If we truly care about stopping climate change in its tracks, we need solutions and we need them now.
This month’s COP26 conference in Glasgow further outlined the dire situation our planet is in if we don’t make a change. But these changes need to be both sustainable and attainable. Energy consumption is real and while developed countries with smaller populations have the ability and wealth to transition to cleaner options, many of our global neighbours need support to get there.
Renewables like wind and solar are part of the answer, but we cannot fully depend on them as a stable and consistent energy source. Sometimes the sun doesn’t shine and the wind doesn’t always blow in the countries who have reverted back to coal as a means of energy. Not only that, some countries just don’t have the technical know-how or finances to develop renewable energy infrastructure. Heavy emitters like China and India want to stop using coal, but what do they do if they cannot power an entire grid to meet the energy needs of their growing populations?
This is where Canadian energy comes in.
We believe natural gas can lead the way forward for communities, countries and the climate. Natural gas supports renewables because it can quickly compensate for dips in solar or wind power supply and rapidly respond to sudden increases in demand. At 45% less carbon-intensive than coal, natural gas is a critical part of our world’s energy transition. Switching from coal to natural gas reduces greenhouse gas emissions by half so while natural gas is helping meet existing energy demand, it will simultaneously be lowering GHG emissions and improving air quality.
Powered with renewable hydroelectricity, Woodfibre LNG here in Squamish will be the cleanest LNG export facility in the world. By innovating the facility’s design, Woodfibre has dropped its expected emissions intensity: ten times less than the average LNG facility. Pacific Canbriam Energy, Woodfibre’s sister company, will supply Woodfire LNG with clean natural gas from the Montney region in northeastern B.C. Pacific Canbriam recently achieved Equitable Origin EO100TM certification, meaning their gas has been independently certified as sustainable and responsibly sourced – the second company in Canada to receive this certification.
Clean, sustainable Canadian natural gas produced at Woodfibre could displace 3.5 million tonnes of global greenhouse gases emitted by coal power plants in Asia each year.
That alone is the equivalent of removing over 700,000 cars off the road each year.
Woodfibre LNG is a real solution to help fight climate change that continues to grow each day without action. Providing more energy to people while reducing our impact on the planet is one of the 21st century’s greatest challenges, and it’s a challenge our project is ready and willing to step up and face head on.
This is a sponsored feature
Laurie Parkinson says
I beg to differ – in many ways, but will list two here:
Jonathan Wilkinson, then our Federal Environment Minister, disagrees with the claim that LNG will replace coal in China. On Sept 8, 2021, I watched a debate Mr Wilkinson took part in. The debate was recorded. When Mr Wilkinson was asked about LNG, he said two significant things:
1. There is no way to know if LNG will replace coal.
2. LNG could just as easily replace renewables, and he said “that’s no good”.
Woodfibre LNG would use lots of electricity. If BC is to avoid some of climate change’s hazards, we need electrify everything quickly. Why? Because electric motors are much much more efficient than gas motors. And BC doesn’t have as much electricity as you would think. Once Site C is built, about 20% of BC’s energy needs will be met by electricity. Just under 70% of our energy needs are met by fossil fuels (nat gas, oil, etc). So long term, we shouldn’t be using our precious electricity to produce fossil fuels for export.