Energy and Greenhouse Gas Emissions (GHGs)

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Since 2000, there has been a decoupling between the growth of Canada’s economy and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Between 2000 and 2017, Canada’s GHG emissions decreased by 2%, GHG emissions decreased 30% per dollar of GDP and 20% per capita (largely due to technological improvements, regulations, and more efficient practices and equipment).

Learn more about Greenhouse gas emissions by Canadian economic sector.

GHG spotlight on oil and gas

GHG emissions from oil and gas production have gone up 23% between 2000 and 2017, largely from increased oil sands production, particularly in-situ extraction.

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CO2 Equivalent emissions from the oil and gas sector increased from 158 Mt in 2000 to 195 Mt in 2017. The share of oil sands has visibly increased over this span, from 16% of oil and gas emissions in 2000 to 41% in 2017.

The Government of Canada has committed to reducing methane emissions from the oil and gas sector by 40% to 45% from 2012 levels by 2025. New regulations limiting methane emissions from fugitive sources such as leaks and venting will apply to the oil and gas sector beginning in 2020.

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Oil sands emissions intensity (in kgCo2e per barrel) has decreased from 114 kgCO2e per barrel in 2000 to 82 kgCO2e per barrel in 2017.

Due to technological and operational efficiency improvements, oil sands emissions per barrel have decreased 28% from 2000 to 2017.

Learn more about GHG emissions intensity by source type for oil and gas industrial sector.

GHG spotlight on electricity

Despite accounting for less than 9% of total electricity generation, coal was responsible for 77% of electricity related GHG emissions in 2017. Total electricity emissions decreased by 42% from 2000 to 2017 due to increased generation from non-emitting sources.

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Greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) from electricity generation were stable around almost 130 megatonnes in 2001. Since then, GHG emissions have declined to less than 75 megatonnes in 2017.

Renewable electricity generation has increased 18% between 2010 and 2017, with solar and wind having largest growth.

In 2017, almost 82% of electricity in Canada came from non-GHG emitting sources. Hydro made up 60%, nuclear 15%, and other renewables the remaining 7%.

Renewable energy sources make up 2/3’s of Canada’s electricity mix. Renewable electricity generation has increased 18% between 2010 and 2017, with solar and wind having largest growth.

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Wind net electricity generation was 1,552 GWh in 2005, rising to 28,775 GWh in 2017. Solar net electricity generation was 17 GWh in 2005, rising to 3,573 GWh in 2017.

GHG spotlight on transportation

Transportation GHG emissions have increased 19% from 2000 to 2017. Emissions from passenger light trucks and freight trucks have continued to rise due to an increased number of vehicles (especially light trucks and SUVs). Freight emissions have increased due to many factors including increasing trade and globalization, and online shopping.

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Overall, greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from the transportation sector have increased from about 146 megatonnes of carbon dioxide equivalents in 2000 to 174 megatonnes in 2017. GHG emissions from passenger vehicles increased from 81 megatonnes in 2000 to 94 megatonnes in 2017. Freight trucks account for the largest increase from 50 megatonnes in 2000 to 72 megatonnes in 2017.

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Transportation energy use in 2016 totals 2,683 PJ. Motor gasoline accounts for 58% of the total fuel mix, followed by diesel fuel oil at 28%, aviation turbo fuels at 10%, ethanol at 2%, and heavy fuel oil at 1%.

Passenger transportation contributes 54% to total emissions, freight emissions are 41% of total and off-road is 5%.

Energy efficiency improvements in the transportation sector have saved Canadians 763 PJ of energy and almost $20.8 billion in energy costs in 2016.

Total transportation energy use increased 16% from 2000 to 2016.

Electric vehicles in Canada

In 2018, electric vehicle sales made up 2.2% of total vehicle sales. Over 44,000 vehicles were sold in 2018, more than double the sales in 2017. Electric vehicle sales are highest in the provinces of Quebec, Ontario and British Columbia.

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Electric vehicle sales in Canada have increased from 468 electric vehicles sold in 2011 to 44,175 in 2018.

To ensure continued uptake, the federal government is undertaking a series of measures. It includes a $300 million investment in the creation of a new federal purchase incentive to buy zero-emission vehicles, a $130 million investment in new zero-emission vehicle infrastructure deployment, and a $5 million fund to work with automakers to secure ZEV sale targets.

Canada’s energy consumption

A look at Canada’s total primary energy supply (TPES) helps to better understand the impact of energy sources on greenhouse gas emissions. The TPES^{Footnote 1} is calculated as:

TPES = Production + Imports - Exports + Stock changes

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Canada’s total primary energy supply in 2017 was 12,102 petajoules. Natural gas accounts for 35% of the total primary energy supply, followed by crude oil and NGLs at 35%, hydro at 11%, nuclear at 9%, coal at 6%, and other renewables at 6%.

Fossil fuels made up 76% of Canada’s TPES in 2017.

Renewable energy sources made up 17.3% of Canada’s TPES in 2017.

