Renewable Energy in Canada - Essay Example

The second largest renewable source is wind that generates 1.6 percent of Canadian electricity. The third largest source is biomass with 1.4 percent share. Moreover, wind and photovoltaic energies are rapidly growing renewable sources in Canada. This paper briefly explores renewable energy and its contributions in Canada (NRCAN). Renewable energy is a kind of energy obtained from natural resources which can be renewed and regained within human lifespan, for instance, moving wind and sunshine.

Numerous technologies and equipment are developed in order to exploit the potential natural resources. These equipments produce energy in the form of electricity, thermal energy, industrial heat, and transportation fuels (NRCAN). Canada's leading energy (renewable and other) resource is hydroelectric power. Most of this power is generated in water-rich and less populated Northern Canada in order to provide for urbanized South, for instance, Quebec's export to the U.S. Rapidly growing form of renewable energies are wind , solar, geothermal, and biomass.

In 2009, Canada's generating capacity was 125,485 MW with 60 percent generated from renewable resources. Hydro power generation meets 90 percent of electricity demand in British Columbia and Quebec. However, British Columbia is a net importer while Quebec is a net exporter. Oil and natural gas resources are plentiful in Alberta and Saskatchewan, and Manitoba and Northern Ontario is rich in coal. On a national level, 20 percent generation is from nuclear source, 15 percent coal, and 5 percent is from natural gas source.

Wind and solar energy are also gaining popularity through feed-in tariff (FIT). Enacted in 2009, FIT forced Ontario to trailing in North American market activity.FIT is supported by investor due to the money that flows upfront into the project (Wagman, 2011). It is estimated that Canada's generating capacity of 19,000 MW will retire by 2050.In addition, 45,000 MW generating capacity is required to meet the existing growth projects. Federal government's goal is to generate 90 percent of Canada's energy through non-emitting resources by the year 2020(Wagman, 2011).

Ontario Power Authority (OPA) has signed 40 large-scale renewable energy projects under the province FIT program. These new projects include, solar, water, and wind projects which are expected to attract $3.04 billion in private sector investment. It will generate over 872MW renewable power, of which, 357MW is from 35 solar projects, 500KM from water project, and 615MW from four wind projects. It is claimed that these projects will produce 240 wind turbines and one million solar panels in Ontario.

Canada's wind capacity is 3,549MW in 2011, and Ontario is the leading provider with1, 248MW or one third of the total wind energy production. Moreover, another one third is generated by Quebec (663MW) and Alberta (656 MW). Seven other provinces generate the final one-third of total energy. According to CanWEA, there is tenfold increase in wind energy production over the last six years (Wagman, 2011). Another comparatively untapped renewable technology is geothermal energy. Canada shares the same continental shelf and geology as Latin America, Mexico, and United States, and has other undeveloped 200 hot springs.

However, federal government and provinces have failed to implement policies and regulations for further development of geothermal energy (Wagman, 2011). According to