Greening the Saskatchewan Grid

Simple item page
dc.contributor.advisorVictor, Peter Alan
dc.creatorDolter, Brett David
dc.date.accessioned2016-09-20T16:40:14Z
dc.date.available2016-09-20T16:40:14Z
dc.date.copyright2015-12-08
dc.date.issued2016-09-20
dc.date.updated2016-09-20T16:40:14Z
dc.degree.disciplineEnvironmental Studies
dc.degree.levelDoctoral
dc.degree.namePhD - Doctor of Philosophy
dc.description.abstractSaskatchewan is home to one of the most greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions intensive electricity sectors in Canada. To contribute to global efforts to mitigate climate change, and comply with Canadian coal-fired electricity regulations, the province must transform its electricity sector in the coming decades. This dissertation asks, what is the cost of reducing Saskatchewans electricity sector GHG emissions by 80% or more by 2050, using a mix of renewable electricity generating technologies? A renewable focused Greening the Saskatchewan Grid scenario is compared with a business-as-usual scenario and alternative pathways for reducing GHG emissions. Scenarios are selected using a linear programming model called the Saskatchewan Investment Model (SIM). The resulting scenarios are then tested using the Will-It-Run-Electricity Model (WIRE) to understand whether a given electricity generation mix can adequately meet hourly electricity demand. Scenarios are compared using indicators such as electricity cost, GHG emissions, land impact, water impact, and radioactive waste, and sustainability criteria such as path dependence. It is found that a Greening the Grid scenario can reduce electricity sector GHG emissions to near zero levels by 2040. There is an added financial cost for taking this leadership path, but the cost of the Greening the Grid scenario becomes comparable to competing scenarios when an escalating carbon price is assumed. This dissertation also presents the results of a deliberative modelling exercise. Three workshops were held in Saskatchewan that brought together diverse participants interested in the future of the Saskatchewan electricity system. The goal of the workshops was to understand whether deliberation, supported by an interactive version of SIM, could encourage shared understanding of the barriers to and opportunities for expanding renewable energy in Saskatchewan. Workshop participants did not shift their positions to a great extent, except to find consensus that there are political and policy barriers to renewable energy expansion. This research contributes to the energy transitions literature by providing a case study of the costs and barriers faced when pursuing a renewable energy focused electricity system. It also contributes to the field of deliberative ecological economics and provides an example of an ecological economics approach to energy policy modelling.
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10315/32183
dc.language.isoen
dc.rightsAuthor owns copyright, except where explicitly noted. Please contact the author directly with licensing requests.
dc.subjectSustainability
dc.subject.keywordsSaskatchewan
dc.subject.keywordsLinear programming
dc.subject.keywordsElectricity
dc.subject.keywordsElectricity planning
dc.subject.keywordsRenewable energy
dc.subject.keywordsGreenhouse gas emissions
dc.subject.keywordsGHG emissions
dc.subject.keywordsClimate change
dc.subject.keywordsWind power
dc.subject.keywordsSolar power
dc.subject.keywordsDeliberative economics
dc.subject.keywordsInteractive modelling
dc.titleGreening the Saskatchewan Grid
dc.typeElectronic Thesis or Dissertation

Files

Original bundle
Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
Thumbnail Image
Name:
Dolter_Brett_D_2015_PhD.pdf
Size:
18.68 MB
Format:
Adobe Portable Document Format
Description:
Download
License bundle
Now showing 1 - 2 of 2
No Thumbnail Available
Name:
license.txt
Size:
1.83 KB
Format:
Plain Text
Description:
Download
No Thumbnail Available
Name:
YorkU_ETDlicense.txt
Size:
3.38 KB
Format:
Plain Text
Description:
Download

Collections

Environmental Studies

All items in the YorkSpace institutional repository are protected by copyright, with all rights reserved except where explicitly noted.