbon emissions by 2020 up to 36 percent makes the German goal the most ambitious. With Germany setting the high bar, Europe keeps on making ambitious exemplary strides forward. Yet the numbers for individual countries varies greatly. Thus, Portugal gets almost 45 percent of its energy needs satisfied through renewable energy usage with the average being regionally 18.4 percent. Portugal, has made dramatic strides as in 2004 the amount was below the average at 17 percent. Portugal demonstrates the dimensions of European expansion over the last decade.

Next door neighbor, the United Sates has seen 3 of the last 4 years with reduced emissions according to the Department of Energy. 2009 saw the most reduction in energy emissions since record keeping began in 1949 with a seven percent decline. The cause is attributable to the economic recession and to the increase in the renewable energy, in which wind has been a leader. The switch from coal to natural gas also reduced the amount energy used to produce power. This switch also influenced decline in carbon emissions as gas produces almost half as much as coal. Renewable energy installations outpaced fossil fuel installations in 2009 in both Europe and the United States. The rate was 60 percent of new energy installations in Europe and 50 percent in the United States. However, only 18 percent of global electricity needs were met by renewable sources in 2009. But, the number of countries with renewable policies has risen to 100 from 55 in 2005. Investment in the United Nation environmental program declined slightly to USD 162 billion in 2009 from the USD 173 billion in 2008. The statistics of renewable energy demonstrate that the interest in renewable energy remains robust.