Supporting Canada’s Zero-Carbon Economy

Canada needs to make significant changes to how it generates and uses energy if it is to flourish in a carbon-constrained future. As Canada Research Chair in Renewable Energy Development and Implementation, Dr. Warren Mabee’s goal is to identify the best ways to introduce renewable energy into our energy mix without stifling our economy or standard of living.

Mabee is focusing on using existing models of energy systems to assess different ways of increasing renewable energy use, including “disruptive technologies.” For example, what happens if a significant portion of Canada’s population relies more heavily on solar electricity? How will this disrupt our power grids and change the way we interact with utilities?

Mabee and his research team are particularly interested in how local energy planning can affect regional and national energy profiles, since these plans are resulting in interesting ideas for reducing energy requirements. They are also considering the impact of shifting to low-carbon technologies and how changes to technology in the petroleum sector might affect the demand for renewables. This shift could also mean that petroleum resources currently used for energy could be put toward other uses in the future.

The answers that Mabee’s team provides will inform policymakers, communities, and industrial stakeholders across Canada about the best path forward in adopting renewable energy—and will help guide Canada towards a zero-carbon economy.