| Planning a low-carbon city in a high-carbon state: The case of Edmonton, AlbertaLocated in the heart of the energy intensive Province of Alberta, the City of Edmonton is engaged in contentious debates about future energy systems. With a fossil fuel reliant electricity sector and a culture of oil and gas sector support, decarbonising the grid is critical to reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Community energy projects have potential to make an important contribution to renewable energy development, yet they come with unique opportunities and challenges, particularly within a state-supported fossil energy sector. This case study of renewable energy planning in Edmonton employs document analysis and in-depth interviews with municipal employees, city councillors, and energy stakeholders to analyse the possibilities for energy transition. We discuss how intention varies between different decision-makers and the different sources and financing tools they are interested in deploying. Themes of environmental benefits, economic value, and social perception emerge in the thought process of municipal decision-makers. These findings are conceptualised using theory of planned behaviour and transition theory, categorising the anticipated risks and opportunities to develop renewable energy into the dimensions of socio-technical change. This research contributes to the understanding of smart cities by exploring how urban renewable projects are planned and developed. | Publication | 2022-04-30 | Sonak Patel, John R Parkins |
| A Just Transition - How Community Energy Can Be a Part of Our Future Energy System Master students Andrea Miller and Sonak Patel describe the state of renewable energy in Canada and highlight an innovative opportunity to develop community-owned and operated renewable energy projects. Andrea and Sonak identify the environmental, social, and economic benefits of community energy and the barriers to development, focusing on Indigenous and municipal communities. Case studies from their research show how community energy can be part of a just transition to renewable energy and further efforts towards climate action. | Activity | 2020-02-26 | Andrea Kristine Miller, Sonak Patel |
| A just transition: Case studies of Indigenous-owned renewable energy in CanadaCommunities are significant actors in the transition from a fossil fuel-based energy system towards renewables. With distinct worldviews and knowledge, Indigenous communities in Canada are one such ‘community’ whose relationship to the energy system encompasses both displacement and community benefits. Increasingly, Indigenous communities are participating in the energy transition through community-owned renewable energy projects, which centre community members as project planners, managers, owners, and beneficiaries. Within transition theory, Indigenous energy projects act as niche innovations through which the larger regime shift of the energy system will take place. This review of academic and grey literature outlines the current Indigenous energy landscape in Canada, with supplementary case studies of Indigenous energy projects in Alberta highlighting project motivations and challenges. Preliminary findings from a community-based, participatory case study of community energy in Enoch Cree Nation (Maskêkosihk), Alberta are presented. A growing number of Indigenous communities are motivated to pursue renewables to advance a just energy transition that supports future generations; encourage place-based community and economic development; demonstrate climate leadership; challenge historical and ongoing colonial energy projects; and uphold Indigenous worldviews. Remote communities and those communities with access to grid connection offer distinct perspectives on gaining self-sufficiency and energy sovereignty through renewables. Preliminary results reveal the challenging implications of policy and funding cycles for Indigenous energy projects in Alberta. This is an emerging space in energy transition literature, as cases of Indigenous energy in Alberta have been absent from scholarship. This research highlights how community energy can be part of a just transition to renewable energy and further efforts towards climate action and Indigenous community development. | Activity | 2020-06-20 | Andrea Kristine Miller |
| Alberta landowner acceptance of wind energy developments – A factorial survey experimentAlberta is an energy powerhouse, but support for renewable energy is weak, especially in rural areas where most energy production is located. Energy development is also large scale, with limited attention to smaller-scale and community-based projects. Given this context, our recent work in Alberta asks two key questions: Why are Albertan's resistant to renewable energy projects and how can we (re)design such projects to enhance energy transition? Drawing on insights from a factorial experiment survey (n = 401) with large-scale landowners, we seek to answer these questions. Statistical models are informed by concepts in procedural and distributive justice, with attention to the role of local ownership, inclusion and influence as a factors leading to more support for wind farms among Alberta landowners. | Activity | 2020-11-20 | John R Parkins |
