At a basic level, most of us have an idea of what renewable energy is and what isn’t. It can be energy in the form of solar energy or energy generated from wind – on the other hand, it’s the opposite of using finite resources like coal to generate energy. Additionally, you’ll see several articles claiming that we need to embrace renewable energy for the sake of sustainability or sustainable living. Perhaps you’ve heard of Canada’s goal of net-zero emissions by 2050, which involves transitioning to more renewable energy sources.

But beyond that, you might wonder ‘what else is there to know about renewable energy?’

In this post, we’ll go over several different topics related to green and renewable energy such as ‘what role does renewable energy play in Canada?’ and ‘how is green energy related to climate change?’ as well as many others. By the end of this article, you should have all the information you need regarding renewable energy in Canada and even on a global scale.

What is renewable energy?

To start, here’s a definition of renewable energy from NRCAN: ‘Renewable energy is energy derived from natural processes that are replenished at a rate that is equal to or faster than the rate at which they are consumed.’

How does renewable energy work?

Renewable energy works as energy being produced that has fewer to no environmental impacts in comparison to energy generation via sources like fossil fuels.

What are the types of renewable energy?

We’ve listed all the different types of renewable energy below as well as any pertinent information relating to each kind:

Hydroelectricity

Hydroelectric power is produced through moving water – more specifically, it converts kinetic energy from moving water to mechanical energy and then electrical energy.

According to NRCAN, moving water accounts for 59.3 percent of Canada’s electricity generation. Globally, Canada is the second-largest producer of hydroelectric power.

In Canada, the majority of hydropower is generated through run-of-river or reservoir generating stations according to Waterpower Canada.

Run of river systems works by guiding running river water down a channel or penstock (long pipes that bring water from reservoirs to turbines inside power stations). Then, the water is brought to an electricity-generating building, where the water drives a turbine, which in turn runs a generator and produces electricity. Afterwards, the water is directed downstream of the river it came from.

Reservoir generation systems work by collecting and storing water behind a hydroelectric dam and allowing water to flow as needed to produce electricity. Just like with a run of river systems, the flow of water drives a turbine which in turn runs a generator and produces electricity.

Finally, we’ll go over some pros and cons of hydroelectric energy in comparison to other forms of electricity generation:

Pros:

• Hydroelectric energy generation produces 70 times less greenhouse gas emissions than coal-powered generating systems and 35 times less greenhouse gas emissions than natural gas-powered generating systems according to Hydro Quebec.
• In Canada, water is easily accessible and abundant
• In general, it’s reliable and available throughout all seasons unlike wind or solar-generated power which can be affected by the weather and time of year.
• Hydroelectric facilities have low operating costs.
• Hydroelectric power is less subject to market fluctuations since water is essentially an infinite resource.
• Hydroelectric plants can store water for later usage as well as irrigation purposes.

Cons:

• The creation of hydroelectric power plants, dams and reservoirs can harm the surrounding waters – they can lead to increased temperature and reduced oxygen levels meaning aquatic organisms may no longer be able to thrive.
• Deforestation can occur to make space for hydroelectric plants, meaning methane is released into the atmosphere.
• Hydroelectric power plants have a high upfront capital cost.
• Living settlements that are downstream from a dam risk flooding.
• Areas near dams are often filled with water, meaning any organic matter in the area decomposes and releases carbon dioxide and methane into the atmosphere.

Bioenergy

Also known as biomass energy, bioenergy refers to usable energy derived from biomass, which is biological material that contains stored sunlight in the form of chemical energy. Some common examples include wood, manure, alcohol fuels (such as ethanol) and landfill biogas.

In Canada, biomass energy is the third-largest renewable source of electricity, accounting for 1.4% of Canadian electricity generation according to NRCAN. Additionally, it’s the second most important source of renewable energy in Canada. Overall, Canada produced 2% of the world’s biofuel in 2013.

Below are the ways that biomass energy is generated as outlined by Energy.GOV:

• Burning: Combustion is the main way that biomass is converted into energy – biomass materials are burned in a boiler which produces high-pressure steam that rotates turbine blades that drive a generator.
• Anaerobic Digestion/Bacterial Decomposition: This method involves anaerobic bacteria decomposing organic waste material such as dung into methane and other byproducts to produce renewable natural gas which can then be purified and converted into electricity.
• Conversion to Gas or Liquid Fuel: Conversion to fuel can be done via gasification or pyrolysis. In gasification, solid biomass material is exposed to high temperatures in low oxygen environments to form synthesis gas which can be burned in a boiler to produce electricity. It can also be used to replace natural gas in a combined-cycle gas turbine. In pyrolysis, biomass is heated at a lower temperature range than in gasification, and without the presence of any oxygen. This results in bio-oil that can be substituted for fuel oil or diesel in furnaces, turbines and engines for electricity production.

