Stephen Thomas Profile picture
I believe a better world is possible. Climate justice, solidarity and energy policy. Work w/@DavidSuzukiFDN. Tweets my own

May 25, 2022, 14 tweets

⚡️NEW REPORT⚡️:
Our new modelling report from @DavidSuzukiFDN shows that 100% zero-emissions electricity across Canada by 2035 is possible, reliable and affordable.

Buckle up for a #CleanElectricity thread 🧵

bit.ly/CleanElectrici…

#Climate #energytwitter #cdnpoli

This is the first modelling report of its kind in Canada. It goes beyond #NetZero to reach #ZeroEmissions by 2035, primarily by relying on:

☀️#Renewables like wind & solar
🔋#EnergyStorage
🏡#EnergyEfficiency
🌊Existing #Hydropower
🔌More grid connections between regions

Overall, Canada's electricity capacity grows by 2.8x by 2050, and the amount of electrical energy we use grows by 1.8x

All #FossilFuels on the grid are phased out by 2035, including all #NaturalGas. And no nuclear or fossils with #CCUS are needed.

One of the beautiful things about the models used here is the ability to understand hourly demand and available supply across thousands of locations in Canada, adding to how much we can understand the reliability and flexibility of a grid with nearly 80% #wind and #solar

Our scenarios consider high levels of clean #electrification by moving away from fossil fuels and toward clean electricity. Huge additions of solutions like #ElectricVehicles and #HeatPumps are considered in the electricity demand.

More than 3 billion tonnes of CO2e are avoided between 2025-2050, growing to 200 Mt of annual emissions reductions.

Cleaning the electricity grid is crucial because it underpins #ClimateAction in other sectors as they shift from fossil fuels to #CleanElectricity.

New transmission capacity additions between provinces are also shown as hugely valuable for overall grid reliability and flexibility - we see that benefits flow both ways everywhere that new connections are built.

In terms of affordability, the scenarios that meet zero-emissions by 2035 are comparable to the business-as-usual case - and end up cheaper. This is even with conservative cost assumptions for #Renewables and #EnergyStorage.

Also, jobs!
A large labour requirement of 1.5 million job-years by 2050, growing to 75,000 a year in #wind, #solar and #transmission construction and maintenance alone. A very conservative figure that doesn't include manufacturing, sector growth or demand-side jobs.

Of course, all projects take place on either unceded Indigenous territory or Treaty lands. Neegan Burnside & Dr. Dean Jacobs spoke with more than a dozen Indigenous clean energy leaders to gain insights on challenges & opportunities.

Full report:
davidsuzuki.org/science-learni…

Neegan Burnside and Dr. Dean Jacobs put forward six broad themes that need to guide #CleanElectricity projects in order to uphold Indigenous rights, sovereignty, and ensure benefits flow to communities.

We believe that pathways like these are worth committing to in Canada because they can lead to a better world.

Healthier communities, more comfortable homes, spending less on energy overall, and avoiding the very words of the climate crisis.

So, want to take action toward these kinds of #CleanElectricity pathways?

Say yes to 100% clean, renewable electricity by 2035 by signing this action: davidsuzuki.org/action/call-fo…

We'll work together toward this in communities across Canada, and are excited to hear about your ideas

p.s.
Modelling is not predictive, but we think these conversations are really worth having in #cdnpoli. There are *so many* more details in this report.

See the full report below, and chat with me any time about these ideas and pathways.

⚡️END⚡️

davidsuzuki.org/science-learni…

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