I accept the energy transitions is underway, but am perplexed as to why we need a national grid. We should be thinking bigger and bolder. Look at your electric bill, the largest charges are for transportation and distribition amongst other charges, whereas actual electricty usage is a small part of the bill. Instead of building large centralized power plants that require large distribution networks (grid), we should be looking at building decentralized power systems in our cities. There is enough land in Toronto parking lots (malls, plazas, public lots, etc.) That we can cover them with raised solar panels (cars can park underneath them like a canopy) and provide enough power fpr the citya (plus lots to sell), 365 days 24/7 wihout having to pay for a national grid. Imagine using more electricity than you do now with half the bill. This doable at less than a 1/4 the cost of a large nuclear plant. Besides, in the future, it will be our roads that become the grid, not overhead wires. Our roads will store the electricity. This is already in the development phase. Leets build for the future not the past. No to national hrods that drive up our electrical bills and yes to dectralized power sytems so our bills actually decrease. Cheers! Great article
Good morning. I've interviewed many experts about aspects of this issue. The consensus is that we need both an upgraded, larger grid AND distributed energy. What that system looks like in Canada is largely shaped by utility incumbents worried that DERs are a threat to their business models. Marion Hill of DNV and I discussed Canada's slow response to grid modernization in an interview yesterday: https://youtu.be/jpAv0U-7_sY
My take is that we have to begin by opening up the discussion, which Carney's plan for a national power grid should do. Currently, these conversations are taking place during industry consultations, if at all, or within the boardrooms of crown corp utilities. They want as little change as possible and all of it should be within their control.
IMO, that's the place to start the discussion you want to have.
Thanks so much for your thoughtful comments, we definitely need to do things differently. Please consider following us on YouTube too for daily updates: https://www.youtube.com/@EnergiMedia/videos
I accept the energy transitions is underway, but am perplexed as to why we need a national grid. We should be thinking bigger and bolder. Look at your electric bill, the largest charges are for transportation and distribition amongst other charges, whereas actual electricty usage is a small part of the bill. Instead of building large centralized power plants that require large distribution networks (grid), we should be looking at building decentralized power systems in our cities. There is enough land in Toronto parking lots (malls, plazas, public lots, etc.) That we can cover them with raised solar panels (cars can park underneath them like a canopy) and provide enough power fpr the citya (plus lots to sell), 365 days 24/7 wihout having to pay for a national grid. Imagine using more electricity than you do now with half the bill. This doable at less than a 1/4 the cost of a large nuclear plant. Besides, in the future, it will be our roads that become the grid, not overhead wires. Our roads will store the electricity. This is already in the development phase. Leets build for the future not the past. No to national hrods that drive up our electrical bills and yes to dectralized power sytems so our bills actually decrease. Cheers! Great article
Good morning. I've interviewed many experts about aspects of this issue. The consensus is that we need both an upgraded, larger grid AND distributed energy. What that system looks like in Canada is largely shaped by utility incumbents worried that DERs are a threat to their business models. Marion Hill of DNV and I discussed Canada's slow response to grid modernization in an interview yesterday: https://youtu.be/jpAv0U-7_sY
My take is that we have to begin by opening up the discussion, which Carney's plan for a national power grid should do. Currently, these conversations are taking place during industry consultations, if at all, or within the boardrooms of crown corp utilities. They want as little change as possible and all of it should be within their control.
IMO, that's the place to start the discussion you want to have.
Thanks so much for your thoughtful comments, we definitely need to do things differently. Please consider following us on YouTube too for daily updates: https://www.youtube.com/@EnergiMedia/videos