Home Physical Sciences A holistic environmental investigation of complementary energy in Alberta
Article
Licensed
Unlicensed Requires Authentication

A holistic environmental investigation of complementary energy in Alberta

  • Rhys Hakstol ORCID logo EMAIL logo
Published/Copyright: January 17, 2022
Become an author with De Gruyter Brill

Abstract

As Canada progresses toward its pledge of net-zero carbon emissions by the year 2050, it is worthwhile to thoughtfully examine the current energy landscape and how one might hope to achieve decarbonization within this timeframe. This examination is of particular importance in a fossil fuel producing region such as Alberta. Through an analysis of renewable energy strategies as well as the potential difficulties in this transition, an appropriate strategy may be devised. A combinatorial approach of wind, solar, and geothermal energy sources in the residential, commercial, and industrial spheres may serve as a transition measure, and eventually supplant fossil fuels as the dominant source of energy produced in Alberta with appropriate incentivization. Decarbonization is a pressing need given the imminent climate crisis the world is encountering, and these technologies are capable of serving as a step toward lower carbon emissions and ultimately curbing human-accelerated climate change.


Corresponding author: Rhys Hakstol, Lethbridge College School of Environmental Sciences, 3000 College Dr S, Lethbridge T1K 1L6, AB, Canada, E-mail:

  1. Author contribution: The author has accepted responsibility for the entire content of this submitted manuscript and approved submission.

  2. Research funding: None declared.

  3. Conflict of interest statement: The author declares no conflicts of interest regarding this article.

References

1. Siddiqui, O, Dincer, I. Comparative assessment of the environmental impacts of nuclear, wind and hydro-electric power plants in Ontario: a life cycle assessment. J Clean Prod 2017;164:848–60. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2017.06.237.Search in Google Scholar

2. Myllyvirta, L. Quantifying the economic costs of air pollution from fossil fuels key messages; 2020:2–13 pp.Search in Google Scholar

3. Höök, M, Tang, X. Depletion of fossil fuels and anthropogenic climate change-a review. Energy Pol 2013;52:797–809. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enpol.2012.10.046.Search in Google Scholar

4. Ahmad, L, Khordehgah, N, Malinauskaite, J, Jouhara, H. Recent advances and applications of solar photovoltaics and thermal technologies [Internet]. Energy 2020;207:118254. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.energy.2020.118254.Search in Google Scholar

5. De Castro, C, Mediavilla, M, Miguel, LJ, Frechoso, F. Global wind power potential: physical and technological limits [Internet]. Energy Pol 2011;39:6677–82. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enpol.2011.06.027.Search in Google Scholar

6. Glassley, WE. Geothermal energy: renewable energy and the environment, 2nd ed. Oxfordshire, England, UK: Routledge; 2010:285 p.10.1201/EBK1420075700Search in Google Scholar

7. Alberta Culture and Tourism. Hydroelectricity in Alberta today. 2021; Available from: http://www.history.alberta.ca/energyheritage/energy/hydro-power/hydroelectricity-in-alberta-today.aspx.Search in Google Scholar

8. Griffiths, M, Woynillowicz, D. Heating up in Alberta: climate change, energy development and water; 2009:83 p.Search in Google Scholar

9. Ali, B. Forecasting model for water-energy nexus in Alberta, Canada [Internet]. Water-Energy Nexus 2018;1:104–15. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wen.2018.08.002.Search in Google Scholar

10. Alberta Culture and Tourism. Alberta and modern wind power [Internet]; 2021. Available from: http://www.history.alberta.ca/energyheritage/energy/wind-power/alberta-and-modern-wind-power.aspx.Search in Google Scholar

11. Alberta Culture and Tourism. Modern photovoltaic solar power: 1970s to the present; 2021. Available from: http://www.history.alberta.ca/energyheritage/energy/solar-power/modern-photovoltaic-power.aspx.Search in Google Scholar

12. Comello, S, Reichelstein, S, Sahoo, A. The road ahead for solar PV power. Renewable Sustainable Energy Rev 2018;92:744–56. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2018.04.098.Search in Google Scholar

13. Pillai, U. Drivers of cost reduction in solar photovoltaics. Energy Econ 2015;50:286–93. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eneco.2015.05.015.Search in Google Scholar

14. Government of Alberta. Alberta gross domestic product [Internet]; 2020. Available from: https://economicdashboard.alberta.ca/GrossDomesticProduct.Search in Google Scholar

15. Lee, CC, Lee, CC, Ning, SL. Dynamic relationship of oil price shocks and country risks [Internet]. Energy Econ 2017;66:571–81. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eneco.2017.01.028.Search in Google Scholar

