It's not hard to see the "green" benefits a solar panel has over a smokestack, but there are still lingering questions when it comes to determining whether solar is economically viable as a long-term means of supplying electricity to Canada's communities.
A recent report from the Canadian Solar Industries Association (CanSIA) in Ottawa, Solar Vision 2025, examines that question based on various scenarios for commercial use of the technology: Aggressive adoption, medium and "not as much as we’d hoped," according to CanSIA president Elizabeth McDonald.
The uptake of solar power in Canada over the next decade will depend on a large number of variables, from financial support to technology costs and infrastructure needs, McDonald notes. "If everything falls into place, solar could conceivably represent 20 per cent of the new electricity supply generated in the next 20 years."
The key is getting everything to fall into place smoothly.
That's because Canada's electricity demands have traditionally been met, at least in part, by burning coal and other fossil fuels that generate pollution. But changing to other sources of power isn't easy.
For one thing, Canada is not considered as ready as other jurisdictions for widespread adoption of solar power — and not just because it's in a northern region that gets fewer hours of sunlight in winter months. It's also because energy costs here are relatively low compared to those in other countries, so solar represents a much more expensive option for Canada, she notes.
Policy support from government in particular is lacking, which means solar is forced to compete with a heavily subsidized fossil fuel industry. According to the CanSIA report, on a global basis in 2009, renewable energy received $1 in government support for every $5 to $6 given to conventional energy.
McDonald says that in Canada there are definitely things that need to be worked out at the federal, provincial and municipal levels to help spark the widespread adoption of solar. "Canada seems to lag in the area of getting it to all work together. It’s perceived as a battle with oil and gas — but it’s not. Solar uptake will not replace Alberta’s position as the country’s largest provider of oil and gas.
"The real issue is the hunger for oil and gas will soon surpass what [supplies] we have, so we need to conserve and find alternatives before we run out," she says.
The Sarnia Solar project is a 950 acre site in Sarnia, Ont. with a peak generating capacity of 80 MW, making it the largest photovoltaic facility in the world (Dave Chidley/Canadian Press) The problem is that each region of the country is having a different conversation when it comes to solar technology, she adds, rather than developing a cohesive policy and approach to using it. "In Quebec for example, Hydro Québec plays a very important role. Everyone needs to work together to decide the appropriate mixed energy supply going forward."
She commends initiatives such as the Ontario Power Authority’s FIT (feed-in tariff) program, which is focused on encouraging and supporting alternative energy adoption.
"B.C. has also put out a Clean Energy [program]; and Alberta and Saskatchewan are showing interest, in particular with the agricultural community."
http://www.cbc.ca/news/technology/story/2011/03/10/f-power-2020-solar-energy.html
A recent report from the Canadian Solar Industries Association (CanSIA) in Ottawa, Solar Vision 2025, examines that question based on various scenarios for commercial use of the technology: Aggressive adoption, medium and "not as much as we’d hoped," according to CanSIA president Elizabeth McDonald.
The uptake of solar power in Canada over the next decade will depend on a large number of variables, from financial support to technology costs and infrastructure needs, McDonald notes. "If everything falls into place, solar could conceivably represent 20 per cent of the new electricity supply generated in the next 20 years."
The key is getting everything to fall into place smoothly.
Growing pains
"The biggest issue is getting people on board," she says. "Everyone — including government — is blissfully unaware of the energy future. We’ve been energy-rich for a long time. But we’re paying a price for that [with our health]."That's because Canada's electricity demands have traditionally been met, at least in part, by burning coal and other fossil fuels that generate pollution. But changing to other sources of power isn't easy.
For one thing, Canada is not considered as ready as other jurisdictions for widespread adoption of solar power — and not just because it's in a northern region that gets fewer hours of sunlight in winter months. It's also because energy costs here are relatively low compared to those in other countries, so solar represents a much more expensive option for Canada, she notes.
Policy support from government in particular is lacking, which means solar is forced to compete with a heavily subsidized fossil fuel industry. According to the CanSIA report, on a global basis in 2009, renewable energy received $1 in government support for every $5 to $6 given to conventional energy.
McDonald says that in Canada there are definitely things that need to be worked out at the federal, provincial and municipal levels to help spark the widespread adoption of solar. "Canada seems to lag in the area of getting it to all work together. It’s perceived as a battle with oil and gas — but it’s not. Solar uptake will not replace Alberta’s position as the country’s largest provider of oil and gas.
"The real issue is the hunger for oil and gas will soon surpass what [supplies] we have, so we need to conserve and find alternatives before we run out," she says.
The Sarnia Solar project is a 950 acre site in Sarnia, Ont. with a peak generating capacity of 80 MW, making it the largest photovoltaic facility in the world (Dave Chidley/Canadian Press) The problem is that each region of the country is having a different conversation when it comes to solar technology, she adds, rather than developing a cohesive policy and approach to using it. "In Quebec for example, Hydro Québec plays a very important role. Everyone needs to work together to decide the appropriate mixed energy supply going forward."She commends initiatives such as the Ontario Power Authority’s FIT (feed-in tariff) program, which is focused on encouraging and supporting alternative energy adoption.
"B.C. has also put out a Clean Energy [program]; and Alberta and Saskatchewan are showing interest, in particular with the agricultural community."
http://www.cbc.ca/news/technology/story/2011/03/10/f-power-2020-solar-energy.html
