1. Canada & Energy

2. What is “Energy?”
Something that is used to power things. For example, electricity, heating, fuel etc

4. Canada’s Energy Use
Canadians are one of the largest per capita users of energy in the world!
cold temperatures for much of the year
small population spread out over the land
advanced industrial economy
energy is relatively cheap - tend to waste it!

5. Energy Use in Canada (2003)

6. Traditional vs Alternative Energies
Energy made from sources that do not use up natural resources or harm the environment.
Traditional:
Energy made from sources that usually use up natural resources and can harm the environment.

7. Traditional vs. Alternative Energy Sources
oil
natural gas
coal
hydroelectricity
nuclear electricity
solar
wind
biomass energy (wood, peat, manure)
tidal power
geothermal

8. oil 39% natural gas 35% electricity 24%
Canadians rely mostly on three types of energy, that account for 98% of our energy use.
oil 39%
natural gas 35%
electricity 24%
-- the remaining 2% is from other energy sources such as coal, wood, and wind power

9. OIL AND NATURAL GAS
formed hundreds of millions of years ago when Canada was covered by shallow oceans – oil and gas usually found together
remains of marine animals and plants built up in thick layers, which were covered by sand and silt
with weight and compression, heat, bacterial action, and pressure over time, oil and gas were formed
found in structures below the earth’s surface that act as traps

11. Alberta’s Tar Sands - mixture of sand, water, clay,
and bitumen (a thick, black, sticky
oil compound)
- huge deposits found in northeastern Alberta
- in order to make it into usable oil, bitumen must be
removed – very costly and very harmful to the natural
environment
before
after

16. ELECTRICITY IN CANADA
produced by generators that range in size converting mechanical energy into electrical energy
three major methods used:
hydroelectric
thermoelectric
nuclear-electric

18. Hydroelectricity
can be built anywhere there are rivers with significant changes in elevation and large, reliable flows of water
the force of water drives the generator

19. HYDROELECTRICITY Advantages Disadvantages cheap no air pollution
renewable (water)
other uses for reservoir
Disadvantages
costly to build
sites far from need
flooding
seasonal pattern of water flow

20. Thermoelectricity
steam turns the turbines causing the generator to move
steam produced by burning fuel such as coal, oil, natural gas, wood, or even garbage

21. THERMOELECTRICITY Advantages Disadvantages can be built in cities
shorter transmission lines
less expensive to build
Disadvantages
fuel costs
use of nonrenewable resources
air pollution

22. Nuclear Electricity use of steam like thermoelectric generators
source of heat that produces steam comes from the breakdown of radioactive uranium atoms

23. NUCLEAR ELECTRICITY Advantages Disadvantages transmission costs low
operating costs low
Canada’s has an abundant supply of uranium
no air pollution
Disadvantages
construction costs high
radioactive fuel hazardous to humans
waste products dangerous
unreliable as age

24. Alternative Sources of Energy
wind
Alternative Sources of Energy
solar
ethanol