Energy vs Climate

Energy vs Climate

Energy vs Climate is a live, interactive webinar and podcast where energy experts David Keith, Sara Hastings-Simon and Ed Whittingham break down the trade-offs and hard truths of the energy transition in Alberta, Canada, and beyond.
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Episodes

LIVE SHOW - Solar Geoengineering: Should we go there? - Part II
Oct 23 2024
LIVE SHOW - Solar Geoengineering: Should we go there? - Part II
𝗟𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗮𝘁 𝗘𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗴𝘆 𝗗𝗶𝘀𝗿𝘂𝗽𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘀: 𝗨𝗡𝗜𝗧𝗘 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟰 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗗𝗮𝘃𝗶𝗱 𝗞𝗲𝗶𝘁𝗵 & 𝗘𝗱 𝗪𝗵𝗶𝘁𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴𝗵𝗮𝗺David and Ed hit the stage at the Energy Disruptors: UNITE 2024 summit in Calgary to discuss solar geoengineering, a major focus of David's academic research. Together, they unpack the technical and non-technical dimensions of solar geoengineering, including global governance and decision making.(00:45) Start of live show and topic introduction(04:49) What is Solar Geoengineering?(30:45) Audience Q & A𝗔𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗘𝘃𝗖 𝗖𝗼-𝗛𝗼𝘀𝘁𝘀:David Keith is Professor and Founding Faculty Director, Climate Systems Engineering Initiative at the University of Chicago. He is the founder of Carbon Engineering and was formerly a professor at Harvard University and the University of Calgary. He splits his time between Canmore and Chicago.Sara Hastings-Simon studies energy transitions at the intersection of policy, business, and technology. She’s a policy wonk, a physicist turned management consultant, and a professor at the University of Calgary and Director of the Master of Science in Sustainable Energy Development.Ed Whittingham is a clean energy policy/finance professional specializing in renewable electricity generation and transmission, carbon capture, carbon removal and low carbon transportation. He is a Public Policy Forum fellow and formerly the executive director of the Pembina Institute, a national clean energy think tank.𝘗𝘳𝘰𝘥𝘶𝘤𝘦𝘥 𝘣𝘺 𝘈𝘮𝘪𝘵 𝘛𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘰𝘯 & 𝘉𝘦𝘴𝘱𝘰𝘬𝘦 𝘗𝘰𝘥𝘤𝘢𝘴𝘵𝘴___Energy vs Climatewww.energyvsclimate.com Bluesky | YouTube | LinkedIn
EV Ownership vs Level 1 Charging
Oct 9 2024
EV Ownership vs Level 1 Charging
Rethinking EV ChargingA commonly held belief by new or prospective EV owners is that purchasing one requires the installation of a “level 2”, or 240 volt, home charger. Sara and Ed chat about recent University of Calgary research that challenges this assumption. They discuss considerations that might go into choosing which option is best for EV owners and people considering EVs, as well as the practical realities when it comes to charging, range anxiety - and pottery kilns. About Your EvC Co-Hosts:David Keith is Professor and Founding Faculty Director, Climate Systems Engineering Initiative at the University of Chicago. He is the founder of Carbon Engineering and was formerly a professor at Harvard University and the University of Calgary. He splits his time between Canmore and Chicago.Sara Hastings-Simon studies energy transitions at the intersection of policy, business, and technology. She’s a policy wonk, a physicist turned management consultant, and a professor at the University of Calgary and Director of the Master of Science in Sustainable Energy Development.Ed Whittingham is a clean energy policy/finance professional specializing in renewable electricity generation and transmission, carbon capture, carbon removal and low carbon transportation. He is a Public Policy Forum fellow and formerly the executive director of the Pembina Institute, a national clean energy think tank.Produced by Amit Tandon & Bespoke Podcasts___Energy vs Climatewww.energyvsclimate.com Bluesky | YouTube | LinkedIn
Fully Charged: Battery Storage & How to Make it Better
May 14 2024
Fully Charged: Battery Storage & How to Make it Better