| Beyond NIMBY: Designing the Future of Community-Based Renewable Energy in AlbertaAlberta is an energy powerhouse, but support for renewable energy is weak, especially in rural areas where most energy production is located. Energy development is also large scale, with limited attention to smaller-scale and community-based projects. Given this context, our recent work in Alberta asks two key questions: Why are Albertan's resistant to renewable energy projects and how can we (re)design such projects to enhance energy transition? Drawing on recent research, including in-depth case studies and a factorial experiment survey (n = 401) with large-scale landowners, we seek to answer these questions. Consistent with social science evidence that NIMBY is not an adequate explanation for public resistance to energy projects, results illustrate concerns about the behaviour of wind power project proponents and a desire for more local ownership structures, such as cooperatives. This presentation identifies insights that extend beyond conventional reasons for public opposition to energy projects. | Activity | 2020-10-30 | John R Parkins |
| From Resistance to Acceptance of Wind Farms in AlbertaAlberta is an energy powerhouse, but support for renewable energy is weak, especially in rural areas where most energy production is located. Energy development is also (till now) large scale, with limited attention to smaller-scale and community-based projects. Given this context, our recent work in Alberta asks two key questions: Why are Albertans resistant to renewable energy projects and how can we (re)design such projects to enhance energy transition? Drawing on insights from in-depth interviews with rural landowners and a survey (n = 401) of large-scale landowners, we seek to answer these questions. Analysis is informed by concepts in procedural and distributive justice, with attention to the role of local ownership, inclusion and influence as factors leading to more support for wind farms among Alberta landowners. | Activity | 2021-04-28 | John R Parkins |
| Mapping Renewable Energy Projects in CanadaThis poster presents the renewable energy landscape in Canada through a map of renewable
generation projects with a capacity over 1 MW and graphs of renewable energy by time and
by type. As the first phase of a larger project seeking to understand the intentions and
decisionmaking of communities considering developing renewable energy projects, this map
and the temporal and provincial data illustrate spatial trends for renewable energy adoption
in each of the provinces. The map shows the dominance of hydropower in BC, Manitoba,
Ontario, and Quebec. Wind generators dominate southern Canada, notably in the Prairies,
and the Atlantic Coast. Biomass generation is focused around forestry operations in BC and
Alberta, as well as landfill gas facilities in some cities. Solar photovoltaics are less prevalent
as utility scale projects over 1 MW, but much more common as smaller microgenerators. The
map also displays projects in development, providing some indication of how the renewable
market will be changing in the near future. For each province, the total renewable capacity is
presented as a percentage of the total energy capacity, showing the varying provincial efforts
to add renewables to the energy market. The poster also describes the next steps for this
project, including objectives and anticipated outcomes. The project will contribute to an indepth understanding of the constraints and opportunities for renewable energy development. | Activity | 2019-03-08 | Sonak Patel |
| ohci pisim: From the sun: Indigenous-owned renewable energy in Alberta, CanadaThis presentation explores the role of Indigenous-owned renewable energy projects in the energy transition in Alberta, Canada. | Activity | 2021-06-14 | Andrea Kristine Miller |
| The paradox of female support for coal power: Insights on knowledge, values and trust from a survey of CanadiansCanada plans to phase out coal power by the year 2030. This transition, however, requires public support and studies indicate enduring attachments to coal, despite its harms. Using a national survey of 3000 Canadians, we focus specifically on coal support in this paper, finding (surprisingly) that women have higher mean levels of support for coal relative to men. In further analysis, we find that higher average support is driven by a greater number of neutral responses from women. We then build a set of regression models, disaggregated by gender, including knowledge, values/attitudes, trust, exposure, and demographic controls. We find that objective energy knowledge is negatively correlated with support for coal among women, and is not significantly related to support for coal among men. In addition, women are more trusting of energy-related institution than men. For women, trust in energy insiders increases support for coal, while trust in energy outsiders decreases coal support. While women have higher means for all environmental value measures used in our analysis, these values have stronger associations with coal support in the regression model for men than the model for women. In conclusion, we suggest that women in this study have lower direct knowledge and lower confidence in their knowledge, leading to their greater number of neutral responses. In contrast, men are more likely to form an opinion about coal, whether or not they are knowledgeable, and this opinion is most strongly based on environmental values. Our results suggest there is no single factor influencing perceptions of coal, and we conclude with suggestions for future research on Canada’s coal phase-out. | Activity | 2020-07-24 | John R Parkins |
