Why Canada’s Energy Security Hinges on Renewables

The document asserts that Canada's reliance on oil, gas, and coal leaves it vulnerable to global market volatility and geopolitical shocks, despite being a major producer. It argues that renewable energy sources like wind and solar are now more cost-effective than fossil fuels and can provide long-term price stability because they do not require input fuels. The brief highlights Canada's existing hydroelectric capacity as a key asset for balancing variable renewables and suggests that electrifying transport and heating will further reduce exposure to fossil fuel price spikes. It concludes that prioritizing investments in flexible, integrated electricity grids and energy efficiency is essential for achieving a non-emitting electricity grid by 2035 and ensuring affordable energy security.

• Canada's energy security is compromised by a system dominated by oil, gas, and coal, which makes the country susceptible to global market forces and geopolitics. This is evidenced by record-high prices in May 2022, where gasoline reached CAD 2.07 per litre and natural gas hit CAD 7.54 per MMBtu.
• Renewable energy technologies, specifically wind and solar, have become more affordable than fossil fuel-based power. In some markets, installing new renewable infrastructure is cheaper than continuing to operate existing fossil fuel plants.
• Unlike fossil fuels, renewable energy provides long-term price stability because it does not rely on input fuels, meaning operational costs remain low and predictable once the infrastructure is connected to the grid.
• Canada is well-positioned to integrate variable renewable energy due to its extensive transmission network and significant hydroelectric capacity, which accounts for approximately 60% of the country's electricity generation and provides the flexibility needed to balance wind and solar.
• Electrifying end-use sectors, such as transportation and building heating, can shield Canadians from volatile fossil fuel prices. The federal government aims for 60% of new vehicle sales to be zero-emission by 2030 and no new combustion engine vehicles by 2035.
• To achieve a non-emitting electricity grid by 2035, Canada must prioritize wind, solar, energy storage, and increased interprovincial transmission. Current infrastructure is more connected to the United States than provinces are to each other.

APA

Christensen,, N. D. T. (2022). Why Canada’s Energy Security Hinges on Renewables. International Institute for Sustainable Development. https://www.iisd.org/articles/deep-dive/canadian-energy-security-renewables

Chicago

Christensen,, Nichole Dusyk,Lasse Toft. Why Canada’s Energy Security Hinges on Renewables. International Institute for Sustainable Development, 2022. https://www.iisd.org/articles/deep-dive/canadian-energy-security-renewables.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Christensen, |first1=Nichole Dusyk,Lasse Toft |title=Why Canada’s Energy Security Hinges on Renewables |publisher=International Institute for Sustainable Development |date=3 October 2022 |url=https://www.iisd.org/articles/deep-dive/canadian-energy-security-renewables |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{christensen2022why, author = {Christensen,, Nichole Dusyk,Lasse Toft}, title = {{Why Canada’s Energy Security Hinges on Renewables}}, institution = {International Institute for Sustainable Development}, year = {2022}, month = oct, url = {https://www.iisd.org/articles/deep-dive/canadian-energy-security-renewables}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }