Air

Greenhouse gases

• clean coal technologies
  Coal produces more carbon dioxide emissions per unit of energy generated than other fossil fuels such as natural gas and oil. However, new coal conversion technologies — integrated gasification combined cycle (IGCC), fluidized bed combustion, advanced pulverized coal combustion and super-critical and ultra super-critical burners — are operating or being developed. IGCC, one of the most promising technologies, involves using the coal to make hydrogen from water, then burning the hydrogen and capturing the carbon dioxide byproduct for disposal.
  
  These more efficient technologies can be combined with district heating and cogeneration to achieve thermal efficiencies similar to natural gas turbines. When currently available filtration equipment is installed, clean coal plants are expected to bring emissions to near zero. Together, these technological advances could significantly increase the operating efficiency and environmental acceptability of coal-fueled generation.
  
  The Canadian Clean Power Coalition (CCPC), an industry-government partnership, is working to commercially develop clean coal technologies that offer significantly reduced air and greenhouse gas emissions. The CCPC has completed feasibility studies for two clean coal technology demonstration projects, with the first targeted for operation in 2007.
  
  
• renewable and alternative energy
  Renewable and alternative energy provide energy with no or lower greenhouse gas emissions. Power companies have invested in wind energy projects in Alberta, Saskatchewan, Ontario and the Maritimes. Companies are also exploring new alternative energy sources, including the use of methane gas from landfills to generate electricity. In 2001, alternative energy production by major Canadian power companies was 706 gigawatt-hours, compared with 0.4 gigawatt-hours in the previous year.
  
  Currently alternative and renewable energy sources supply less than one per cent of total Canadian electricity demand and remain more expensive than fossil fuel alternatives. While they are growing rapidly and becoming increasingly affordable, they are not expected to provide a significant level of Canadian power for many years.
  
  
• demand-side management
  Demand-side management programs (also known as “energy conservation programs”) encourage customers to use energy more efficiently and invest in energy efficiency products that lower energy bills, delay the need for new electrical generation capacity and reduce greenhouse gases and other emissions. Electric utilities support consumer energy efficiency through various programs: public information campaigns, energy audits of industrial and commercial facilities, rebates for energy-saving technologies and partnerships with businesses and governments.
  
  While offering an useful starting point for encouraging efficient energy use, rising energy demand limits the effectiveness of demand-side management programs. Industry, therefore, is using these programs, with other efficiency and emission reduction initiatives, as part of an overall approach to environmentally benign energy use.