Fueling the Future
INDUSTRY SNAPSHOT
British Columbia is Canada’s largest coal producer, second-largest producer of natural gas, and second-largest generator of hydroelectricity. Clean, renewable hydroelectricity produces almost 90% of British Columbia’s electricity requirements.
B.C.’s energy cluster includes alternative energy production (wind, bio-fuels, small-scale hydro) and power technologies such as clean fuel systems, advanced lithium power cells, power conversion, and power measurement.
British Columbia is a world leader in the research, development and deployment of environment technologies. Approximately 1,300 companies generate over $1.9 billion in revenue and employ 18,000 people.
British Columbia is a global leader in hydrogen fuel technology - Ballard Power Systems has its head office and main R&D facilities here, so does the National Institute for Fuel Cell Innovation.
POSITIONED FOR GROWTH – COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGES
AND OPPORTUNITIES
British Columbia’s Energy Plan supports the development of both conventional and alternative energy sources. Qualified independent power producers have guaranteed access to the transmission system operated by the government-owned British Columbia Transmission Corporation. The government has established a $25 million Innovative Clean Energy Fund to support the development of clean power in B.C.
B.C. has massive untapped renewable and non-renewable energy resources. There are tie-ins to cross-border transmission systems and U.S. energy hubs. B.C.’s energy sector is poised for continued rapid expansion.
B.C. BIOENERGY STRATEGY
Over 50 per cent of Canada’s biomass electricity-generating capacity is in British Columbia.
The B.C. Bioenergy Strategy includes:
- $25 million in funding for a provincial Bioenergy Network plus greater investment and innovation in B.C. bioenergy projects and technologies
- Funding to advance provincial biodiesel production ($10 million over three years)
- Tender calls for power generation from B.C.’s existing biomass inventory in the forest industry.
RENEWABLE RESOURCES DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES
- Wind - B.C. offers major wind power opportunities in the northeast and in coastal regions (on-shore and offshore). More than 300 potential wind energy sites have been identified.
- Ocean - B.C.’s ocean energy resources include over 20,000 MW of raw wave energy and 4,000 MW of raw tidal energy. More than 30 potential ocean energy sites have been identified and received preliminary permitting.
- Solar - B.C. is home to Canada’s leading solar technology companies whose products are in demand around the world. A photovoltaic system installed in a typical B.C. community would produce on average 25 per cent more power than the same system installed in Tokyo and 30 per cent more power than the same system installed in Berlin.
- Geothermal - B.C.’s energy potential includes: traditional geothermal power production from high temperature steam and power production from low temperature steam using emerging technologies
- Small hydroelectric - B.C. Hydro has long-term electricity purchase agreements with small run-of-river hydroelectric projects and will expand these opportunities in the future Calls for Power.
HYDROCARBON DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES
- Onshore oil and gas – estimated 69.7 trillion cubic feet (TCF) of natural gas and 8 billion barrels of oil (BBO)
- Offshore oil and gas – estimated 42 TCF of natural gas and 9.8 BBO
- Coal-fired thermal power – estimated coal resource exceeds 23 billion tonnes
- Coalbed gas – estimated 84 TCF
British Columbia is also at the forefront of research and development of new fuel sources, including biodiesel, cellulosic ethanol, and hydrogen.
KEY ORGANIZATIONS
BC Ministry of Energy and Mines
www.gov.bc.ca/em
Independent Power Producers Association of British Columbia
www.ippbc.com
BC Hydro
www.bchydro.com
Hydrogen & Fuel Cells Canada
www.fuelcellscanada.ca
Hydrogen Highway
www.hydrogenhighway.ca
Canadian Transportation Fuel Cell Alliance (CTFCA)
www.nrcan.gc.ca/es/etv/ctfca
