Transcript Yukon Sustainable Energy Opportunities

Environmental Fundamentals
of Alternatives
Presentation for CEA/NRCan Workshop:
Diversifying the Mix - Alternatives to
Conventional Generating Technology
November 25, 2002
Andrew Pape-Salmon, PEng, MRM
[email protected]
http://www.pembina.org
Pembina Institute
 Pembina Institute
 Policy research and analysis
 Confidential consulting services
 Public interest advocacy and intervention
 Public and school education
 Sustainable Energy Program
 Aims to shift Canadian energy policy to support a
significant expansion of sustainable energy
(energy efficiency & low-impact renewable energy)
 Advocates fiscal and legislative reforms which provide
market recognition for the social
and environmental benefits of
sustainable energy
November 2002, Environmental Fundamentals
Environmental Issues for
Canadian Energy Supplies
 Climate Change
 Ground level ozone
 Acid deposition
 Reduction of biodiversity
 Watershed and fish impact
 Land-use – human and wildlife issues
 Toxic waste buildup
 Resource depletion
 Other social impacts
 Life-cycle evaluation is critical
November 2002, Environmental Fundamentals
Greenhouse Gases
 Includes CO2, N2O, CH4, SF6, PFCs, HFCs, others
 Known link to global climate change
 Potential impacts: Climate Change
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Sea level rise
Increased intensity of weather events (rain, snow, wind)
Increased forest fire events
Arctic melt
Reduced biodiversity
Tropical diseases moving north
 Significant impacts on people, society, economy, biodiversity
November 2002, Environmental Fundamentals
Greenhouse Gases
November 2002, Environmental Fundamentals
November 2002, Environmental Fundamentals
Greenhouse Gases
 Kyoto Protocol: Canada committed to a 6%
reduction below 1990 levels: to 571 Mt
 Required reductions of about 29% or
238 Mt below expected levels of 809 Mt
 Climate Change Plan for Canada sets out
several concrete measures to reduce
emissions
 Immense opportunity for zero- or lowemission energy resources, energy
efficiency and conservation
November 2002, Environmental Fundamentals
Environmental Assessment
 Need to compare energy options on their sitespecific environmental performance rather than
arbitrary scale criteria or other generalizations
 Indirect and direct impacts; varies by geography
 Life Cycle Value Assessment:
 multi-disciplinary, systems-based business analysis
and decision-making process
 considers the full life cycle of a project
 enhances the design-for-sustainability
 Pembina Institute service to
the private and public sectors
November 2002, Environmental Fundamentals
Environmental Assessment
Nacelle
Blades/Hub
Paint and
Tower Parts
Foundation
Transformer
HDPE
50
-
Copper
1,000
-
Aluminum
1,600
250
-
Fibreglass
750.00
5,750.000
-
Steel
16,350
2,500
37,000
Paint
250
Concrete
-
Location
Denmark
Denmark
Denmark
-
-
-
-
4,735
-
43,230
-
-
-
-
3,279
-
-
Alberta,
Canada
Oregon,
U.S.
kg CO2 eq./ 1000
kWh
Graph 1. Greenhouse Gases
1500
1000
500
0
1092 kg
AIS
WIND
12
kg
System
November 2002, Environmental Fundamentals
GAS
786 kg
Environmental Assessment
 Ground level ozone: 0.03kg/MWh
 Acid deposition: 0.03kg SOx/MWh
 Reduction of biodiversity: minimal
 Watershed and fish impact: negligible
 Land-use: 1% footprint
 Toxic waste buildup: none
 Resource depletion: renewable
 Other social impacts: visual impact,
enhancement of agricultural income
 All categories: indirect displacement of more
impacting energy resources
November 2002, Environmental Fundamentals
Environmental Benefits
 100MW Wind Farm
 300 GWh/yr, Energy for 30,000 homes
 Permanent GHG Emissions Reductions:
150-300 kilotonnes per year
 Reductions equivalent to taking up to 100,000 small
motor vehicles off the road
 Reduced smog, acid deposition,
particulate matter, mercury,
other heavy metals
 No impact on watersheds
 Reduced toxic waste
 Non-depleteable resource
November 2002, Environmental Fundamentals
Environmental Certification
 Aims to establish a transparent standard for
labeling energy products which protect the
environment
 Canadian standards:
 Environmental Choice Program “EcoLogo”
for Renewable Low-Impact Electricity
 BC Hydro “Green Criteria”
 Low-Impact Hydropower Institute guidelines being
adapted to Canadian context
 Ownership of environmental
attributes under debate
November 2002, Environmental Fundamentals
Drivers for Certification
 Green Power Marketing
 Consumers pay a price premium for electricity that
demonstrates superior environmental performance
 Highest quality product required
 Portfolio Standards
 Legislated or voluntary targets for renewable energy
to support environmental and social objectives
 Cost competitive products which satisfy jurisdictional
objectives for environmental performance
 E.g., BC Hydro 10% commitment
November 2002, Environmental Fundamentals
Drivers for Certification
 Environmental Regulations
 Investments in green power driven by greenhouse
gas or local emission standards (e.g., Kyoto Protocol,
Ontario emissions trading system)
 Products which demonstrate a net improvement in
environmental quality
 Debate: Role of Eco-Logo Guidelines
 Different stakeholders have presented different cases
for the role of the eco-logo
 Need to clearly identify social
purpose for certification
November 2002, Environmental Fundamentals
“Shades of Green” Proposal
 Bright green resource
 Best overall environmental performance
 Suitable for green power marketing purposes
 Bundling many environmental attributes
 Forest green resource
 Demonstrate broad environmental benefits
 Suitable for portfolio standards for renewable energy
 Olive green resource
 Resource which demonstrate net reductions in GHGs
 Suitable for meeting emission regulations
 Must clearly communicate
differences to consumers
November 2002, Environmental Fundamentals
Differentiation
Goal is to clearly differentiate
resources based on their social
purpose – to meet emission
regulations, contribute toward
resource acquisition goals, or to
market to consumers as a
premium product
November 2002, Environmental Fundamentals
Summary
 Several critical environmental issues facing
Canadian energy sector
 Kyoto ratification could create an immense
opportunity for alternative energy
 Evaluation of environmental attributes should be
done on a life-cycle basis
 Certification of environmental performance
should be driven by specific social purposes
November 2002, Environmental Fundamentals