Lastly, we’ll look at the pros and cons of using biomass power:

Pros:

• Biomass can use materials that would have otherwise gone to waste such as trees killed by pests or fires or ruined crops according to NRCAN.
• According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, biomass is carbon neutral in that when the plants used in biomass energy production are still growing, the amount of carbon dioxide used up is approximately equivalent to the amount of emissions released when biomass is burned.
• Biomass materials such as wood and manure are widely available.
• Biomass technology is cheaper than the equipment and capital required for fossil fuel production.
• Biomass energy supports agricultural and forest product industries.

Cons:

• While biomass energy is technically carbon neutral, there are still emissions released during production, which are harmful to the environment.
• Biomass energy isn’t as efficient as fossil fuels – some forms of bioenergy are supplemented with fossil fuels.
• Biomass energy can be produced from a variety of sources – while that can be seen as an advantage, it also means that biomass energy facilities may be less efficient as a result of having to convert various materials into energy rather than specialization of just one material.
• Biomass energy may be subject to seasonality compared to fossil fuels or other renewable energy sources.

Wind power

Also known as wind energy, wind power refers to when the kinetic energy of wind is converted into electricity. Typically, wind turbines are what convert the wind’s kinetic energy into electric energy. Overall, wind power generates 3.5% of electricity in Canada according to NRCAN. Additionally, wind is one of the fastest sources of electricity in Canada.

Below, we’ll go over the pros and cons of wind energy compared to other sources of green energy:

Pros:

• Wind energy is one of the cleanest forms of energy – greenhouse gas emissions only occur with manufacturing and transportation of turbines to their location unlike other forms of renewable energy where varying amounts of emissions are released during the energy production process.
• Wind turbines can be built on pre-existing farms or rural settlements.
• While there are costs associated with turbine manufacturing and set up, wind turbines have a relatively low operating cost.
• Wind power is space efficient in that you can set up several turbines and equipment in a smaller area compared to other renewable energy sources.

Cons:

• Wind-generated electricity is more weather and season-dependent than other forms of renewable energy.
• Wind turbines can harm wildlife such as birds who may get caught in the blades.
• Wind turbines contribute to both visual and noise pollution. In other words, they disturb natural landscapes and continuously make noise which can lead to health impacts such as reduced sleep and poorer heart health according to the WHO.
• Wind turbines have a large upfront cost to set up.

Solar energy

Also known as solar power, this refers to radiant light and heat from the Sun that’s converted into electricity. Compared to renewable energy sources in Canada, solar power makes up a relatively small proportion of generated electricity, sitting at 0.5% of total electricity generated according to the Canada Energy Regulator.

As outlined by ENERGY.Gov, there are two main types of solar technology that convert energy from the sun into useful energy – photovoltaics (PV) and concentrating solar-thermal power.

Photovoltaics are what are used in solar panels – when sunlight shines onto these panels, photovoltaic cells in the panel absorb this energy. This energy then creates electrical charges which move in response to an internal electric field within the photovoltaic cell which consequently causes electricity to flow.

As for concentrating solar-thermal power systems, these use mirrors to reflect and concentrate sunlight onto receivers that collect and convert solar energy to heat that can be used to produce electricity or stored for later use.

Moving on, we’ll go over the pros and cons of solar power compared to other green energy sources:

Pros:

• Having solar power panels on your home can help you save money on your electricity bill. Additionally, if you happen to have a surplus of energy generated, there’s the possibility of selling it back to the grid.
• Solar panels can increase property value.
• Solar panels are low maintenance – generally, they only require cleaning 2 – 4 times per year. Additionally, compared to other forms of renewable energy, there are essentially little to no maintenance costs.
• The only emissions associated with solar panels are those that occur when manufacturing and transporting them.

Cons:

• Solar panels are difficult to recycle once they reach the end of their lifespan. Additionally, according to an article from WIRED, they are liable to leach toxic chemicals such as lead into the ground.
• Solar panels are quite expensive, costing anywhere from $10,000 upwards.

