Canada

Canada’s power system

At 83% non-emitting, Canada’s power system is one of the cleanest in the world. A world leader in hydroelectricity, Canada is well on its way to a fully clean power system. However, electrifying large parts of the economy is of critical importance. Following the federal government commitment for a net-zero electricity system by 2035, swift action is required to replace the polluting 20% with new, clean generation.

As the International Energy Agency noted in 2022, “compared with other countries that are more reliant on fossil fuels for electricity generation, Canada’s mostly decarbonised electricity system represents an early advantage for greater electrification of other fossil fuel-dominated sectors”.

Canada’s clean electricity advantage offers unique potential to rapidly electrify large swaths of the economy. It could therefore decarbonise while enhancing the competitiveness of the Canadian economy as the world moves toward net-zero.

Picture of Shasta Dam surrounded by roads and trees with a lake and mountains on the background
2035
date of Canada's federal government commitment to achieving a net-zero-emitting electricity system
83
of Canada’s power grid is non-emitting already

Canada’s Emissions Reduction Plan

Through climate action efforts since 2015 and the Emissions Reduction Plan, the federal government has been doing the heavy lifting in developing policies and making investments that will cut carbon pollution. But provincial action is a patchwork, with many provinces – among them the largest GHG emitters – making relatively little effort or even rolling back policies while challenging federal efforts.

It is increasingly clear that to capitalise on Canada’s electrification potential, more business, Indigenous, and political leaders need to mobilise climate action in the provinces, becoming electrification champions.

Transition Accelerator

The Transition Accelerator is a pan-Canadian organization that works with others to help ensure a prosperous, competitive and net-zero Canada in 2050. Balancing a whole-of-economy perspective with detailed techno-economic analysis and an understanding of Canada’s regional differences, the Accelerator aims to equip innovators and policymakers with the tools they need to distinguish viable transition pathways from costly dead-ends. Their current focus areas include net-zero fuels, electrification, regional pathways and the future economy.

One of the pillars of the Accelerator’s approach is advancing collaborative projects that bridge the gap between analysis and action. Its initiatives include Electrifying Canada, the Building Decarbonization Alliance, the Edmonton Region Hydrogen Hub, and the Centre for Net-Zero Industrial Policy. For more information on, please visit https://transitionaccelerator.ca, or contact [email protected]