Renewable energy is rapidly changing our energy world. Canada is the second biggest hydroelectric energy-producing nation in the world, as well as the eighth producer of wind power. Moreover, another contribution is that of hydroelectricity, which also constitutes 67.6% of electricity production in Canada.
In our green energy blog, we look forward to delving into the details of the companies leading this green revolution. The industry, which includes big players such as NextEra Energy, which produces the most renewable energy in the world using wind and solar energy, and Terra Tech, which creates a solution to an infinite energy source, moves forward at a rapid pace. Given that renewable technologies are already offering 17.3% of the total primary energy supply in Canada, we feel that the terracotta resources and other green efforts are not merely habitat assets but rather also a great economic prospect. In this article, we will take a look at the major players transforming the nature of our energy future and the technologies making it a reality.
The field of green energy includes various technologies that bring benefits to our planet and economy. In this blog on green energy, we shall look at the key renewable sources that will power our green future.
Other sources of energy that are in abundance are solar energy. An hour of noontime sun on a summer day delivers the same amount of electricity that the country of the U.S. needs every year. The average efficiency of solar panels is 15–22%, with newer systems going up to 30%. In addition, there is a mammoth rise in solar installations, which reach close to 3% of the total electricity production in the United States.
Wind power has surpassed being the biggest generator of green power in the UK and the US. This resource develops more than 125,000 jobs across the country and provides about INR 168.76 billion in payments annually as state and local taxes. Additionally, wind machines can convert up to 45% of wind energy into electricity.
Hydropower is extremely efficient, with 85–90% conversion efficiency. Being the third largest generator of hydroelectricity worldwide, the technology contributed 61.7% of Canada’s electricity in the year 2022. Hydroelectric plants have many benefits other than electricity generation, such as water regulation, irrigation, and the supply of clean water for drinking.
Bioenergy is a type of energy obtained through the use of organic waste, crops, and wood to produce heat and electricity. In 2023, biomass made nearly 5% of all the energy consumed in the U.S., providing employment opportunities and boosting the economy of rural America.
Geothermal energy uses heat generated inside the Earth, and it is flexible in power generation and does not depend on the weather. Having a minimal impact on the environment, geothermal plants do not emit greenhouse gases and use less water than most conventional power generation techniques.
Young companies hold the forefront in the development of renewable energy in North America, with each of them holding new technologies and strategies in the sustainable sector. This green energy blog discusses the innovators who are doing great things for our future of clean energy.
Innergex Renewable Energy is one of the leading developers and operators of renewable plants on several continents, founded in 1990. Having a net generation capacity of 577 MW, Innergex has 28 run-of-river hydroelectric plants, five wind farms, and one solar farm. Interestingly, the aspect of sustainability in them is not limited to technological processes; they work closely with Indigenous communities, developing projects that have immense economic as well as social payoffs.
TerraVolta Resources is a leader in domestic lithium and has received a grant of Rs 18985.60 million from the US Department of Energy for its Project Liberty Owl. The barn will be able to produce battery-grade lithium using domestic brine resources and can power about 500,000 electric vehicles in a year. As the first point to recall, the facility is likely to eliminate over 2.2 million tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions annually.
Launched in 2001, the 22-year-old Canadian Solar has supplied over 133 GW of solar PV modules to the world. Recently, the company announced that it will build a battery plant in Kentucky for Rs 60078.88 million, signalling its departure from solar manufacturing operations.
Bio-En Power is a company that works on transforming organic waste into renewable energy. They have a facility in Elmira, Ontario, which processes 70,000 tonnes (69,000 long tonnes) of organic waste a year to generate green electricity as well as agricultural fertilizer. Their plants saved the world 30,000 tonnes of CO₂-equivalent greenhouse gas emissions by the end of 2018.
The green energy revolution is at the core of technological innovation, and the result has been increased efficiency and expanded access to what is called sustainable energy. One of these functioning technologies has been smart grids, with the help of digital tools and sensors on the grid, to match the supply and demand of electricity in real-time, at a minimum cost, and with stability of the grid. These smart networks decrease the pressure to build new infrastructure absurdly, as well as boost the current systems and enhance their resilience and reliability to a large extent.
Another innovation in the industry is the incorporation of artificial intelligence. Artificial intelligence in renewable energy can cut down energy use and carbon emissions by 30-50% compared to conventional approaches. Using sophisticated algorithms, AI can optimize the distribution of energy and forecast its consumption, as well as quickly identify a fault in the power scheme, making sure the electricity is where it is needed the most.
Battery energy storage systems (BESS) may be one of the most important facilitators of an increase in renewable energy. It is estimated that the size of the BESS market will increase by between INR 10125.65 billion and INR 12657.07 billion in 2030, with utility-scale installation expanding at a rate of about 29% per year. These units collect surplus energy during non-peak hours and dispense it during peak hours, addressing the intermittency problem in solar and wind energy.
As a result, community-based energy projects are speeding up in the world. Other, locally based initiatives offer additional advantages besides clean power; e.g., a shared battery facility in north Perth enabled the 119 participating households to save a combined AUD 81,000 or more during the first five years. Likewise, the Magliano Alpi energy community of the Alps of Italy secures 35% of its electric needs by using solar installations.
In this green energy blog, we have seen the unbelievable evolution that is being realized in our energy environment. Green energy businesses have been at the vanguard of this move and have contributed to the growth of technology, as well as developing a viable alternative for the future.
The examples of such companies as Innergex Renewable Energy and TerraVolta Resources show that innovation combined with environmental responsibility results in the appearance of significant economic opportunities. Canadian Solar, Bio-En Power, Pond Technologies, and Solar Earth also demonstrate the range of solutions we have to our energy problems. Thus, we can observe that through them, we can view these pioneers as companies that are not only innovative but also create a cleaner environment.
The technological innovations mentioned above – the so-called smart grids, artificial intelligence, or battery-storing systems – are the necessary instruments of this transition process. Moreover, community-based initiatives demonstrate that the positive changes that renewable energy can bring are not only environmental-related, since this type of energy can bring considerable cost savings, as well as energy democratization.
Finally, but not least, the statistics tell a lot about the increasing role of renewable energy: 17.3% of the total primary energy in Canada is renewable, hydroelectric provides 67.6% of all electricity production in Canada, and the markets for battery storage expect their increase to be around INR 10-12 trillion in 2030. These figures have a story of momentum and promise.