16. Diaz, EM, Molero, JC, Gracia, FpDe. Oil price volatility and stock returns in the G7 economies. Energy Econ 2016;54:417–30. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eneco.2016.01.002.Search in Google Scholar

17. Djebbar, R, Belanger, D, Boutin, D, Weterings, E, Poirier, M. SolarPACES 2013 potential of concentrating solar power in Canada [Internet]. Energy Procedia 2013;49:2303–12. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.egypro.2014.03.244.Search in Google Scholar

18. Timilsina, GR, Kurdgelashvili, L, Narbel, PA. Solar energy: markets, economics and policies. Renewable Sustainable Energy Rev 2012;16:449–65. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2011.08.009.Search in Google Scholar

19. Hayat, MB, Ali, D, Monyake, KC, Alagha, L, Ahmed, N. Solar energy—a look into power generation, challenges, and a solar-powered future. Int J Energy Res 2019;43:1049–67.https://doi.org/10.1002/er.4252.Search in Google Scholar

20. Sánchez-Pantoja, N, Vidal, R, Pastor, MC. Aesthetic impact of solar energy systems. Renewable Sustainable Energy Rev 2018;98:227–38. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2018.09.021.Search in Google Scholar

21. Roe, ET, Bies, AJ, Montgomery, RD, Watterson, WJ, Parris, B, Boydston, CR, et al.. Fractal solar panels: optimizing aesthetic and electrical performances. PLoS One 2020;15:1–13. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0229945.Search in Google Scholar PubMed PubMed Central

22. Klick, H, Smith, ERAN. Public understanding of and support for wind power in the United States. Renew Energy 2010;35:1585–91. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.renene.2009.11.028.Search in Google Scholar

23. Allaei, D, Andreopoulos, Y. INVELOX: description of a new concept in wind power and its performance evaluation [Internet]. Energy 2014;69:336–44. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.energy.2014.03.021.Search in Google Scholar

24. Global Wind Energy Council. Global wind report 2021 [Internet]. In: Global Wind Energy Council; 2021, vol 75. Available from: http://www.gwec.net/global-figures/wind-energy-global-status/.Search in Google Scholar

25. Hofmann, H, Weides, S, Babadagli, T, Zimmermann, G, Moeck, I, Majorowicz, J, et al.. Potential for enhanced geothermal systems in Alberta, Canada [Internet]. Energy 2014;69:578–91. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.energy.2014.03.053.Search in Google Scholar

26. Chamorro, CR, Mondéjar, ME, Ramos, R, Segovia, JJ, Martín, MC, Villamañán, MA. World geothermal power production status: energy, environmental and economic study of high enthalpy technologies [Internet]. Energy 2012;42:10–8. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.energy.2011.06.005.Search in Google Scholar

27. Meller, C, Schill, E, Bremer, J, Kolditz, O, Bleicher, A, Benighaus, C, et al.. Acceptability of geothermal installations: a geoethical concept for GeoLaB [Internet]. Geothermics 2018;73:133–45. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geothermics.2017.07.008.Search in Google Scholar

28. Stauffacher, M, Muggli, N, Scolobig, A, Moser, C. Framing deep geothermal energy in mass media: the case of Switzerland [Internet]. Technol Forecast Soc Change 2015;98:60–70. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.techfore.2015.05.018.Search in Google Scholar

29. Spittler, N, Shafiei, E, Davidsdottir, B, Juliusson, E. Modelling geothermal resource utilization by incorporating resource dynamics, capacity expansion, and development costs. Energy 2020;190:190. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.energy.2019.116407.Search in Google Scholar

30. Renewable Energy Network for the 21st Century (REN21). Renewables 2020: a comprehensive annual overview of the state of renewable energy [Internet]. In: Global status report; 2020. Available from: https://abdn.pure.elsevier.com/en/en/researchoutput/ren21(5d1212f6-d863-45f7-8979-5f68a61e380e).html.Search in Google Scholar

31. Grant, CA, Hicks, AL. Effect of manufacturing and installation location on environmental impact payback time of solar power [Internet]. Clean Technol Environ Policy 2020;22:187–96. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10098-019-01776-z.Search in Google Scholar

32. Flowers, ME, Smith, MK, Parsekian, AW, Boyuk, DS, McGrath, JK, Yates, L. Climate impacts on the cost of solar energy [Internet]. Energy Pol 2016;94:264–73. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enpol.2016.04.018.Search in Google Scholar

33. Imteaz, MA, Ahsan, A. Solar panels: real efficiencies, potential productions and payback periods for major Australian cities. Sustain Energy Technol Assess 2018;25:119–25. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.seta.2017.12.007.Search in Google Scholar

