Powering the Clean Energy Transition: Net-Zero electricity in Canada

The document outlines the benefits of a net-zero electricity transition in Canada, noting that the power sector has already reduced greenhouse gas emissions by 60% since 2005. It argues that a clean grid will lower household energy costs, create distributed employment, and improve public health by eliminating pollutants from coal and gas plants. The brief emphasizes that achieving net-zero by 2050 will require doubling or tripling electricity generation to support electrification across all sectors, necessitating coordination between federal, provincial, and territorial governments.

• Canada's power sector has achieved a 60% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions (CO2e) since 2005 due to the near-complete phase-out of coal-fired electricity, leaving 47 Mt of CO2e to be mitigated for net-zero. To support other sectors in reaching net-zero, electricity generation may need to double or triple by 2050.
• A net-zero electricity transition is projected to reduce average energy costs for Canadians. The CCI estimates a 12% decrease in average household energy spending by 2050, while the CEAC estimates annual household savings of CAD 15 billion by 2050, with 70% of households saving an average of CAD 1,500 per year.
• Transitioning to a clean grid enhances energy security and price stability by reducing reliance on internationally traded fuels like oil and gas, which protects the economy from commodity supply shocks such as those following the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine.
• The shift to clean power provides significant public health and environmental benefits by eliminating pollutants like sulphur dioxide, nitric oxide, and nitrogen dioxide. In 2014, 14 coal-fired plants in Canada were estimated to cause 160 premature deaths and 140 hospital admissions, costing the economy CAD 800 million annually.
• Grid reliability can be maintained through Canada's hydroelectric resources combined with wind, solar, battery storage (which saw a 89% global cost decline from 2010 to 2023), demand-side management, and interprovincial electricity-sharing infrastructure (interties).

APA

Haig,, S. (2024). Powering the Clean Energy Transition: Net-Zero electricity in Canada. International Institute for Sustainable Development. https://www.iisd.org/articles/deep-dive/powering-clean-energy-transition-canada

Chicago

Haig,, Steven. Powering the Clean Energy Transition: Net-Zero electricity in Canada. International Institute for Sustainable Development, 2024. https://www.iisd.org/articles/deep-dive/powering-clean-energy-transition-canada.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Haig, |first1=Steven |title=Powering the Clean Energy Transition: Net-Zero electricity in Canada |publisher=International Institute for Sustainable Development |date=2 December 2024 |url=https://www.iisd.org/articles/deep-dive/powering-clean-energy-transition-canada |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{haig2024powering, author = {Haig,, Steven}, title = {{Powering the Clean Energy Transition: Net-Zero electricity in Canada}}, institution = {International Institute for Sustainable Development}, year = {2024}, month = dec, url = {https://www.iisd.org/articles/deep-dive/powering-clean-energy-transition-canada}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }