Alberta’s renewable energy future On March 31, 2017, Lieutenant Governor of Alberta, Lois
climate. Methane is a potent greenhouse gas that has 86
Mitchell, signed Order in Council O.C. 120 / 2017 which
times the global warming potential of carbon dioxide over a
recognized under SCHEDULE Clause G “the Government
20-year period. A leakage rate of three per cent to four per
of Alberta’s objectives of providing clean, affordable and
cent can nullify any advantage of generating electricity with
reliable energy to Albertans.”
‘clean’ natural gas which emits 370 kg CO2e / MWh.
WHAT IS CLEAN ENERGY?
CAN ALBERTA ATTAIN A CLEAN GRID WITH RENEWABLE GENERATION?
Canada exhibits a ‘clean’ electricity grid due to the utilization of 83 per cent low-carbon generation via hydro 60 per cent, nuclear 17 per cent, and renewables such as wind and solar six per cent. The April 2021 Canadian National Inventory Report (NIR) for year 2019 documented that Canada’s grid GHG emission intensity was 120 kg CO2e / MWh. But Alberta’s grid is not clean; GHG emission intensity in 2019 was 620 kg CO2e / MWh (five times that of the Canadian average). In June 2021, the Alberta Electric System Operator (AESO) released their Long-Term Outlook for the years from 2021 to 2041. AESO’s Clean Tech scenario for Alberta assumes renewable energy would supply only 26 per cent of total generation by 2030 while 74 per cent would be powered by natural gas. However, emissions from venting, flaring and leakage of methane in the gathering and distribution systems for natural gas are extremely detrimental to our
“Yes”. But a far higher build out of wind, solar, geothermal and energy storage will have to be set in government policy immediately. In 2020, renewable energy in Alberta represented 12 per cent of total generation. If renewable energy comprised at least 50 per cent of generation in 2030, GHG emissions would drop to 14 million tonnes CO2e from 24 million tonnes emitted in AESO’s Clean Tech scenario. And the GHG emission intensity of Alberta’s grid would be reduced to a far ‘cleaner’ 150 kg CO2 / MWh.
WHAT ABOUT THE INTERMITTENCY OF WIND AND SOLAR? Short (hours) and long term (days) storage of electricity generated from wind and solar must be deployed to guarantee reliable supply of power at all times, especially during the long Alberta winter. Batteries can provide cost effective short-term storage up to four hours. Pumped hydro and geothermal power can generate electricity during extended periods when wind and solar are absent.
Canada exhibits a ‘clean’ electricity grid due to the utilization of 83 per cent low-carbon generation via hydro 60 per cent, nuclear 17 per cent, and renewables such as wind and solar six per cent.
Electrolytic hydrogen from water can be produced from surplus wind and solar power, compressed, and stored for days for subsequent use in hydrogen powered electricity generators. As well, interconnections between provincial grids must be strengthened to ensure higher sharing of clean energy resources.
WHAT ARE THE COSTS? The Alberta Renewable Energy Alliance estimates that 13,000 MW of new renewable energy and storage will
16 ALBERTA SOLAR REVIEW • 2022/23
