Generating zero-emission, 100% renewable electricity by 2035 in Canada is not only possible, but also reliable and affordable, according to a report released Wednesday by the David Suzuki Foundation.
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For this energy shift to take place, according to the environmental organization, it will be necessary to prioritize clean energies, energy storage, energy efficiency and the modernization of electrical networks.
The amplification of wind and solar electricity should be, according to him, the foundation of this transition, but also the answer to the growing demand for electricity by 2050.
The authors of the report also estimate that the construction, operation and maintenance of wind turbines, solar panels and electricity transmission lines could generate more than 75,000 full-time jobs each year between 2025 and 2050.
“Canada, a vast country with enviable wind and solar resources as well as existing hydroelectric reservoirs, is in a position to make the transition. Countries like Germany are demonstrating that large-scale renewable energy projects are also possible,” Tom Green, senior climate policy adviser at the David Suzuki Foundation, said in a statement.
End of nuclear and fossil fuels
The Foundation believes that it will thus be necessary to put an end to “proven”, “expensive” or “harmful” technologies for the environment, such as nuclear power or new fossil fuels.
Replacing fossil fuels with clean electricity would, she said, provide a significant reduction in emissions that would support Canada’s carbon neutrality goals.
The David Suzuki Foundation assures that no other Canadian study has explored such solutions. These were modeled by an independent research team from the University of Victoria.