Tidal energy

This can also be referred to as wave or ocean energy. This form of renewable energy uses the kinetic energy created from ocean tides to produce electricity. Overall, according to the Canada Energy Regulator, Canada stands as the 4^th in the world in installed tidal power capacity. As outlined by a National Geographic article, there are three main ways to harness tidal energy:

• Tidal streams.
• Barrages.
• Tidal lagoons.

Tidal streams are fast-flowing bodies of water that are created by tides – turbines (similar to the ones used for wind power) are placed here and electricity is generated from tidal energy generators. One key difference is that tidal energy is more powerful and stable than wind energy since water is denser, and tides are more predictable.

Moving on, barrages are large dams – water spills over or through turbines within the dam since the dam is low. They work similar to how river dams work – barrage gates open when the tide rises and at high tide, they close, creating a pool. Afterwards, the collected water is released through the barrage’s turbines, generating electricity at a manageable rate.

Finally, tidal lagoons refer to a body of ocean water that is partially enclosed by a barrier. The way they function is similar to a barrage – however, tidal lagoons can be built along natural coastlines and can also generate continuous power.

Next, we’ll go over the pros and cons of using tidal power:

Pros:

• Tides are easily predictable compared to other sources of renewable energy.
• Other than producing the equipment necessary to harness tidal energy, there are no emissions associated with tidal power.
• Depending on the type of system, tidal energy equipment can last much longer than other renewable energy equipment. One example is the La Rance barrage in France, which has been running since 1966.
• Tidal power stations can help protect coastlines that are prone to flooding.

Cons:

• Depending on the type of tidal energy system, tidal energy can have significant environmental impacts. For example, according to National Geographic, barrage systems can harm both animals and plants from frequent water level changes and changes in salinity.
• High salinity leads to corrosion, meaning constant upkeep and maintenance is required for tidal energy systems.
• Tidal power systems can disturb migration pathways for fish and animals.

Geothermal Energy

Geothermal energy refers to the energy that can be captured from the heat that is stored below the Earth’s surface or the absorbed heat in the atmosphere and oceans. Currently, there isn’t a lot of geothermal energy being converted into electricity in Canada. However, several other countries such as the USA and Indonesia have some amount of installed geothermal power capacity.

As outlined by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, there are three types of geothermal power plants:

• Dry steam.
• Flash steam.
• Binary cycle.

Dry steam power plants draw from underground sources of steam (such as The Geysers in California) – the steam is then piped directly to a dry steam power plant where it turns a turbine that generates electricity.

In flash steam power plants, geothermal reservoirs of water where the temperatures are greater than 182 degrees Celsius are used. This water flows up through wells in the ground under its own pressure – as it moves upward, the pressure decreases and some of the heated water boils into steam. This steam is used to power turbines – any remaining water is reintroduced back into the reservoir.

Binary cycle power plants make use of water that ranges between 107-182 degrees Celsius in temperature. The heat from this water is used to boil a working fluid (an organic compound with a low boiling pound such as isobutene) – the working fluid is then vaporized and used to turn a turbine. The water is then reintroduced into the ground for re-heating.

Finally, we’ll go over some of the pros and cons of geothermal energy:

Pros:

• Geothermal energy output is generally consistent and less subject to changing conditions than other sources of renewable energy such as wind power.
• Much of the equipment for harnessing geothermal energy is underground, meaning there’s little visual pollution associated with it.
• Geothermal power plants release far fewer emissions than fossil fuel plants – according to the EIA, geothermal power plants emit 97% less acid rain-causing sulphur compounds and about 99% less carbon dioxide than fossil fuel power plants of similar size.
• Geothermal energy can be used for both small-scale and large-scale applications – for example, a geothermal heat pump could be used to heat residential or commercial buildings.

Cons:

• Geothermal power plants are limited to certain locations – e.g., where underground reservoirs of heated water can be found.
• Setting up geothermal plants requires drilling deep into the Earth – this can cause underground instability which may lead to earthquakes.

What are the advantages of renewable energy?