34. Canadian Wind Energy Association. Canadian wind farms installed capacity [Internet]; 2021. Available from: https://canwea.ca/wind-energy/installed-capacity/.Search in Google Scholar

35. Canadian Wind Energy Association. Alberta’s renewable electricity program has resulted in the lowest ever price for wind energy in Canada [Internet]; 2017. Available from: https://canwea.ca/news-release/2017/12/13/albertas-renewable-electricity-program-resulted-lowest-ever-price-wind-energy-canada/.Search in Google Scholar

36. Spellman, FR. Environmental impacts of renewable energy. In: Environmental Impacts of Renewable Energy; 2014:1–458 pp.10.1201/b17744Search in Google Scholar

37. Wellig, SD, Nusslé, S, Miltner, D, Kohle, O, Glaizot, O, Braunisch, V, et al.. Mitigating the negative impacts of tall wind turbines on bats: vertical activity profiles and relationships to wind speed. PLoS One 2018;13:1–16. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0192493.Search in Google Scholar PubMed PubMed Central

38. Kuvlesky, WP, Brennan, LA, Morrison, ML, Boydston, KK, Ballard, BM, Bryant, FC. Wind energy development and wildlife conservation: challenges and opportunities. J Wildl Manag 2007;71:2487–98. https://doi.org/10.2193/2007-248.Search in Google Scholar

39. Sovacool, BK. The avian benefits of wind energy: a 2009 update. Renew Energy 2013;49:19–24. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.renene.2012.01.074.Search in Google Scholar

40. Liu, WY. A review on wind turbine noise mechanism and de-noising techniques [Internet]. Renew Energy 2017;108:311–20. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.renene.2017.02.034.Search in Google Scholar

41. Nissenbaum, MA, Aramini, JJ, Hanning, CD. Effects of industrial wind turbine noise on sleep and health. Noise Health 2012;14:237–43. https://doi.org/10.4103/1463-1741.102961.Search in Google Scholar PubMed

42. Fredianelli, L, Carpita, S, Licitra, G. A procedure for deriving wind turbine noise limits by taking into account annoyance [Internet]. Sci Total Environ 2019;648:728–36. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.08.107.Search in Google Scholar PubMed

43. Smith, MG, Ögren, M, Thorsson, P, Hussain-Alkhateeb, L, Pedersen, E, Forssén, J, et al.. A laboratory study on the effects of wind turbine noise on sleep: results of the polysomnographic WiTNES study. Sleep 2020;43:1–14. https://doi.org/10.1093/sleep/zsaa046.Search in Google Scholar PubMed PubMed Central

44. Dhar, A, Naeth, MA, Jennings, PD, Gamal El-Din, M. Perspectives on environmental impacts and a land reclamation strategy for solar and wind energy systems [Internet]. Sci Total Environ 2020;718:134602. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.134602.Search in Google Scholar PubMed

45. DiPippo, R. Geothermal power plants: evolution and performance assessments. Geothermics 2015;53:291–307. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geothermics.2014.07.005.Search in Google Scholar

46. Gaucher, E, Schoenball, M, Heidbach, O, Zang, A, Fokker, PA, Van Wees, JD, et al.. Induced seismicity in geothermal reservoirs: a review of forecasting approaches. Renew Sustain Energy Rev 2015;52:1473–90. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2015.08.026.Search in Google Scholar

47. Anderson, A, Rezaie, B. Geothermal technology: trends and potential role in a sustainable future. Appl Energy 2019;248:18–34. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apenergy.2019.04.102.Search in Google Scholar

48. Shin, J, Park, J, Park, N. A method to recycle silicon wafer from end-of-life photovoltaic module and solar panels by using recycled silicon wafers [Internet]. Sol Energy Mater Sol Cells 2017;162:1–6. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.solmat.2016.12.038.Search in Google Scholar

49. Hernandez, RR, Easter, SB, Murphy-Mariscal, ML, Maestre, FT, Tavassoli, M, Allen, EB, et al.. Environmental impacts of utility-scale solar energy. Renewable Sustainable Energy Rev 2014;29:766–79. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2013.08.041.Search in Google Scholar

50. Hoffacker, MK, Allen, MF, Hernandez, RR. Land-sparing opportunities for solar energy development in agricultural landscapes: a case study of the Great Central Valley, CA, United States. Environ Sci Technol 2017;51:14472–82. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.7b05110.Search in Google Scholar PubMed

51. Mani, M, Pillai, R. Impact of dust on solar photovoltaic (PV) performance: research status, challenges and recommendations. Renew Sustain Energy Rev 2010;14:3124–31. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2010.07.065.Search in Google Scholar

