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On the energy resources of Canada
Author(s) -
Dincer Ibrahim,
Dost Sadik
Publication year - 1996
Publication title -
international journal of energy research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.808
H-Index - 95
eISSN - 1099-114X
pISSN - 0363-907X
DOI - 10.1002/(sici)1099-114x(199607)20:7<595::aid-er175>3.0.co;2-5
Subject(s) - energy consumption , compressed natural gas , renewable energy , fossil fuel , natural gas , energy carrier , natural resource economics , primary energy , efficient energy use , energy conservation , energy engineering , production (economics) , consumption (sociology) , electricity , energy source , environmental impact of the energy industry , energy development , energy policy , environmental science , waste management , engineering , economics , mechanical engineering , social science , sociology , electrical engineering , macroeconomics
Abstract This study provides an energy outlook for Canada's energy resources, energy production and consumption, as well as energy trade, and a careful examination of the relationships between energy production and consumption and price, economic, demographic and technological factors, and an investigation of effective factors for future energy production and consumption. Technological advances have played a key role in altering the makeup of Canada's energy system. Technology has altered the way in which Canadians produce and consume energy, increasing the diversity of sources, i.e. oil, natural gas, natural gas liquids, electricity, nuclear energy and renewables, and increasing flexibility of consumption, i.e. net domestic consumption ranged from 6081 PJ to 8191 PJ between 1973 and 1993 with an increase of 35·0%, while primary energy production increased from 6869 PJ to 13034 PJ with an increment of about 90% during this period. Energy conservation technologies have provided the technical basis for increasing the efficiency of energy use and shifting demand away from oil. Advances in energy use in the agricultural, residential, industrial, transportation and commercial sectors require, in part, significant improvements in energy efficiency in Canada. Similarly, research and development into improving recovery efficiencies for oils sands and heavy oil have taken a priority. Improvements in alternative transportation fuel technologies have facilitated a significant substitution of oil products by propane, compressed natural gas and methanol, as well as electricity and hydrogen for future potential. Energy is also an important element in Canada's economy. It is expected that the Canadian economy grows at an annual average rate of 2·5% implying a doubling of Canada's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) until 2010. In 1990, the energy supply sector accounted for about 7·0% of the real GDP and 17·0% of total investment. Also, the sector provided about 2·0% of total employment and energy exports generated 11·0% of export income. During the last decade, Canada's average yearly increase in energy consumption was between 1·0% and 2·0%, just slightly higher than the average annual population growth for the same period. In the light of these results, Canada is the world's most energy‐intensive country and would continue to be such in future.