| Three Environmental Imaginaries and Implications for Acceptable Energy Technologies in Alberta, CanadaThere is a complex relationship between environmentalism and renewable support, as there are environmentalist arguments both supporting and opposing renewable energy generation. Renewable infrastructure can reduce carbon emissions, mitigating climate change, but can also impact local ecosystems. This complicated relationship suggests the need to develop more nuanced definitions of “environmentalism”. Guided by evolving literature on the concept of environmentalism, I explore specific types of environmentalism and their ability to predict support for energy technologies. Using a sample of rural Albertan landowners (n=401), I used a principal component analysis and findings of academic literature reviewed to create three scales representing different types of environmentalism, varied by geographical focus and relationship with the land: global environmentalism; local environmentalism; and farmer environmentalism, based on the concept of the “good farmer”. Using both a bivariate correlation and regression analysis, the results show that global environmentalism predicts opposition to fossil fuels and support for wind and solar energy. Local environmentalism did not predict opposition to solar or wind, but was significantly associated with opposition to hydroelectricity and support for coal. Farmer environmentalism was only significantly associated with opposition to hydroelectricity. The findings show that, among rural Albertans, wind and solar energy are supported for their climate crisis reduction benefits, while opposition is not because of local environmentalism concerns. This research contributes to an understanding of the energy beliefs of rural Albertans, whose support is critical to a renewable energy transition in Alberta, and is intended to support policy and design that encourages renewable development that aligns with community beliefs and values. | Activity | 2020-02-18 | Sonak Patel |
| Building Futures: Indigenous-led Energy Transitions in Alberta | Publication | 2022-01-01 | Andrea Kristine Miller |
| (Em)powering our Communities: How municipal renewable energy projects could play a role in decarbonising our energy sectorIntroducing more renewable energy could play a crucial role in reducing carbon emissions in Alberta. Community energy projects have a demonstrated potential to address the social and political barriers to developing renewable energy projects. In this project, we examine the opportunity for local governments to develop community energy projects. Using a survey of Albertan municipal decision-makers and a case study of renewable development in Edmonton Alberta, we seek to understand why municipalities are or are not interested in pursuing renewable development and how to support these projects. | Activity | 2021-02-26 | Sonak Patel |
| Building Futures: Indigenous Owned Renewable Energy and a Just TransitionThe influx of Indigenous-led and owned clean energy initiatives is demonstrating that the energy transition must be just, equitable, and centred around Indigenous rights. This research answers the question, how does project ownership support the involvement of Indigenous communities in Alberta’s growing renewable energy sector, as well as control in shaping the broader energy transition. | Activity | 2021-03-19 | Andrea Kristine Miller |
| Empowering Our Communities: The Potential Of Municipal Energy ProjectsIntroducing more renewable energy could play a crucial role in reducing carbon emissions in Alberta. Community energy projects have a demonstrated potential to address the social and political barriers to developing renewable energy projects. In this project, we examine the opportunity for local governments to develop community energy projects. Using a survey of Albertan municipal decision-makers and a case study of renewable development in Edmonton Alberta, we seek to understand why municipalities are or are not interested in pursuing renewable development and how to support these projects. | Activity | 2021-02-19 | Sonak Patel |
| Energy and Sustainability in our CommunitiesRenewable energy technologies are giving us new ways to incorporate sustainability into our lives. How will these changes play out in our communities, and what could they mean for our society’s relationship with energy? In this session graduate students and postdoctoral fellows from the University of Alberta’s Future Energy Systems program will share research that explores the interface of new energy technologies and our everyday lives, and how different approaches to energy in our communities can promote sustainability throughout our society. | Activity | 2020-11-30 | Andrea Kristine Miller |
| Assessing Barriers to Renewable Energy Development in Alberta: Evidence from a Survey on Wind Energy with Rural LandownersDespite having abundant wind resources, the Province of Alberta is slow to adopt wind
energy. While recent provincial government initiatives have stimulated some new wind power
projects, progress is limited, and with new regulatory changes in recent months, progress on
renewable energy development may slow even further. What are the barriers to renewable energy
development in Alberta? This report offers some answers to this question based on survey results
from rural Albertan landowners (n = 401). The survey was implemented in early 2019 and offers
insight into the perspectives of rural landowners who are in a position to host energy
technologies on their properties. These technologies might include oil and gas wells but also
emerging technologies such as wind turbines and solar panels. Within the report we explore key
barriers to the adoption of wind energy infrastructure in Alberta. An energy market analysis and