Hosts David, Sara, and Ed chat with battery storage expert Dr. Shirley Meng of the University of Chicago.About Our Guest:Dr. Y. Shirley Meng is a Professor at the Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering at the University of Chicago. She serves as the Chief Scientist of the Argonne Collaborative Center for Energy Storage Science (ACCESS) Argonne National Laboratory. Show Notes:(01:12) – Dr. Shirley Meng(02:12) – How Lithium Ion Batteries Work(02:22) – How sodium could change the game(02:24) – How Solid-State Batteries Will Fuel America's Desire For Bigger, Better EVs(08:20) – EvC: Understanding the Shift in Media Perception Towards EVs(08:32) - Edwards and Sanborn Solar and Energy Storage Project(17:25) – Lithium Facts - Gov't of Canada(18:30) – IEA - Advanced Clean Technology Manufacturing(20:55) – China’s first sodium-ion battery energy storage station could cut reliance on lithium(24:30) – First Phosphate(26:40) – China's EV strategy of going small and cheap to pay big dividends in Asia(27:10) – Hydro‑Québec’s Center of Excellence in Transportation Electrification and Energy Storage(31:55) – Indonesia’s grand ambition to become an EV leader(38:00) – Inflation Reduction Act & EVs(38:08) – Canada is pouring billions of dollars into the electric vehicle industry(40:40) – Umicore confirms expansion of its EV battery materials production footprintProduced by Amit Tandon & Bespoke Podcasts___Energy vs Climatewww.energyvsclimate.com Bluesky | YouTube | LinkedIn
EvC Bonus - HOT TOPIC: Alberta Electricity Update
Apr 24 2024
EvC Bonus - HOT TOPIC: Alberta Electricity Update
Another BONUS Podcast Episode!The electricity file has been popping, especially in Alberta, where on a weekly basis a clash of worldviews on the future of electricity generation is on full display.About Our GuestBlake Shaffer is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Economics at The University of Calgary. He works on electricity markets, climate policy, and energy transitions, and frequently provides policy advice to governments at various levels. Show Notes(00:02:44) AB’s new renewable energy rules could ban projects(00:04:26) AUC inquiry into the ongoing economic, orderly & efficient development of electricity generation in AB(00:09:00) Assessing potential impact of AB's proposed viewscapes & agricultural land restrictions(00:10:20) AB brings in new restrictions on renewable power projects as moratorium set to end(00:13:01) Farms or Solar Farms?(00:18:56) ‘What We Heard’ during consultations & directions being considered for the final regulations(00:24:13) Rotating brownouts leave thousands without power(00:27:52) Transmission Policy Review(00:31:03) Power Flows: Transmission Lines & Corporate Profits (00:31:44) Replacing The Utility Transmission Syndicate’s Control (00:33:38) Improving integration & coordination of provincially-managed electricity systems in Canada(00:34:15) AB's Renewable Electricity Program(00:35:30) Affordable Energy, Good Jobs, and a Growing Clean Economy(00:37:07) Recommendations for AB’s Power Market___Energy vs Climatewww.energyvsclimate.com Bluesky | YouTube | LinkedIn
EvC Bonus - Hot Topic: Carbon Tax
Apr 9 2024
EvC Bonus - Hot Topic: Carbon Tax
New BONUS Podcast EpisodeCanada's consumer carbon tax policy has been getting a lot of press attention of late, especially following the $15/T increase that took affect on April 1, 2024. Much has been said about it across the political spectrum, some of it accurate, and some of it just plain wrong. David's away this month, so it's just Sara and Ed talking all things carbon tax with special guest Mark Jaccard.  About Our GuestMark Jaccard has been a prof at Simon Fraser University since 1986 save a couple of sabbaticals serving as Chair and CEO of the British Columbia Utilities Commission. Mark has served on the IPCC, domestically on the National Roundtable on the Environment and the Economy, and he’s a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada and CD Howe Institute. His most recent book is the “The Citizen’s Guide for Climate Success,” published in 2021.Show Notes:(00:06:20) – Low Carbon Fuel Standards in Canada (00:08:37) – Designing flexible regulations to mitigate climate change: A cross-country comparative policy analysis(00:12:37) – Top Runner Programme (00:14:36) – Choose Wisely - Options and Trade-offs in Recycling Carbon Pricing Revenues (00:16:55) – Bridging the Gap: Real Options for Meeting Canada’s 2030 GHG Target (00:19:13) – Assessing climate sincerity in the Canadian 2021 election(00:23:25) – Independent Assessment: 2030 Emissions Reduction Plan(00:32:22) – Rebates rise as carbon price increases to $80 per tonne(00:33:37) – Designing flexible regulations to mitigate climate change: A cross-country comparative policy analysis(00:36:57) – The Political Costs of Oil Price Shocks (00:39:50) – Exploring Citizen Support for Different Types of Climate Policy(00:54:07) – Inside what ‘axe the tax’ means to Pierre Poilievre’s supporters: ‘He understands Canadians’___Energy vs Climatewww.energyvsclimate.com Bluesky | YouTube | LinkedIn
