Transcript A Lean, Green and Clean Energy Future for Ontario

A Lean, Green and Clean Energy
Future for Ontario
Keith Stewart
WWF Canada
Climate Change Campaign
Goal: Avoid dangerous climate change by
keeping warming below an average 2º C
Canada directly contributes 2% of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions. But
our indirect contribution via fossil fuel exports is large and growing.
Canada’s Kyoto target requires a 6% reduction in GHG emissions against
1990 baseline, but emissions are up by 24%.
Canada is the second-least energy efficient country in the OECD (per capita);
Ontario is far behind various US jurisdictions in electricity productivity
(Kwh/GDP)
Modelling indicates that nature cannot survive more than an average 2-degrees
C warming above pre-Industrial levels without dire consequences. Canada’s
arctic regions are warming faster and being affected more acutely than any
other on the planet.
Signs of Hope
We are on the verge of a profound shift in the way we produce
and use energy. This shift will take the world away from the
wasteful and ecologically-destructive consumption of fossil
fuels and nuclear power, towards cleaner, more efficient
forms of power.
Past energy revolutions -- from wood to coal, from coal to oil,
gas and electricity -- have brought an explosion of
improvements in human health. Investing in new green
energy sources will make our lives better, too.
PowerSwitch!:
from coal to clean
The electricity generating sector, particularly coal plants, is
the largest source of greenhouse gases globally, and in
Ontario is responsible for 20% of greenhouse gas
emissions and 15 – 23% of smog-causing pollution.
Nuclear stations are no solution, as they create
environmental hazards and security threats throughout
their life-cycle, and get in the way of green power by
draining resources away from energy efficiency and
green power, while locking us into a highly centralized,
inflexible grid.
Three steps to a greener future
The decisions made today can move Ontario step by
step towards a greener future. Ontario should
adopt a three-step Energy Hierarchy to prioritize
where new energy resources come from:
Step 1: Stop wasting energy (be lean)
Step 2: Use renewable energy (be green)
Step 3: Use the cleanest available fossil fuel, in the most
efficient way possible (be clean)
Three Steps to PowerSwitching Ontario
Step 1: Stop Wasting Energy (Be Lean)
• Better building code & energy efficiency standards.
• Economic incentives for conservation.
• Retrofit of existing homes
– Low income housing is key, as it is the most likely
to be electrically-heated and is least energyefficient.
• Public engagement
•Will save money: aggressive conservation would net
savings of over $7 billion by 2020.
Peak Demand (MW)
Step 1: Stop wasting energy
60,000
Switching space & water
heating
Increase effficiency
50,000
40,000
30,000
Load shifting
20,000
10,000
0
All-time Peak Projected Peak
(July 2005)
Demand in
2020
Potential
generation
capacity in
2020
Three Steps to PowerSwitching Ontario
Step 2: Use Renewable Energy (Be Green)
The popularity of renewable energy is exploding as millions of
people around the world use clean energy to generate
electricity, to heat and cool all kinds of buildings, and to
produce a variety of cleaner fuels.
•
Wind and solar are the fastest growing sources of energy in
the world. These low-polluting energy industries are also
creating hundreds of thousands of new jobs in countries as
diverse as Germany and China.
Step 2: Use Renewable Energy
Biomass (wood and crop waste,
bio-gas)
Solar photovoltaic on 430,000
buildings
60,000
50,000
Wind
40,000
Hydro-electric (new low-impact)
30,000
20,000
Hydro-electric (redevelop existing
sites)
10,000
Existing Hydro-electric
0
All-time Peak (July
2005)
Projected Peak
Demand in 2020
Potential generation
capacity in 2020
3 Steps to PowerSwitching Ontario
Step 3: Use fossil fuels wisely in the
transition to 100% green
• Get the most out of gas: heat and
power.
• Use gas sparingly as back-up to
renewables.
Decentralized energy
production
Step 3: Be Clean
New planned gas
60,000
50,000
40,000
Existing gas
30,000
20,000
Biomass (wood and
crop waste, bio-gas)
10,000
0
All-time Peak (July
2005)
Projected Peak
Demand in 2020
Potential
generation
capacity in 2020
Solar photovoltaic on
430,000 buildings
Wind
Summary
The Lean, Clean and Green option for
Ontario’s energy system is
• Available
• Affordable
• Equitable: fair to our environment and our
future.
For More Information:
Keith Stewart, Ph.D.
Climate Change Campaign Manager
WWF-Canada
[email protected]