A holistic approach to develop and maintain a multi-year energy storage roadmap for Canada has been initiated, starting with a pilot study in Alberta. Phase 1 is to be reported to the Energy Storage in Canada Conference.
In Alberta a study has been commissioned to look at energy use over the next five years, focusing on business and domestic use. The study analysis used Life Cycle Analysis, which is a technique designed to assess environmental impacts associated with each stage of a product's life from cradle to grave. This is from raw material extraction through materials processing, manufacture, distribution, use, repair and maintenance, and disposal or recycling. The analysis provides a detailed review of environmental issues through the compilation of an inventory looking at relevant energy and material inputs. The study also considers environmental releases and pollutants. This approach requires the use of big data analytics.
Early finding have been discussed at Alberta Energy Storage 101 symposium. This meeting considered progress on renewables. However, renewable sources of energy cannot be considered in isolation, according to Kourosh Khaje, who is the founder and president of EnSciTech (a research group that looks at the energy mix industry). Khaje said: “If we want to move more toward renewable energy, renewables without having energy storage has no meaning; we need a way we can save all the energy during the daytime or nighttime, and then [feed] it back to the grid."
