Within just 15 to 40 years, renewable energy will drive the overwhelming majority of southern Alberta’s power grid, according to a University of Lethbridge professor.
Additionally, the region could become a green energy hub – exporting energy from solar, wind and geothermal, according to keynote speakers at a Solar Open House at Lethbridge Public Library’s main branch on Jan. 20.
“Southern Alberta is a great place to do wind and solar – and we think we’ll get great production of wind and solar overall. We can be a big energy exporter overall – probably within 25 years,” said Dr. Jim Byrne, a professor of environmental sciences at the U of L and one of the evening’s presenters.
Byrne added he believes a partnership between B.C. – which possesses a great deal of hydroelectric and geothermal energy potential – and Alberta, could mean exporting a lot of excess energy to the U.S.
“By, say, 2040 we will have terawatts of wind and solar – and that’s a lot of electricity. All of Alberta needs about 10 terawatts of electricity. We’re going to be generating a lot of it and we’re going to be selling a lot of electricity to other places,” said Byrne.
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The U of L is working with 3B Energy to conduct studies on farms, residences and businesses to get the data, which will help demonstrate to people in the county how renewables can save them money.
“Solar, up to 10 years ago, was way, way more expensive. Over the last 10 years, the price has dropped dramatically every year to the point where now you’re at 60 per cent, maybe almost 70 per cent, less expensive than it used to be,” said Milo Holthe, chief operating officer with 3B Energy.
Holthe added solar panel technology has improved to the extent that a panel of the same size could produce twice the energy it did a decade ago.
“I don’t think people know the potential for it, they don’t know the costs. We’re too fixated – we don’t understand that fossil fuels served us well, but at this point, fossil fuels are just too hard on our environment,” said Byrne, adding he wants to work towards building as many new solar projects as possible.
The U of L professor said southern Alberta needs to move toward renewable energy to improve the region’s health and economy.
“For the most part, fossil fuels will just be a memory,” said Byrne.