Buzzkill: Understanding the Shift in Media Perception Towards EVs
Mar 29 2024
Buzzkill: Understanding the Shift in Media Perception Towards EVs
Dr. Simon Evans, Deputy Editor & Senior Policy Editor at Carbon Brief join co-hosts David, Sara, and Ed, to tease apart EV fact from fiction.  About Our Guest:Simon Evans is deputy editor and policy editor at Carbon Brief. Simon covers climate and energy policy. He holds a PhD in biochemistry from Bristol University and previously studied chemistry at Oxford University. Show Notes:(00:02:01) – Factcheck: 21 misleading myths about electric vehicles(00:04:59) – Electric vs. Gas Cars: Is It Cheaper to Drive an EV?(00:06:37) – IPCC Climate Change 2023 Synthesis Report (00:10:30) – Reducing CO2 emissions from passenger cars (00:12:15) – Good Politics Bad Policy – Why governments should end their subsidies for EVs (00:17:25) –  U of T researchers model the health benefits of electric cars, find 'large improvement in air quality'(00:18:45) – Roles of diffusion patterns, technological progress, and environmental benefits in determining optimal renewable subsidies in the US (00:20:13) – Politics in the U.S. energy transition: Case studies of solar, wind, biofuels and electric vehicles policy(00:27:20) – Five point plan to protect drivers from a rush to net zero is backed by MPs, motorists & campaigners(00:31:20) – Electric Vehicle Battery Supply Chains(00:37:12) – Alberta Budget 2024: EV groups question fairness of new $200 annual tax(00:43:46) – Yes, frigid weather may reduce your EV battery range. Here's how to prepare(00:48:24) – Hydrogen vs Electric Cars___Energy vs Climatewww.energyvsclimate.com Bluesky | YouTube | LinkedIn
Energy vs Oilsands: How did we get to 3.5m bbl/day and what do we need to do about it?
Mar 13 2024
Energy vs Oilsands: How did we get to 3.5m bbl/day and what do we need to do about it?
Co-hosts David, Sara, Ed, and energy/environmental economist Dr. Andrew Leach of the University of Alberta unpack the past, present and future of Canada's oilsands. About Our Guest:Andrew Leach is an energy and environmental economist and is Professor at the University of Alberta, with a joint appointment in the Department of Economics (Arts) and the Faculty of Law. His research spans energy and environmental economics. His most recent book is Between Doom and Denial: Facing facts about climate change.Show Notes:(00:46) – Oil Market Report - November 2023(01:57) – A Matter of Fact: How the oil sands benefits Canadians(05:06) – Canada’s oil and gas sector, the road to net zero and regional fairness(06:16) – Making progress on Canadian oil sands CO2 emissions intensity(06:36) – This oil sands crude has lower GHG emissions intensity than the U.S. average(12:45) – Crude Oil Forecast Markets & Transportation(16:16) – Refinery Economics(25:30) – What's in store for 2024 — Part 3: Growth Plans at Alberta's largest in-situ producers(28:19) – Not Fit for Purpose: Oil Sands Mines and Alberta’s Mine Financial Security Program (29:53) – Fiscal Plan A Responsible Plan for a Growing Province 2024-27(38:02) – CCS Won’t Happen in Oilsands Without Bigger Subsidies, Cenovus Exec Warns(43:15) – The Role of Critical Minerals in Clean Energy Transitions(46:39) – Whose jobs face transition risk in Alberta? Understanding sectoral employment precarity in an oil-rich Canadian province ___Energy vs Climatewww.energyvsclimate.com Bluesky | YouTube | LinkedIn
History vs Energy - How the history of energy transitions can inform our future
Feb 20 2024
History vs Energy - How the history of energy transitions can inform our future
