Canada is wealthy in resources for energy production. It is as a result a leading global energy producer. Growing improvements in the statistics of renewable energy reveal improving Canadian use in recent years.
The different renewable energy fields have variances in capacities. On the whole they offer benefits of negligible greenhouse gas emissions and a sustainable energy source. To protect our planet and our species we need more reliance on what is more sustainable over the long term.
Renewable energy sources supply about 16 percent of the energy needs of Canada. Water is the dominant source in this providing approximately 59 percent and about 11 percent of total supply from all energy sources. There are many rivers that flow from Canadian mountains to its three oceanic borders. In 2006, there were 499 hydroelectric stations that made this country the second largest producer of hydroelectricity in the world. Quebec, British Columbia, Ontario, Labrador and Manitoba are the major provinces active in this sector.
Biomass is the second most dominant source. Primary sources are wood and agricultural crops. Every year, almost 500 petajoules of bioenergy are used by the industrial sector with the pulp and paper industry the largest user. It accounts for over half of the energy used in this industry. By the end of 2006, there were 62 bioenergy power plants. Most of the biomass capacity was in the leading provinces with forestry activities. These were British Columbia, Quebec, Ontario, New Brunswick and Alberta. The principal crops used for ethanol production are corn, wheat and barley. Canada is a leading producer and exporter of these grains. In 2006, the capacity of biofuel production was approximately 600 million litres for ethanol and 100 million litres for biodiesel from vegetable oils and animal fats.
Wind use has risen. By 2008, there were eighty-five wind farms on which fourteen hundred wind turbines were established with installed capacity over eighteen hundred megawatts. This was a major step up from sixty wind turbines on just eight wind farms and a mere twenty three megawatts of capacity only ten years ago. The solar usage has also improved with an average annual rate of seventeen percent rise in solar thermal installations since the year 1998. Solar photovoltaic installations have also increased yearly by twenty seven percent since the year 1993. Over eighty percent of these installations are off the grid. Over three thousand geothermal heat pump units have been installed in different types of buildings by 2006.
The Eurostat report for 2009 revealed more European improvements. According to its report, renewable energy usage rose by over 8 percent. Use of coal was reduced over 9 percent and natural gas by over 10 percent. Generally energy usage declined by over 5 percent. Yet, for the six straight year the energy intensity has been lowered. This was over 18 percent in 2009.
Europe sets the standard with Germany the largest wind power user in the world. Its growth is highlighted by the fact that 16 years ago it hardly used any wind power. The second place wind user, Spain, is also on this continent. Germany is also the second largest solar power market in the world, despite its cloudy weather. QCells a world leader as a solar cell producer is based in Germany. The German goal of reducing carbon emissions by 2020 up to 36 percent makes the German goal the most ambitious. With Germany setting the high bar, Europe keeps on making ambitious exemplary strides forward. Yet the numbers for individual countries varies greatly. Thus, Portugal gets almost 45 percent of its energy needs satisfied through renewable energy usage with the average being regionally 18.4 percent. Portugal, has made dramatic strides as in 2004 the amount was below the average at 17 percent. Portugal demonstrates the dimensions of European expansion over the last decade.
In the United States, 3 out of the last 4 years has produced less emissions with 2009 being a record year. Both reduced usage due to economic decline, introduction of the Feed in Tariff program and switch from coal to gas produced this result. Both Europe and the United States saw more renewable energy installations than those for fossil fuel in 2009. Yet, less than 20 percent of global power produced by renewable sources. Whereas, the statistics of renewable energy demonstrate interest remains robust, there is room for improvement.
Solar Power devices, green energy and alternative energy sources like the field of science is around every day. The children learn with fun optical equipment, telescopes and science lab equipment.
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