Grant: Alliance Grants

Electricity markets will be impacted as transportation sectors seek to achieve net zero goals. Decarbonization of the transportation sector in line with Canada's policies (i.e., the 2030 Emissions Reduction Plan and Zero Emissions by 2050) will substantially shift the spatial patterns of supply and demand as transportation and electric sectors become increasingly interdependent. New grid balancing options will be required to ensure electricity markets can manage such shifts. Further, new waste streams (e.g., e-waste from batteries) will need thoughtful plans to mitigate adverse environmental impacts of decarbonization. Government decision-making requires robust knowledge of costs and impacts to ensure that net zero goals can be met while overcoming otherwise unforeseen negative consequences of the energy transition. The goal of this proposal is to build an Alliance to develop decision-support tools that provide robust technical information about the critical, emerging storage options that will support net-zero transitions in Canada as the transportation and electric sectors become increasingly interdependent. The key technological areas this proposal will address include: pumped hydro, batteries, hydrogen, and alternative fuel options. Techno economic and life cycle assessments will be built specific to Quebec's current and projected energy infrastructure for each technology stream. Generic models will be developed and adapted to different scales and regions across Canada informed by a workshop. Since geographic and temporal variability can impact outcomes, parametric models will be critical for alignment with Canada's net zero policies. Results will support scenarios that investigate solutions for a sustainable, economically viable net zero energy system in Canada. Our partners comprise Natural Resources Canada and Electricity Canada, thus including key technical experts in electricity and storage as well as policymakers and utilities across the country. Our collaborators, University of Quebec (Trois Rivieres), and Hydro-Quebec, will be among a variety of expert stakeholders invited to participate the workshop and a review panel that will convene to provide feedback on progress and results online twice a year.