We get questions

The Centre for Energy’s portal is loaded with factual and statistical information about Canada’s energy system. But we still get questions, like this one.

Q:  What is the average cost of electricity in Canada?

A:  Average Canadian electricity prices are very difficult to estimate, primarily because various methods of generation (coal-fired thermal, gas-fired thermal, wind, hydro, nuclear, etc.) are used in differing proportions across the country and the price for each of these generation types varies with type and over time (peaking hours versus low demand).

Having said that, HydroQuébec tracks the electricity cost for 11 major Canadian cities and the average of those cities is 10.44 cents per kilowatt hour. These prices are for electricity costs only, and don’t include transmission costs, distribution costs or any surcharges or taxes.

City	ȼ/kWh
Vancouver, BC	6.98
Edmonton, AB	13.45
Regina, SK	10.91
Winnipeg, MB	6.44
Toronto, ON	11.17
Ottawa, ON	10.61
Montréal, QC	6.81
Moncton, NB	11.51
Charlottetown, PE	14.81
Halifax, NS	11.75
St. John’s, NL	10.43
Average	10.44

 
It is interesting to note that the three least-expensive cities, Vancouver, Winnipeg and Montreal, are all from provinces which generate more than 90 per cent of their electricity from hydropower.

Got a question?
Send it to infoservices@centreforenergy.com – we’ll answer it and might even publish it on Flow.

The cost of not going green

One journalist is saying that if Canadians don’t get on the eco-bandwagon, they’ll get crushed beneath it

Full Story [Sympatico/msn Finance]

Energy in your backyard

Renewable energy is the talk of the town, but how do you go about transforming talk into action? Sometimes it’s difficult to create change on a mass scale, but the more individuals think, talk and act according to increased awareness about the environment, the closer we all get to a more sustainable future. If you’re thinking about doing your part, two energy resources you should learn more about are solar and wind.

Catch some rays

Solar power can be used to heat water in your home or business and generate electricity for lighting and appliances. In addition to saving you money on your energy bill, power produced from the sun can provide an energy source in remote locations and increase security from power outages.

Think solar energy is a bright idea? The Canadian Solar Industries Association (CSIA) works with individuals and organizations to develop and implement programs that encourage the widespread use of solar energy in Canada. They offer a searchable member directory that is your best source for a full range of solar products (including solar panels and heat pumps) and services in your region.

They also provide information to help you learn to design and install solar photovoltaic systems and hot water systems and sponsor Clean Energy Classrooms where you’ll find additional employment and career information.

Have some questions or just need more information to get started?

NRCan’s ecoENERGY Renewable Heat program offers incentives to business to install active energy-efficient solar air and/or water heating systems. And on the home front there are government programs to help you pay for retrofits and renovations. These programs run to March 31, 2011. First Look helps you estimate annual solar radiation in your area. And Off the Grid seminars help you learn how to reduce your energy bill without changing your lifestyle. 

Got wind?

Wind power is a clean, sustainable source of energy. It is compatible to use with your regular power supply and is an excellent source of energy for rural areas. Ideal for less sunny regions, wind can generate energy day and night and is an inexpensive source of alternative energy.

Want to join the winds of change? Canadian Wind Association (CanWEA) represents the wind energy community in Canada — organizations and individuals who are directly involved in the development and application of wind energy technology, products and services.

CanWEA provides information on small wind energy systems. Their Small Wind Purchase Guide (472KB PDF) gives homeowners, ranchers and farmers helpful tips on buying wind turbines, assessing a site, permitting, installing and maintaining equipment and connecting to the grid. They also provide an easy step-by-step planning exercise and a cost calculator. If you’re looking at the bigger picture and want to learn more about wind farms and wind energy CanWEA can provide you with what you need.  

Have some questions or just need more information to get started?

First Look helps you estimate annual wind speed in your area. NRCan’s Clean Energy Project Analysis Software helps you evaluate energy production and savings, costs, emission reductions, financial visibility and risk for various types of renewable energy and energy efficient technologies. The Wind Energy Institute of Canada is advancing the development of wind energy in Canada through research, testing, innovation and collaboration. They have initiated a testing program for small wind turbines that includes power performance and quality, acoustic noise emissions, duration and safety. And Mariah Power is taking a new approach with a vertical wind turbine that supplies low cost energy and easy maintenance for your home or small business.

Seduced by mother nature

Now that Earth Day has come and gone, here are some mildly amusing notes of reflection from one earth lover

Full Story [Edmonton Sun]

Earth Day Energy Quiz Answers

Here’s the answers to our Earth Day Energy Quiz. Ten simple questions – what was your score?

When is a hybrid not a hybrid?
b) when you’re driving on the highway 
When you’re driving a hybrid on the highway, only the internal combustion engine is engaged, not the electric motor. Consequently, it’s no different than driving a conventional car.

Switching from a gasoline-powered lawn mower to an electric lawn mower is a good idea
d) because it eliminates greenhouse gas emissions and NOx and SOx emissions but only in British Columbia, Manitoba and Québec
Other provinces generate electricity from burning coal, natural gas and fuel oil, all of which contribute greenhouse gases, nitrogen oxides and sulphur oxides to the atmosphere. British Columbia, Manitoba and Québec all generate more than 90 per cent of their electricity from hydropower, which contributes no air pollutants. 

