Institutions and Processes for Scaling Up Renewables: Run-of-River Hydropower in British Columbia Mark Jaccard, Noel Melton and John Nyboer Energy & Materials Research Group Simon Fraser University Presented by Noel Melton Fourth Asian Energy Conference, Hong Kong December 3, 2010

Outline Background – Challenges for renewable energy expansion Criteria – To evaluate institutions associated with renewable energy expansion Case study: British Columbia – Overview – Proposal evaluation Key Points 12/2010Simon Fraser University, Vancouver2

Challenges for renewable energy expansion Extensive renewable resources – Intermittency, low energy density, inconvenient location – Land-use conflicts, environmental impacts, high costs Experience of other jurisdictions – Importance of land-use planning – Alignment of energy policy with land use planning – Land use conflicts likely to intensify 12/2010Simon Fraser University, Vancouver3

Goals and interests related to expansion of renewable energy 12/2010Simon Fraser University, Vancouver4 Global Interests Climate change mitigation Cost of energy supply Energy security Economic growth Technological development Local Interests Local environmental impacts to land, air and water Land conservation for preservation and recreation Local economic benefits Social impacts Institutions and processes required for renewable energy expansion Energy and climate policy Energy system planning Land use planning Environmental and strategic assessment Institutions and processes required for renewable energy expansion Energy and climate policy Energy system planning Land use planning Environmental and strategic assessment

Criteria What institutions/processes best able to assess tradeoffs related to goals and interests at different scales of decision making? 12/2010Simon Fraser University, Vancouver5 1.Policy integration 2.Leadership 3.Economic efficiency 4.Stakeholder participation 1.Policy integration 2.Leadership 3.Economic efficiency 4.Stakeholder participation

Case Study: Run-of-River Hydro Development in British Columbia 12/2010Simon Fraser University, Vancouver6

BC Overview Canada’s western-most province ~90% of electricity from hydropower BC Hydro Independent Power Producers Clean Energy Act (2010) – Virtually all future power projects will be net zero- emission 12/2010Simon Fraser University, Vancouver7

BC Overview Run-of-river hydro – ~60 projects (developed & planned): 1,400MW – 2002 study counted 750 sites with potential <50MW Cumulative environmental effects Land use planning and environmental assessment processes 12/2010Simon Fraser University, Vancouver8

Water power licenses 12/2010Simon Fraser University, Vancouver9 Source:

BC: Summary of Status Quo Processes that determine where/how electricity projects will be developed: 12/2010Simon Fraser University, Vancouver10 ProcessInstitution Integrated resource planningBC Hydro & Utilities Commission Land use planningLand Bureau Environmental assessmentMinistry of Environment Environment Canada Agency approvalsNumerous Climate policyProvince

ProposalPolicy integration LeadershipEconomic efficiency Stakeholder participation Status quoPartially met Strategic assessment Partially metMet Proposal Evaluation 12/2010Simon Fraser University, Vancouver11 1.Status quo: provincial targets, project-level assessment, agency approvals 2.Strategic assessment: to determine spatial pattern for development that minimizes local effects AND achieves generation targets

Key Points (1 of 2) Tradeoff for policymakers – Quickly increase renewable generation capacity – Protect the local environment from poorly implemented renewable projects Potential for strategic/inclusive approach to achieve generation targets AND minimize cumulative effects – Implementation challenges (complexity) 12/2010Simon Fraser University, Vancouver12

Key Points (2 of 2) Criteria can help evaluate renewable energy policy in other jurisdictions – Each jurisdiction has unique context – Key dynamic of global vs. local environmental concerns 12/2010Simon Fraser University, Vancouver13

Thank-you Questions? 12/2010Simon Fraser University, Vancouver14