As you can gather from our explanations of various types of renewable energy above, there are several benefits associated with renewable energy. Below, we’ll summarize the benefits of using renewable energy overall:

• Renewable energy (regardless of the type) reduces dependence on fossil fuel-produced energy. Any reduction in fossil fuels means less emissions released to the environment and atmosphere, which will consequently slow climate change and reduce harm to ourselves, and the environment.
• Renewable energy creates jobs – according to Clean Energy Canada, there will be 639,200 jobs in Canada’s clean energy sector by 2030. This is up from an estimate of 430,500 in 2020.
• The world’s supply of fossil fuels isn’t infinite – investing in and using renewable energy now eliminates the problem of how we will power our homes and technology once there are no more fossil fuels.
• According to the International Renewable Energy Agency, many renewable energy technologies are deployed in a distributed and modular way, meaning that they’re less prone to large-scale failure (which can result from severe weather events or other emergencies).
• Renewable energy can help in implementing off-grid solutions for rural areas and for populations who have limited to no access to electricity.

What are the disadvantages of renewable energy?

• Although renewable energy does create many jobs, it also means that those working in the fossil fuel industry may struggle to find other jobs as fossil fuels are less and less relied upon.
• The equipment and other means required by several renewable energy sources require a huge upfront capital investment compared to using fossil fuels.
• Once renewable energy equipment breaks down, much of it will sit in landfills since for the most part, equipment isn’t completely salvageable and/or biodegradable.
• Some sources of renewable energy are dependent on the season/weather patterns, such as wind energy and solar energy.
• Many renewable energy sources have geographic limitations – for example, landlocked areas cannot use tidal energy.

What is non-renewable energy?

As the name implies, non-renewable energy comes from sources that will not replenish within a reasonable timeframe (think thousands to millions of years). For all intents and purposes, once non-renewable energy sources are used up, they are gone.

Examples of non-renewable energy include coal, natural gas, petroleum, nuclear energy, and hydrocarbon gas liquids (such as propane or butane).

Renewable Energy Sources VS. Non-Renewable Energy Sources 

Renewable energy refers to energy resources that can replenish themselves naturally over time. This includes power derived from wind, sunlight, flowing water and trees or biomass. On the other hand, non-renewable energy, as the name suggests, are energy resources that do not replenish themselves over time. In other words, these resources are gone after use. Non-renewable energy is typically categorized into 4 main types: oil, natural gas, nuclear energy, and coal. 

As a general rule, renewable energy tends to have less of a negative environmental impact than non-renewable energy. However, do consider that while renewable energy tends to directly produce relatively low levels of greenhouse gas emissions, remember that the manufacturing and transporting processes of such energy will also impact the environment. 

What is the best type of renewable energy?

This is a question where there isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution. If for example, you wanted to know the most efficient source of renewable energy based on fuel prices, production, and environmental damages, the answer would be wind power according to Born to Engineer.

According to their calculations of the above conditions, wind power is 1,164% the most efficient, with geothermal at 514%, hydro at 317% and solar at 207%.

Obviously, however, if you live in an area with little wind, setting up wind turbines won’t generate anywhere near the amount of electricity needed to sustain your area.

Overall, when you’re trying to find the best type of renewable energy for your area, you should take the following things into consideration:

• Geographic area – what natural resources are available?

• Capital – how much capital is available for buying equipment and setting it up? Depending on your region, there may be grants available to offset some of the cost of setting up a renewable energy system.

• How much space is available to set up a renewable energy system?

• Consider the cons of the renewable energy types you’re interested in – for example, wind power can contribute to noise pollution and visual pollution, while tidal power can affect wildlife.

Where is renewable energy used the most?

In 2019, around 11% of global primary energy came from renewable sources.

To help illustrate that renewable energy contributes significantly to electricity generation and consumption, we’ve included a table below of the top 10 countries with the highest proportion of renewable energy sources in 2022 in terms of their total consumption:

Rank	Country	% of Renewable Energy Used
1	Norway	71.63%
2	Sweden	53.31%
3	Brazil	48.74%
4	New Zealand	43.07%
5	Denmark	43.04%
6	Finland	38.50%
7	Austria	36.61%
8	Switzerland	33.08%
9	Colombia	30.85%
10	Canada	30.62%

Source: Our World in Data

Based on the above data, primary energy consumption from renewable sources in Canada grew by 1.95% from 2019-2022.

When will renewable energy replace fossil fuels?

According to a report by Carbon Tracker, fossil fuels could be pushed out of the electricity sector by the mid-2030s considering the current 15-20% growth rates of wind power and solar power. By 2050, fossil fuels could be pushed out of the total energy supply altogether.

