WHAT IF CANADA HAD SPENT $200BN ON WIND ENERGY INSTEAD OF OIL?

In explaining Canada's decision to nationalise the controversial Trans Mountain pipeline for $4.5bn, Bill Morneau went hard on the economic argument. “Make no mistake,” the finance minister said. “This is an investment in Canada’s future.”

THE GUARDIAN -- In fact, since 1999, more than $200bn has been invested into the Alberta oil sands for that future. But what if that cash had gone into wind energy instead?

​

Let’s compare.



Vehicles powered
Oil sands

73m

In 2017, the Alberta oil sands produced roughly 912m barrels. About 60% was turned into gasoline and diesel, enough to fuel 73m vehicles for 16,000km (the roughly average yearly driven distance).



Wind energy

122m

Had $200bn been invested in the wind energy sector, at the current cost of $1.8m megawatt (MW), Alberta would have 111,000 MW of capacity. Based on what Alberta actually generated in 2017, it could power more than 122m electric vehicles for the same 16,000km​.



CO2 driving emissions
Oil sands

325m tons

Driving those vehicles would emit more than 325m tonnes of carbon dioxide. (Total CO 2 emissions for the UK in 2017 ​were 388m tonnes.)



Wind energy

Zero

No CO 2 emissions result from the operation of electric vehicles.



CO2 operations emissions
Oil sands

66m tons

“Upstream” emissions – produced by essentially boiling the oil out of the ground – have reached an official 66m tonnes a year. (The figure does not include the energy to "clear" the boreal wetlands or build the facilities.)




Wind energy

Zero

No CO 2 is emitted by wind turbines while generating electricity. (The figure does not include the energy to build the turbines.)



Operations cost
Oil sands

$31.9bn

At an estimated production cost of $40 per barrel, making oil in Alberta costs roughly $36.5bn a year.



Wind energy

$7.1bn

Generating 111,000 MW of electricity at an estimated cost of $64,000 per MW = $7.1bn.



Fuel cost for drivers
Oil sands

$2,688

Based on gas prices in Fort McMurray on 27 May 2018, driving a car with a fuel efficiency of 12 litres per 100km for 16,000km would cost drivers about $2,688.



Wind energy

$190.40

Driving a Chevy Bolt electric vehicle using 28 kilowatt hours (kWh) for 160km at 6.8 cents per kWh (roughly the current cost in Alberta) the same distance would cost you $190.

Click here to get a FREE Solar consultation