I was recently reading a scientific article on energy and was reminded that anything with a temperature above absolute zero (0 Kelvin, or -273°C) has energy in it. Wow, that's cold. But it highlights an important point: anything that is warmer than -273°C has stored energy in it that, if obtainable, can be used. Even on the coldest day of the year it's a lot warmer than -273°C, so there's plenty of energy available for the taking. read more...
Leading Thinkers Give Their Views on Sustainability
Thought leaders feel that energy efficiency is the top clean energy solution, along with sustainable community design, education and communication and renewable energy.
This is just one of the findings of The 2010 Global Thought Leader Survey on Sustainability, a groundbreaking survey of more than 5,000 sustainability thought leaders in Canada, the U.S. and Europe. The survey was commissioned by the Pembina Institute from McAllister Opinion Research.
Thought leaders from government, academia, industry, institutions and non-profit organizations completed the survey, which featured a core set of sustainability-related questions plus four specialized sections: climate change, sustainable energy, green economics and oil sands.
Learn more: Summary Report
Fact Sheet: Wind Power Realities
Harnessing the power of the wind has become one of the fastest
growing sources of global electricity generation.
As new opportunities emerge to develop wind-power generation in communities across Canada, they raise questions about the social, environmental and economic impacts of large-scale wind power production.
This fact sheet helps sort the realities of wind power from the myths.
English Factsheet | Version française
WATCH ONLINE: Pembina's wind power slideshow explores the implications and opportunities of increased wind power development in Canada.
Greening the Grid in Alberta
Alberta's growing demand for electricity can be entirely met by tapping into the province's vast renewable energy resources.
Pembina's analysis of green electricity scenarios clearly demonstrates Alberta has incredible potential to become a leader in green power production and energy efficiency and doesn't have to rely on dirty fuels.
From Brown to Green
Greening the Grid outlines two scenarios for meeting Alberta's electricity demand. The more aggressive "green scenario" shows how Alberta could move from 70 per cent coal to 70 per cent renewable energy in just 20 years.
Report | Fact Sheet | Media Release | Figures for Print
Pembina's Tim Weis, author of Greening the Grid, provides insight into how Alberta can become a leader in green power production and energy efficiency.
Video Lecture; Ontario's Renewable Energy Revolution
Ontario energy revolution begins with its new Green
Energy Act and feed-in-tariff programs to support the development of
clean,
renewable energy in Ontario. Pembina's Renewable Energy Director, Tim
Weis speaks at Grant MacEwan University in Edmonton about climate
change, Ontario's amazing new green energy programs and the
possibilities for Greening the Grid in
Alberta.
Making Renewable Energy a Priority
Renewable energy has the promise to become the energy power house of the 21st Century.
Renewable energy can create jobs and new industries, and improve air and water quality, energy security, access to energy, and community development. Meeting our future power demands is one of the first opportunities for rapid deployment of renewable energy.
The Pembina Institute has launched a series of primers and fact sheets that explain the policies and technologies that can bring this about. The first two are now available:
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Feeding the Grid Renewably: Highlighting feed-in tariffs as a best practice for supporting renewable power. Primer | Fact Sheet
- Storing Renewable Power: Describing how new power storage technologies allow variable renewable power sources like solar and wind to supply all our power needs. Primer