52. Fthenakis, V, Kim, HC. Life-cycle uses of water in U.S. electricity generation. Renew Sustain Energy Rev 2010;14:2039–48. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2010.03.008.Search in Google Scholar

53. Dhar, A, Naeth, MA, Deveraux Jennings, P, Gamal El-Din, M. Geothermal energy resources: potential environmental impact and land reclamation; 2020.10.1139/er-2019-0069Search in Google Scholar

54. Kristmannsdóttir, H, Ármannsson, H. Environmental aspects of geothermal energy utilization. Geothermics 2003;32:451–61. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0375-6505(03)00052-x.Search in Google Scholar

55. Government of Canada. Net-zero emissions by 2050 [Internet]; 2020. Available from: https://www.canada.ca/en/services/environment/weather/climatechange/climate-plan/net-zero-emissions-2050.html.Search in Google Scholar

56. Van Kooten, GC, Duan, J, Lynch, R. Is there a future for nuclear power? Wind and emission reduction targets in fossil-Fuel Alberta. PLoS One 2016;11:1–14. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0165822.Search in Google Scholar PubMed PubMed Central

57. Pasqualetti, MJ. Wind power. Environment 2004;46:22–38. https://doi.org/10.1080/00139150409604395.Search in Google Scholar

Received: 2021-07-30
Accepted: 2021-10-13
Published Online: 2022-01-17

© 2021 Walter de Gruyter GmbH, Berlin/Boston

Articles in the same Issue

  1. Frontmatter
  2. Reviews
  3. Recent endeavors in microbial remediation of micro- and nanoplastics
  4. Metal nanoparticles and its application on phenolic and heavy metal pollutants
  5. The story of nitrogen
  6. Recent development of imidazole derivatives as potential anticancer agents
  7. Indole based prostate cancer agents
  8. Lawsone (2-hydroxy-1,4-naphthaquinone) derived anticancer agents
  9. Small modular nuclear reactors are mostly bad policy
  10. A holistic environmental investigation of complementary energy in Alberta
  11. Green synthesis of various saturated S-heterocyclic scaffolds: an update
  12. Recent advances of heterocycle based anticancer hybrids
  13. Molecular docking and MD: mimicking the real biological process
  14. Synthesis of quinazolinone and quinazoline derivatives using green chemistry approach
  15. Nuclear fusion: the promise of endless energy
  16. Finance for Green Chemistry through Currency Mix
  17. Synthesis of bioactive scaffolds catalyzed by agro-waste-based solvent medium
  18. Recent developments in the green synthesis of biologically relevant cinnolines and phthalazines
  19. Detection of Rapid Eye Movement Behaviour Sleep Disorder using Time and Frequency Analysis of EEG Signal Applied on C4-A1 Channels
  20. Recent developments in C–C bond formation catalyzed by solid supported palladium: a greener perspective
  21. Visible-light-mediated metal-free C–Si bond formation reactions
  22. An overview of quinoxaline synthesis by green methods: recent reports
  23. Naturally occurring, natural product inspired and synthetic heterocyclic anti-cancer drugs
  24. Synthesis of bioactive natural products and their analogs at room temperature – an update
  25. One-pot multi-component synthesis of diverse bioactive heterocyclic scaffolds involving 6-aminouracil or its N-methyl derivatives as a versatile reagent
  26. Synthesis of new horizons in benzothiazole scaffold and used in anticancer drug development
  27. Triazine based chemical entities for anticancer activity
  28. Modification of kaolinite/muscovite clay for the removal of Pb(II) ions from aqueous media
  29. In silico design of ACE2 mutants for competitive binding of SARS-CoV-2 receptor binding domain with hACE2
  30. Computational study of Cu n AgAu (n = 1–4) clusters invoking DFT based descriptors
  31. Development of an online assessment system to evaluate knowledge on chemical safety and security
  32. Developing a questionnaire for diabetes mellitus type 2 risk effects and precondition factors – multivariate statistical paths
  33. Antioxidant and antibacterial activities of two xanthones derivatives isolated from the leaves extract of Anthocleista schweinfurthii Gilg (Loganiaceae)
  34. The stability increase of α-amylase enzyme from Aspergillus fumigatus using dimethyladipimidate
  35. Sustainability of ameliorative potentials of urea spiked poultry manure biochar types in simulated sodic soils
  36. Cytotoxicity test and antibacterial assay on the compound produced by the isolation and modification of artonin E from Artocarpus kemando Miq.
  37. Effects of alum, soda ash, and carbon dioxide on 40–50 year old concrete wastewater tanks
Downloaded on 27.12.2025 from https://www.degruyterbrill.com/document/doi/10.1515/psr-2021-0071/html
Scroll to top button