Smart Cars are smart because
c) they are inexpensive to run 
Smart Cars are inexpensive to run because they are powered by a three-cylinder, clean diesel engine.

Clean diesel is
c) about as clean as today’s unleaded gasoline
Clean diesel is another name for ultra low sulphur diesel, diesel fuel with virtually no sulphur. Although combustion of diesel fuel releases more greenhouse gases than regular unleaded gasoline, the emissions per kilometre driven are lower because of diesel’s better fuel mileage. 

The most efficient light bulb to operate is
d) an LED 
Incandescent light bulbs light up because an electric current passes through a filament creating enough heat to cause the filament to glow. Most of the energy consumed by the light bulb is transformed into heat.

Halogen light bulbs are incandescent bulbs in which the filament is sealed in a pocket containing an inert gas and halogen. They last longer than conventional light bulbs and are slightly more efficient because the filament can operate at a higher temperature.

In compact fluorescent bulbs, the electric current causes a gas within the bulb to emit ultraviolet light. The ultraviolet light causes a phosphor coating on the inside of the bulb to emit visible light. Because much less energy is lost to heat production, fluorescent bulbs, compact or conventional, are more efficient that incandescent bulbs.

LEDs, or light-emitting diodes, rely on neither a filament nor gas to create light. LEDs are semiconductors and when an electric current is applied, electrons moving along the surface of a semiconductor generate light. LEDs require less energy to generate the same amount of light as do incandescent or fluorescent bulbs.

Which provinces generate electricity from the largest number of energy sources?
a) Ontario and Nova Scotia (6 and 6)
Ontario and Nova Scotia both use coal, natural gas, hydro, wind and biomass to generate electricity, as do a number of other provinces. However, Ontario adds nuclear power to this mix and Nova Scotia adds tidal power.

How many provinces have solar farms?
a) 0
At the time of writing, there are no operating solar farms in Canada; however, one is under construction near Sarnia, Ontario.

Which came first?
c) electric automobiles 
An automobile powered by electricity was made by Robert Anderson in Scotland in 1836. A vehicle with a hydrogen-fuelled internal combustion engine, the Hippomobile, was built in 1863. Karl Benz is credited with building the first gasoline-powered car in 1886, shortly before an independent team led by Gottlieb Daimler developed a similar vehicle. Rather than compete with each other, the two joined forces to create Daimler-Benz AG, which still operates today under the name Daimler AG. Rudolf Diesel invented the engine bearing his name in 1893, and vehicles using his engine began appearing in the late 1890s. GM produced an experimental hydrogen fuel cell vehicle, the Electrovan, in 1966.

Which province has the greatest installed capacity of wind-generated electricity?
b) Ontario (1,083 MW)
Until November 2008, Alberta laid claim to the greatest installed wind capacity, but currently Ontario has the honours with 1,083 megawatts. Alberta is second with 524 megawatts, Québec third with 422 megawatts and Saskatchewan fourth with 171. British Columbia is the only province with no operating wind power projects.

What is the most common form of biomass used to generate electricity in Canada?
c) wood waste (87.1%)
About 87 per cent of biomass consists of wood waste, largely because of Canada’s forestry industry. The forestry industry harvests waste wood for power in its mills and other facilities as well as for selling to the grid. Other wood waste is turned into pellets for space heaters.

Prentice promises details of emissions policy

National carbon pricing system expected to come down the pipes before the end of this year

Full Story [Calgary Herald]

The power of going green

Many Canadian companies are getting more of the green by going green

Full Story [macleans.ca]

Microalgae used to develop a carbon recycling system

Here’s a slimy way to reduce carbon emissions

Full Story [Biomass Magazine]

Greenhouse gas emissions cut by 6.5M tonnes: Alberta

Looks like Alberta’s efforts to cut greenhouse gas emissions actually made a difference in the last year. 6.5M tonnes of difference to be exact

Full Story [Calgary Herald]

New nuclear technology shifts

The Canadian nuclear industry has – generally speaking – been a story of bigger means better.

First, a very brief history: the first Canadian reactors came online after 1971, with capacities of 540 MW. During the 1970s and 1980, 23 reactors were constructed, with a total capacity of over 15,000 MW of electrical power – then approximately 20 per cent of Canada’s demand.

The next generations of CANDU and ACR reactors were, in a word, bigger. The ACR-1000 GEN3+ reactor will have a capacity of 1,200 MW. However, experts predict the next wave of nuclear reactors will be smaller, a less is more approach.

Toshiba has introduced “micro” nuclear reactors, with a capacity of 200 kilowatts. They’re intended to power individual apartment blocks, or a lower-density city block. The reactor is compact (20 by 6 feet) enough for easy transit to remote communities.

While a Japanese company is on the vanguard for commercial mini-nuclear development, Canada is a world leader in research. Going back as far as the 1960s, Canadian SLOWPOKE (Safe Low-Power Kritical Experiment) reactors have demonstrated nuclear can indeed go small.

Each of the five SLOWPOKE-2 reactor cores operating at research institutions is tiny. About 22 cm diameter by 22 cm high, it sits in a pool of regular water, 2.5 m diameter by 6 m deep. Each SLOWPOKE can provide about 20 kW of energy, but their primary purpose is research.

When Toshiba’s micro reactors are commercially available within the next 2 to 3 years, remember that mini-nuclear is as Canadian as hockey.

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