The stakes are high

Today’s the day

Election day is here. If you haven't already, don’t forget to vote.

After a summer of heatwaves and wildfires across much of Canada, the election comes on the cusp of a fall that is also set to bring unusual weather. There’s no doubt that climate and clean energy issues, from extreme weather to electric vehicles, will be on the minds of many voters as they head to the polls.

With all the federal parties touting varying climate ambition, this election comes at a pivotal time in the climate fight. Whatever the outcome, let’s hope we emerge with a government ready to meet the scale of the challenge.

The U.S. spending plan

The U.S. Democrats are pushing ahead with a US$3.5-trillion, 10-year spending plan that, unlike the recent infrastructure plan, is not likely to receive bipartisan backing but can pass with just a simple majority of senate votes. The proposed bill contains several key clean-energy-related measures including extending investment tax credits for solar and wind projects, as well as credits for American-made electric vehicles—something that, if approved, may have implications for Canadian EV manufacturing.

Modelling the wrong future

The Canadian Energy Regulator’s annual report—an analysis of the long-term outlook for Canadian energy—is modelling the wrong future, according to a new Policy Options op-ed. Unlike international bodies such as the International Energy Agency (which recently published a pathway to net zero by 2050), the regulator “has only modelled scenarios that imply the Paris Agreement’s goals will not be met.” In the words of the author, “there’s a big discrepancy between the future CER is modelling and a future we’d want to live in.”

Coal goals

Some good news about the worldwide coal phase out: more than three-quarters of the world’s planned coal power plants have been scrapped since the Paris Agreement in 2015. Some less good news: Driven by rising demand for electricity and heavy industry, the price of Australian thermal coal has climbed more than 100% this year, following early pandemic lows. And there are still 200 coal plants worldwide under construction or with building permits.

Solar on top

While the likes of sunny California and Australia soak up all the glory when it comes to rooftop solar, Canada is quietly experiencing its own solar boom. So much so that one B.C.-based solar installation company simply can’t hire enough workers to support the demand. But, as this CBC article points out, in some places, the spread of solar is being hampered by out-of-date building policies and variable local regulations.

An inverter and an interview

With rooftop solar booming and EV sales on the up, a Canadian startup saw an opportunity. Montreal-based DCBEL has created a system that “can charge your electric vehicle, act as an inverter for your solar panel system, and can power your home in case of a blackout.” If you’re looking for some distraction from the election drama, here’s an interview with the company’s CEO.

England charges up its building regs

England has become the first country in the world to require all newly built homes and offices to feature EV chargers. The legislation, which will be introduced this year, specifies that all new “homes and offices will have to feature ‘smart’ charging devices that can automatically charge vehicles during off-peak periods.”

Sodium is the old (new) lithium

Lithium may be the poster child of the new battery-powered age, but its neighbour on the periodic table, sodium, also has battery-building potential. And some in the industry are betting on it. As this Bloomberg article explores, sodium-ion batteries may not have the energy density of their lithium cousins, but they are cheaper, more stable, and (with Earth’s sodium reserves 300 times that of lithium) potentially easier to source.

First Nation geothermal project takes next step

The Tu Deh-Kah Geothermal project near Fort Nelson has successfully drilled its first two geothermal wells at the site of the Clarke Lake gas field in Northern B.C. When complete, the project is estimated to be able to provide enough clean electricity to power approximately 10,000 homes, displacing the region's existing natural-gas-fired electricity.

Training for the future

As jobs in the clean energy sector grow, some Canadian schools are changing what they teach. The University of Calgary, for example, recently cancelled enrolment in its bachelor of science in oil and gas engineering due to a lack of interest. Dive into this longer read from the Globe and Mail on why many students are seeking a different kind of energy education.

THIS WEEK

How we're modelling the wrong future, why some are betting sodium is the new lithium, and how a First Nation in B.C. is using a gas field to create zero-emissions power

FEDERAL ELECTION