Canada has a diverse range of power sources, in fact, they have every type of energy imaginable but the threat of global warming and climate change crisis has the citizens demanding for a more clean and sustainable source of energy in the long run. Electricity generation produces 80 million of greenhouse gas emissions in 2015 while renewable energy does not release any GHG emissions. Hydropower is close to 60% of Canada’s energy. With fossil fuels such as coal, natural gases and oil coming at 28% and nuclear at 12%.

• Nuclear Power: Around 16% of Canada’s energy is produced with Nuclear power which has the capacity 1to generate 3.5 GWe. There are a total of 19 reactors in Canada, mainly in Ontario and plans to increase to two more in the following decade but have been put on hold
• Oil: Oil makes almost 40% of Canada’s energy through a range of fuel products such as gasoline, diesel, and heavy and light fuel oil. Canada produces over 3.8 million barrels worth of oil a day in the past year
• Natural Gas: Canada relied on 9% of its power on natural gases. The biggest producer of oil and natural gases in Canada is located in Alberta. Canada has enough natural gas to maintain the current demand of the world’s energy for the next 300 years and easy to move through pipelines. It also it burns cleaner than hydrocarbon making it one of the most valuable fuel sources.
• Coal: Coal is a fossil fuel that has been used as a source of energy since the 18th century and makes for 10% of Canada’s energy, but presently many are trying to phase out of coal for another alternative.
  The world’s 10th biggest coal reserves are located in Canada but since they are located far distance from the seaports and industrial centers and the cost of transporting is too high, and therefore they remain untouched. Like all resources, the coal that is used must follow within the federal jurisdiction, which means all coal must be imported or exported from Canada.Ontario had stopped the handling of coal altogether in favor for a renewable energy source.

Renewable Energy Sources

Currently, 2/3 of Canada’s energy comes from renewable sources including hydro and wind power plants. Renewable energy has climbed up 17% in the last 10 years and continues to grow. The amount of renewable energy that is gathered in Canada has now been raised to 66% from the 60% it was a decade ago.

Hydroelectricity

90% of Canada’s energy comes from hydroelectric and Quebec produces half that power. In 2014, they had 524 stations installed that were capable of producing grand total 78,359 megawatts.
Although this energy is sustainable the hydro-power developments had to be strategic thought out prudently in advance or there would be negative repercussions both on the environment and on the social population. This means energy that is meant to be useful can become a danger and should be handled with extreme caution.

Solar Power

There isn’t an ambulance of solar power in Canada because the areas are at such higher latitude there are fewer chances of potential energy since there is less direct daylight.
Solar energy makes up for only 0.5 % of Canada’s power, which mostly comes from south of Ontario, Quebec, and the Prairies.

Ontario had a mission to replace coal with renewable energy which is what brought about the massive production of photovoltaic power plants to be built, the largest source on the planet coming from Sarnia with the capability of running more the 12,000 houses.

Wind Power

Wind power provides for 4.4% of Canada’s needed energy which generates a total of 10,204 Megawatts and is the 7th largest producers worldwide. Wind energy has also seen the most growth in a decade as it went from producing 2,000 gigawatts which are 0.5 to making 20 times the amount in 2015, which is more than 28,500 gigawatts.

Bio-energy

Bio-power accounts for 1.9% of Canada’s supply. A renewable source of energy that comes from burning different types of organic matter called biomass. Biomass can be any form of liquid, solid, or even gasses which is made either by direct or indirect photosynthesis.

Canada has an immense amount of biomass at their disposal which has helped bio-energy grow in their industry and has a count of 70 power plants that are able to produce a total of 2,043 megawatts.

Renewable Energy in Future

Currently, renewable energy is expected to slow down in the following 5 years after a program to bring renewable energy such as wind and solar was canceled but still there is expected to be a growth of 10% a year and by 2022 is calculated to produce 69% of energy overall.