Prospects for Renewable Energy in a Turbulent World: Canada as a Potential Clean Energy Super Power

动荡世界中的可再生能源前景：加拿大作为潜在的清洁能源超级大国

• 批准号: RGPIN-2021-02735
• 负责人: vanKooten, Gerrit
• 金额: $ 1.75万
• 依托单位: University of Victoria
• 依托单位国家: 加拿大
• 项目类别: Discovery Grants Program - Individual
• 财政年份: 2022
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2022-01-01 至 2023-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=751468
• 关键词: Prospects; Renewable; Energy; Turbulent; World

Alberta (AB) oil is considered dirty because it is extracted using steam created by burning natural gas. I address cleaner extraction by building on an AB model that I previously used to examine the penetration of intermittent renewable energy into electricity grids. I propose to extend my earlier NSERC-funded research by constructing a British Columbia (BC) grid model that includes operation of the major hydroelectric dams. The BC and AB grid models will be combined to explore the potential climate and economic benefits of using BC reservoirs for passive and active (pumped-hydro) storage of wind and solar electricity generated in AB. The combined, integrated grid (CIG) model will then be used to examine the potential consequences of drought (reduced river runoff) and enhanced warming (increased flows from faster glacier melt). The CIG model will be calibrated using positive mathematical programming-a technique developed in the operations research literature. Yet, it is important to recognize that the CIG model is foremost a policy model meant to guide decision makers. This proposal thus extends my previous research program in three important ways. (1) It develops an AB-BC CIG model, which is then (2) extended to include stronger interties to the U.S., especially California (CAL). The latter requires development of a simple grid model for the U.S. that provides information for determining expected demand for AB-BC electricity under various U.S. and CAL climate policy scenarios. The model can then be used to determine the extent to which BC and AB can export carbon-free energy to CAL. To extend the AB-BC CIG model would require greater details relating to current and future transmission interties throughout western Canada and into CAL, which would necessitate a great deal of data collection and programming in an Excel-R-GAMS software environment. (3) There is great potential to deploy Gen IV nuclear reactors in northern AB/Saskatchewan using uranium from local mines. Nuclear power can be used to extract petroleum from the oilsands. Uranium can be processed and recycled until the final waste is returned to the mines from which it came. This would facilitate production of oil in situ using a carbon-free technology, putting Alberta's dirty oil on an equal environmental footing as conventional oil. The availability of nuclear power could potentially provide an impetus to refine oil into various products in western Canada. Power could also be sold to CAL, which will be investigated using the extended CIG model. The investments needed to export carbon-free electricity will bolster Canada's lagging economy, boost economic development in northern Canada, and provide high-quality jobs. Energy exports will strengthen the waning dollar, reducing the costs of purchasing investment goods abroad. Investments in nuclear technology can incentivize energy R&D, providing Canada an opportunity to be a global leader in several areas of clean energy technology.

艾伯塔省(AB)的石油被认为是肮脏的，因为它是用燃烧天然气产生的蒸汽提取的。我通过构建AB模型来解决清洁开采问题，我之前使用该模型来检查间歇性可再生能源对电网的渗透率。我建议通过构建一个不列颠哥伦比亚省(BC)电网模型来扩展我早先由NSERC资助的研究，该模型包括主要水电大坝的运行。BC和AB电网模型将结合在一起，以探索使用BC水库被动和主动(抽水蓄能)储存AB所产生的风能和太阳能的潜在气候和经济效益。然后，综合网格(Cig)模型将被用来研究干旱(河流径流减少)和变暖(冰川融化速度加快导致的流量增加)的潜在后果。CIG模型将使用正数学规划进行校准--这是运筹学文献中开发的一种技术。然而，重要的是要认识到，CIG模式首先是一种旨在指导决策者的政策模式。因此，这项提议在三个重要方面扩展了我之前的研究计划。(1)它开发了AB-BC CIG模型，然后(2)将其扩展到包括与美国，特别是加州(CAL)更强的兴趣。后者需要为美国开发一个简单的电网模型，该模型提供信息，以确定在美国和CAL各种气候政策情景下对AB-BC电力的预期需求。然后，该模型可以用来确定BC和AB向CAL输出无碳能源的程度。扩展AB-BC CIG模型将需要更多有关整个加拿大西部和CAL当前和未来传输利益的细节，这将需要在Excel-R-GAMS软件环境中进行大量数据收集和编程。(3)在AB/萨斯喀彻温省北部使用当地矿山的铀部署第四代核反应堆的潜力很大。核电可以用来从油砂中开采石油。铀可以被加工和回收，直到最终的废物被送回它所在的矿山。这将促进使用无碳技术就地生产石油，使艾伯塔省的污油处于与传统石油同等的环境基础上。核电的可获得性可能会推动加拿大西部将石油提炼成各种产品。电力也可以出售给CAL，CAL将使用扩展的CIG模型进行调查。出口无碳电力所需的投资将提振加拿大落后的经济，促进加拿大北部的经济发展，并提供高质量的就业机会。能源出口将使不断贬值的美元走强，从而降低在海外购买投资品的成本。对核技术的投资可以激励能源研发，使加拿大有机会在几个清洁能源技术领域成为全球领先者。