literature review reveal few technical barriers, as there is sufficient capacity in the southern
region, where wind feasibility is highest. The published literature also points to economic
barriers related to price uncertainty, the competitiveness of other energy sources, and policy
instability. Looking more closely at social barriers, evidence from the survey indicates that
landowners are sharply divided in their support for the further development of wind farms in the
province. Many concerns stem from a lack of knowledge about wind infrastructure impacts, as
well as issues with the procedures for implementing wind development and the distribution of
benefits. Encouraging and facilitating future development of wind projects in Alberta will
require that proponents highlight the environmental and economic benefits of wind farms and
focus on providing benefits to local communities. | Publication | 2020-05-01 | Sonak Patel, John R Parkins |
| Community energy in Western Canada: Insights from case studies on small-scale renewable energy developmentWith advances in renewable energy technology, decentralized and community scale energy projects are becoming more common. Rural and remote communities have unique interests in renewable energy as a source of revenue and a cost-saving measure to alleviate dependencies on more expensive alternatives. Other communities are interested in renewable energy as a component of sustainability objectives or as an opportunity to demonstrate innovation. Given these motivations, community energy is gaining interest. In this report, we define community energy and provide brief descriptions of 26 community energy projects in western Canada. Additionally, the report provides more detail on five community projects that include solar, wind, hydroelectricity, biogas, and geothermal technologies. The report highlights the design of community projects with attention to scale, ownership structures and links to community strategic plans. Case studies also illustrate challenges including economic sustainability and resistance to decentralized energy production from larger energy providers. | Publication | 2019-06-21 | Andrea Kristine Miller, Sonak Patel, John R Parkins |
| Community Renewable Energy in Canada: A Literature Review of Methods, Motivations, Opportunities, and BarriersThis paper presents the findings of a literature review on research into community energy. The methodologies and findings outlined in this report are intended to guide the primary research conducted by the Measuring the Costs and Benefits of Renewable Energy Transitions Research Team, as part of the Communities and Aboriginal Theme within University of Alberta’s Future Energy Systems multidisciplinary research initiative. The literature reviewed focuses on two types of community energy; citizen community energy, owned by individuals or residents, and municipal community energy, owned by a municipality. The academic papers analysed provided a variety of methodologies and implemented a series of analytical lenses to conceptualise their findings. Methodologies to assess citizen community energy typically utilised a case study approach and stakeholder interviews. Assessing municipal community energy used a mix of surveys and case studies to examine municipal decision-making factors for either renewable energy generation or general climate action. | Publication | 2019-04-17 | Sonak Patel |
| Provincial Energy Market ProfilesHighlights of 13 provincial and territorial energy markets including energy consumption, regulation, micro-generation, policy goals, energy transitions, and renewable energy projects. | Publication | 2019-08-31 | Sonak Patel, Elizabeth Dowdell |
| Canada's Renewable Energy Project MapThe research team from the project Measuring Costs and Benefits of Energy Transitions has compiled this searchable database of renewable energy projects in Canada. Data from the map is available through the FES website and can be downloaded directly through the Tableau interface. Filters applied to the map will affect the data download (for instance, if you choose to view only privately-owned projects in Alberta on the map, data for only those projects will be part of the download). | Publication | 2019-04-17 | Elizabeth Dowdell, Sonak Patel |
| Energy transition in Canada: Exploring the social, cultural and ethical dimensions of a changing energy landscapeEnsuring a sustainable energy future involves technical complexity, but some of the biggest challenges are social: such transitions call for new politics, investments, social norms, and landscapes. Despite technological advances, public knowledge about, and support for, energy alternatives remains quite low. Energy development proposals are often polarizing and disconnected from discussions of overall energy mix and conservation measures.
Yet together, we must create a new sense of what is needed, desirable and possible for Canada’s energy future, and map ways to get there. Social understanding is critical to making the transition successfully and democratically. This research contributes to energy transition by building on wide-ranging social science research methods, focusing on sites of energy production across Canada.
Building on 10 years of research, our work is happening at a national scale, as well as detailed cases in Peace River, AB, Mactaquac, NB, and Southern Ontario. Recent research includes analysis of wind power development in Alberta, and municipal responses to energy development alternatives at the utility and community scale. | Publication | 2020-02-18 | John R Parkins |