So how exactly did they come to this conclusion? In their report, Carbon Tracker found that with current technology and available locations, wind and solar energy could theoretically produce 6,700 petawatt hours of electricity per year, which is more than 100 times global energy demand.

While it’s difficult to specify a date where renewables will replace fossil fuels in Canada, Canada is currently going through an energy transition between now and 2040. According to NRCAN, by 2030, the aim is to have 90% of electricity be produced from non-emitting sources – by 2050, the goal will be to have 100% of electricity produced from non-emitting sources (of which a large proportion are renewable.)

Facts about renewable energy in Canada

Below we’ve compiled a few facts to help you learn more about renewable energy in Canada:

• According to NRCAN, renewable energy sources currently provide about 18.9 percent of Canada’s total primary energy supply.
• The Energy Factbook for 2021-2022 published by NRCAN found that in 2019, 82% of electricity in Canada was generated from non-greenhouse gas-emitting sources. Fifty-nine percent of this electricity was generated by hydro-power.
• In 2019, the overall total renewable energy production of Canada was 2047 petajoules, or 49.1 megatonnes of oil equivalent.
• As of 2019, Canada ranked 7^th for the share of energy supply from renewable sources.
• In 2019, 341,000 jobs associated with environmental and clean technology, representing 1.8% of jobs in the Canadian economy.
• Here are the provinces that contribute the most to each renewable energy source as follows: Manitoba produces 96.9% of hydro-power, P.E.I. produces 98.5% of wind power, B.C. produces 7.1% of biomass and Ontario produces 2.5% of solar power.

Renewable vs clean vs green energy: What’s the difference?

Often, you’ll hear these terms being used interchangeably – but is there a difference? Let’s take a look at the definition for each term:

• Renewable energy refers to energy that comes from sources that can replenish themselves over short periods of time or come from sources that don’t run out. Renewable energy examples include tidal power and solar power.

• Clean energy refers to energy produced from sources that don’t produce any greenhouse gas emissions, but this term doesn’t necessarily mean that the source is renewable.

• Green energy refers to a subset of renewable energy that is represented by energy sources with the least amount of environmental impact such as hydro power and solar power.

To better illustrate these definitions, let’s consider biomass energy. Wood or unusable crops are often used in biomass – these sources can grow back within a reasonably short timeframe, so this source of biomass is renewable. However, since it does release emissions when burned, it can’t really be considered clean power even if it is technically carbon neutral.

Relative to other sources of renewable energy, biomass has a higher environmental impact which means it wouldn’t be considered green energy.

Overall, these terms are not equivalent.

What is “dirty” energy?

As defined by International Rivers, dirty energy refers to energy production that accelerates climate change and harms communities, especially in the global south. Dirty energy projects include extracting or burning fossil fuels to produce electricity, which releases emissions. The act of burning and extracting fossil fuels causes displacement of individuals, negative health impacts, polluted environments and worker exploitation.

Is nuclear renewable energy?

According to the Natural History Museum, nuclear energy is not renewable – it requires the use of radioactive fuel, which is not replenished within a short time frame. However, it is a source of low carbon electricity – nuclear energy production does not release greenhouse gases.

What is the Corporate Climate Action Plan (CCAP) in Canada?

As defined by the City of Windsor, a Corporate Climate Action Plan (CCAP) is “a corporate-wide plan to reduce energy and emissions from municipal operations and fleets. The CCAP focuses exclusively on energy and greenhouse gas emissions that are directly controlled by [a] City.”

Here are examples of corporate climate action plans from various cities: Windsor, Vancouver, and Kitchener.

Renewable energy solutions for businesses

Now that you’re more informed about renewable energy in Canada, you may be thinking about how you can incorporate eco-friendly energy into your business’ power needs.

For example, RECs or renewable energy certificates are one common energy solution used in corporate sustainability – a purchased REC represents one megawatt-hour of electricity (1 MWh) produced by a renewable energy facility. Each REC offsets emissions from electricity produced by traditional sources that your company uses.

Other forms of carbon offsetting include investing in carbon capture programs or in co-generate plants, which use wasted heat to generate more electricity as an alternative to using more fossil fuels. Not sure what option to go with? Or maybe you’d like to know what other options are available – our team can help with that. By filling in the form here, our team can provide personalized advice and quotes on what clean energy solutions are available to your business.