This text is part of the special Energies notebook
The Transition Accelerator and the Energy Modeling Hub, two initiatives led by the Trottier Energy Institute at Polytechnique Montréal, play a key role in the decarbonization of the Canadian economy.
“The transformation of the energy system that we are embarking on as a society is the fastest we have ever seen,” exclaims Edouard Clément, general director of the Energy Modeling Crossroads. ” There is a momentum in Canada, with the largest investments in energy. »
By 2030, Canada has committed to reducing its greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 40 to 45% below 2005 levels. To decarbonize the Canadian economy, the federal government is adopting a series of measures , such as the new Clean Electricity Regulations.
But two challenges were hindering the energy transition, according to Mr. Clément. One: the lack of communication between the provinces and Ottawa, as well as between the various federal bodies such as Natural Resources Canada, Environment Canada or the Canada Energy Regulator. Two: the lack of precise and up-to-date models to make the best decisions for the energy transition.
In the United Kingdom, California or Sweden, decision-makers can rely on organizations specializing in modeling, continues the expert. In Canada, such structures were absent… until recently, with the creation of the Energy Modeling Hub and the Transition Accelerator.
Templates to align
“There are several ways to achieve decarbonization,” explains Edouard Clément. Some are more expensive, some have greater social acceptability or different technology needs. Using data for decision making is super important. We have the data; now we need to be able to analyze them. »
Modeling makes it possible to predict what the effects of different strategies will be on different indicators such as GDP, employment or the development of new technological sectors. Thanks to complex mathematical calculations, these models make it possible to evaluate with more precision the actions to be prioritized according to different parameters.
In 2023, Hydro-Québec, for example, announced its intention to double the province’s energy capacity by 2050 to succeed in its energy transition. “We have to model technologies. If we use this or that type of technology, here is what it requires in terms of electricity,” illustrates Normand Mousseau, professor of physics and scientific director of the Trottier Energy Institute.
“Modelling is, in my opinion, an essential tool for knowing where we are going. We are seeking to identify technically and economically viable trajectories,” adds Éloïse Edom, researcher at the Trottier Energy Institute. She actively worked on the Energy Modeling Initiative launched in 2019 by the Institute.
A little more than two years later, on the basis of the Initiative, the Energy Modeling Hub was launched thanks to an investment of $5 million from Natural Resources Canada. It is a pan-Canadian, non-partisan network of energy and electricity modelers, led by three universities: Polytechnique Montréal, the University of Calgary and the University of Victoria.
“The idea was to create a group to centralize expertise and models and to ensure that people talk to each other,” explains Edouard Clément. We develop open access models, tools and visualization platforms (Open source). We train the community with workshops. We bring together model developers and decision makers. We have provided data to support the recommendations in the next report of the Canadian Electricity Advisory Council,” he says.
A methodical transition
“How to think about the transition from a methodological point of view? » states Normand Mousseau to summarize the approach of the two organizations he helped to found. After co-leading the Energy Modeling Initiative, he is co-scientific director of the Energy Modeling Hub and senior advisor on transition trajectories at the Transition Accelerator, created five years ago.
“We are going to work with more specific economic sectors to determine how we structure strategic field approaches to advance decarbonization,” explains Mr. Mousseau about the Accelerator’s mission. We rely on a methodology which will identify the problems, the actors, local trajectories which may be different from one region to another. We have built a strategy that allows hundreds of companies to sit around the table to discuss how to move forward strategically. » Normand Mousseau gives as an example the creation of a hydrogen hub in Alberta, co-directed by the Accelerator and financed, among others, by the Alberta government.
Transport, construction, critical materials, electricity, economy, biofuels: the list of sectors involved in the energy transition is long. And despite the progress, recalls Mr. Mousseau, Canada must continue to press the accelerator to achieve its GHG reduction targets.
This content was produced by the Special Publications team at Duty, relating to marketing. The writing of the Duty did not take part.