Overview:What does the history of energy tell us about energy transition? Can we learn from the past or will we repeat the same mistakes? What do people get wrong when trying to extract lessons from the history of energy? Co-hosts David, Sara, and Ed are joined by guest, Dr. Petra Dolata, to discuss data on historical transitions, including lessons of deindustrialization in the Ruhr region of Germany on Season 5, Episode 8 of Energy vs Climate.About Our Guest:Petra Dolada is Associate Professor in the Department of History at the University of Calgary. A former Canada Research Chair (Tier II) in the History of Energy, who held previous academic positions at the Freie Universität Berlin in Germany and at Kings College London in the UK, her research examines the 1970s energy crises, transatlantic energy relations and the historical connections between deindustrialization and energy transitions. She is the co-convenor of the Energy In Society working group at the Calgary Institute for the Humanities.Topics:(00:00) Intro(03:19) Socio-energy systems design: A policy framework for energy transitions(05:00) The 200-year history of energy transitions(07:20) History of Prime Movers and Future Implications(08:34) Gauging the Role of Energy Substitution in Transitioning to Low-Carbon Economies(12:12) The Social Dimensions of Energy Transitions(14:00) Histories of Transitions(16:35) Peaking: A Brief History of Select Energy Transitions(21:00) Profitable Solutions to Climate, Oil, and Proliferation(25:00) What we need to know about the pace of decarbonization(35:24) World History and Energy(40:07) The Future Role of Coal: International Market Realities vs Climate Protection?(47:10) The Energy Transition Is a Technological Revolution — with a Deadline(51:00) Three sides to every story: Gender perspectives in energy transition pathways in Canada, Kenya and Spain___Energy vs Climatewww.energyvsclimate.com Bluesky | YouTube | LinkedIn
Stranger than (Climate) Fiction
Dec 12 2023
Stranger than (Climate) Fiction
What is the role of literature in the climate policy and technology discussion? How does the genre allow us to explore uncomfortable climate scenarios, including those to do with heat death and direct action? While ultimately successful, the path laid out in the book is very bumpy, volatile, and rife with violence – strikingly different from the smooth and orderly transition often offered up by politicians and techno-optimists.On S5E7 of Energy vs Climate, David, Sara, Ed, and New York Times bestselling author Kim Stanley Robinson (of The Ministry for the Future) discuss how science fiction can help us explore different climate scenarios and solutions.EPISODE NOTES@0:21 – Kim Stanley Robinson@0:21 – The Ministry for the Future - Kim Stanley Robinson@3:13 – How hot is too hot for humans? Understanding wet-bulb temperatures@9:00 – Carboncoin @10:25 – The unprecedented Pacific Northwest heatwave of June 2021@13:55 – Karl Popper@18:45 – How to Blow Up a Pipeline - Andreas Malm@20:32 – Dave Foreman @21:30 – Climate protesters throw tomato soup on Van Gogh’s ‘Sunflowers’@27:50 – Who is Wiebo Ludwig? A thunder storm wrapped in the flesh of a man. Part 1@30:52 – Glacier geoengineering to address sea-level rise: A geotechnical approach (Lockley et al, 2020)@31:50 – Solar Geoengineering - should we go there?@39:25 – Empowering Female Climate Change Activists in the Global South: The Path Toward Environmental Social Justice - Peggy Ann Spitzer@44:05 – The Hottest Year @46:10 – Utility of the blockchain for climate mitigation (Chen, 2018)@49:05 – Overshooting 1.5 C limit 'looks inevitable' with record CO2 emissions from fossil fuels___Energy vs Climatewww.energyvsclimate.com Bluesky | YouTube | LinkedIn
Energy vs IEA Oil and Gas Scenarios
Dec 4 2023
Energy vs IEA Oil and Gas Scenarios
Published each year, the International Energy Agency’s (IEA) World Energy Outlook (WEO) is a leading source of scenario-based analysis of global energy demand and supply. This year, as the global energy crisis shows signs of calming, the WEO finds a peak in fossil fuels before 2030 across all scenarios. The result has been met with skepticism by some politicians in Canada, with Alberta’s Premier Danielle Smith going so far as to question the credibility of the organization. A follow-on special report from the IEA on the oil and gas industry in net zero transitions, released on November 23, offers additional insights on the role of oil and gas producers in achieving a decarbonized global energy sector.David, Sara, Ed, and the International Energy Agency’s Chief Energy Economist, Tim Gould discuss the findings of these IEA reports and the implications for Canada and its natural resources on Season 5, Episode 6 of Energy vs Climate.EPISODE NOTES @3:20 – World Energy Outlook 2023@6:10 – Oil and gas industry faces moment