1. CANADA’S RESOURCES:
ENERGY

2. Introduction
“Canadians are among the highest energy consumers in the world.” Why? (list 3 possible reasons)
Northern climate/very cold temperatures
Transportation – small population spread over large area
Advanced industrial economy
Energy is cheap so we tend to waste it

3. Our Energy sources can be divided into two categories:
Conventional energy sources
- oil, natural gas, hydroelectricity, nuclear electricity and coal = 98% of our energy use
2. Alternative energy sources
- solar, wind, biomass energy

4. How Energy is Used Industrial – 30% Transportation - 29%
Commercial - 18%
Residential %
Agricultural - 3%
Public administration - 2%

5. Coal Mostly mined in the West
Plays big role in economy $4.5 billion annually
jobs
Used for fuel in the generation of electricity

6. Oil and Gas
Come mostly from the Plains/Prairie ecozones (out West and Newfoundland and Labrador)
Removal of oil and gas from the ground:
1. Flowing wells – have enough natural pressure to force oil or gas to surface
2. Non-flowing wells – not enough pressure to make oil and gas flow to surface, electric or gasoline powered pumps are used

7. Electricity
Produced by generators which convert mechanical energy (ex. rotating turbines) into electrical energy
Types:
Moving water in a hydroelectric generating station
- can be built anywhere there are rivers with changes in elevation and large reliable waterflow
- the force of the water moving from higher to lower elevation drives the generator (pg. 359)

8. Hydroelectricity Pros/Cons
Cheap to operate
No air pollution or carbon dioxide
Uses a renewable resource (flowing water)
The reservoir may also be used for recreation
Con’s
Expensive to build
Suitable sites far from need = $ for lines
Most suitable sites already developed
Dams cause flooding = destruction; may cause release of chemicals

9. 2. Thermoelectricity pg. 360
Expanding steam produced by burning coal, oil, or natural gas turns turbines in a thermoelectric generating station
Pros
Plants can be built near need and where fuel is available
Less expensive to build
Cons
Fuel costs are high
Use non-renewable resources (will run out)
Air pollution (global warming, acid precipitation)

10. 3. Nuclear Electricity pg. 361
Expanding steam from nuclear fission in a nuclear-electric generating station to turn turbines (like thermoelectricity but uses uranium to produce steam)
Heat comes from the breakdown (fission) of radioactive uranium atoms

11. Nuclear Electricity Pros/Cons
– can be built where energy is needed
Operating costs relatively low
Canada has plenty of uranium
No air pollution
Cons
Construction costs high
Radioactive fuel is hazardous to human health
Waste products remain dangerous for 100,000 yrs
Reactors become unreliable with age =replace=$

12. Energy and the Economy
We want an abundant, reliable, and low-cost energy supply (it is important to our economy)

13. Which is Best? Consider the pro’s and con’s of each electrical plant
In groups of four come to a consensus of which is the best form
How can you reduce your energy use?
- Come up with list of ways