of truth – and opportunity to adapt – as clean energy transitions advance@9:45 – Electric Vehicles @10:53 – China’s electric vehicle surge will shock global markets@14:06 – Oil demand to begin long-term decline this decade, according to new Pembina report@24:01 – Oil Companies Are Preparing for a Lucrative Decline@24:26 – Building Momentum Toward Net Zero @29:05 – Canada’s Energy Future 2023 @32:50 – The Place of Energy Security in the National Security Framework: An Assessment Approach@42:26 – Canada introduces framework to cap greenhouse gas pollution from oil and gas sector@45:34 – Minister Guilbeault announces Canada’s draft methane regulations to support cleaner energy and climate action@46:40 – World Energy Investment 2023@56:26 – Economic Research: Climate Change Will Heighten Output Volatility___Energy vs Climatewww.energyvsclimate.com Bluesky | YouTube | LinkedIn
Energy vs Carbon Removal
Nov 30 2023
Energy vs Carbon Removal
We are excited to bring you a special live taping of Energy vs Climate  from November 22, 2023 at the Ampersand in Calgary. Energy vs Carbon Removal is a dive deep into this still relatively new climate mitigation pathway. The IPCC and other bodies increasingly view Carbon Dioxide Removal (CDR) as a critical tool to reduce CO2 concentrations in the atmosphere and bring warming back down to 1.5C by century’s end. It seems like new carbon removal start-ups are springing up weekly. But the barriers to commercializing CDR tech remain daunting. Will CDR live up to its hype or fail to launch?EvC partnered with carbonNEXT’s series Carbon Talks for this live show.EPISODE NOTES @5:00 – What is Carbon Removal?@6:00 – What's the least bad way to cool the planet?@8:35 – Carbon Engineering @9:45 – What is Ocean Alkalinization?@9:45 - Enhanced Rock Weathering@12:52 – Climeworks - Orca@16:25 – CCUS Investment Tax Credit - PRIMER (Spring 2023)@17:30 – US power sector carbon capture and storage under the Inflation Reduction Act could be costly with limited or negative abatement potential (Grubert & Sawyer, 2023)@21:50 – Occidental and 1PointFive, King Ranch Reach Lease Agreement to Support up to 30 Direct Air Capture Plants on Leased Acreage@26:00 – Decarbonizing Cement@33:00 – Carbon Removal Canada - Reports & Resources@38:22 – What You Need to Know About Article 6 of the Paris Agreement@50:15 – Lessons From California’s Carbon Dioxide Removal Policies@53:35 – Greengate Travers Solar @1:01:53 – The State of Carbon Dioxide Removal Report___Energy vs Climatewww.energyvsclimate.com Bluesky | YouTube | LinkedIn
Transmission vs Climate
Oct 29 2023
Transmission vs Climate
Long distance and interregional transmission lines promise to increase reliability, mitigate the impact of extreme weather events, and provide electricity consumers with access to low-cost resources. They are an important piece of the energy transition puzzle. But despite the well documented benefits of long-distance transmission, to date there has been limited progress in building out interties across North America. What lessons can we draw from the early days of renewable development that are relevant to this new challenge? What is the current state of efforts to develop long distance transmission and interties in the US, and how does this compare to Canada’s approach? And what is the role of "patient capital” in financing these opportunities? David, Sara, Ed, and Michael Skelly of Grid United discuss all things transmission on Season 5, Episode 3 of Energy vs Climate.EPISODE NOTES@1:00 – Michael Skelly @1:00 – Superpower - Russell Gold @3:51 – Texas Renewable Energy Zones @7:44 - TransWest Express Transmission Project, USA @8:05 - Hertel-New York interconnection line @9:00 - EvC - Canada's Big Bet on Electrification @16:10 - The economics of large-scale wind power in a carbon constrained world (DeCarolis and Keith, 2006) @24:50 - Viking Link Interconnector Project, Denmark-UK @27:15 - North Plains Connector @29:14 - Replacing the Utility Transmission Syndicate's Control (Peskoe, 2023) @29:19 - Grid Governance in the Energy Trilemma Era: Remedying the Democracy Deficit (Kleit and Walters, 2023) @33:00 - China's mega transmission lines @33:50 - Morocco-UK Power Project @35:00 - EvC - How Solar Became Cheap @45:01 - Buying hydro from B.C. will help Alberta meet net-zero goal, in Ottawa's vision ___Energy vs Climatewww.energyvsclimate.com Bluesky | YouTube | LinkedIn