Comparatively, the global TPES is made up of:

• 81% fossil fuel (oil 32%, coal 27%, natural gas 22%)
• 14% renewables
• and 5% nuclear

* Not including electricity trade
**“Other renewables” includes wind, solar, wood/wood waste, biofuels and geothermal

Energy use by sector

There are two different kinds of energy use, primary and secondary.

Primary energy use is a measure of the total energy requirements of all users of energy. It includes the energy required to transform one form of energy into another (e.g. coal to electricity); the energy used to bring energy supplies to the consumer (e.g. pipeline); and the energy used to feed industrial production processes Primary energy use includes secondary energy use.

Not every fuel is consumed as energy. For example, hydrocarbon gas liquids in Canada are also used as a non-energy feedstock in the petrochemical industry.

Canada’s primary energy consumed in 2016 was estimated at 12,713 PJ.

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In 2016, Canada’s primary energy supply was estimated at 12,713 petajoules. 69% of all primary energy is transformed into secondary energy where 27% of that sum accounts for the industrial sector, 21% for transportation, 11% residential, 8% commercial and institutional, and 2% is agriculture.

Secondary energy use accounts for the energy used by final consumers in the economy.

This includes the energy used to run vehicles; the energy used to heat and cool buildings; and the energy required to run machinery.

Canada’s secondary energy use in 2016 was 8,786 PJ

Total secondary energy use increased 9% from 2000 to 2016. Natural gas usage grew by almost 18% during the same time period.

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Canada’s secondary energy use in 2016 was 8,786 PJ. Natural gas accounts for 29% of total secondary energy use, followed by electricity at 20%, motor gasoline at 18%, oil at 15%, other oil products at 9%, biomass at 6%, and other fuel types such as coal and natural gas liquids at 3%.

Historical energy efficiency

Canada’s industrial, transportation, commercial and institutional sectors are large consumers of energy. One of the key benefits of efficiency improvements is that they slow the rate of growth in energy use and reduce GHG emissions.

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Secondary energy use grew by 26% between 1990 and 2016. Without energy efficiency improvements, energy use would have grown by 56%. Energy efficiency measures resulted in estimated savings of 2,090 PJ in 2016.

Total Energy use per unit of GDP

Per capita energy consumption was 9% lower in 2017 than in 2000. Canada used 20% less energy per dollar of GDP in 2017 than in 2000. This metric indicates how much energy was consumed for every dollar of economic activity generated.

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Per capita energy use in 2017 was 9% lower than in 2000. Canada used 20% less energy per dollar of GDP in 2017 than in 2000.

Residential energy use

Canadian households use energy every day – to power lights and appliances, heat or cool spaces, run personal vehicles, recharge electronics, and more.

• 80% of residential energy consumption is used for space and water heating
• Residential energy efficiency improved by 51% between 1990 and 2016, saving 721 PJ of energy and $15 billion in energy costs
• Residential energy use increased 2.4% since 1990, but would have increased by 53% without energy efficiency improvements

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Residential appliances energy use in Canada totalled 1,458 petajoules in 2016. 61% is attributable to space heating and 19% to water heating. Appliances accounted for 14%, lighting for 4%, and space cooling for 2%.

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Space heating energy use in Canada totalled 885 petajoules in 2016. 47% of that energy came from natural gas, 26% from electricity, 19% from wood, 6% from heating oil, and 2% from other sources.

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Water-heating energy use in Canada totalled 284 petajoules in 2016. 68% of that energy came from natural gas, 27% from electricity, 3% from heating oil, and 2% from wood.

While the energy intensity of sub-sectors has decreased since 1990 (apart from freight), their energy use has increased, especially in the industrial and transportation sub-sectors.

• Distributed generation and storage technologies – e.g. rooftop solar arrays, battery storage systems – will allow an increasing number of households to produce and use their own electricity. This will reduce household reliance on the grid.
• Electric passenger vehicles will gradually replace traditional passenger vehicles, reducing residential consumption of gasoline. The price of electricity will eventually supplant the price at the pump as the most salient energy price for household budgeting.
• Net-zero energy homes are homes that produce at least as much energy as they consume on an annual basis. Net-zero energy homes are technically feasible, but not yet scaleable or affordable for the average homebuyer. The costs are falling, however, and net-zero energy homes may eventually become common.

Commercial and institutional energy use

Commercial and institutional energy use increased 34% between 1990 and 2016, but would have increased 58% without energy efficiency improvements.

Between 1990 and 2016, energy intensity decreased 8% in the sector.

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In 2016, Canada’s commercial and institutional energy use totalled 997 petajoules. 55% of which was used for space heating, 14% for auxiliary equipment, 11% for lighting, 8% for water heating, 5% for auxiliary motors, 6% for space cooling, and 1% for street lighting.

Industrial sector energy use

The industrial sector includes all manufacturing, mining (including oil and gas extraction), forestry and construction activities. Industrial energy use increased 26% and would have increased 42% without the energy efficiency improvements made to the sector.

Since 1990, energy efficiency in the commercial and institutional sector has improved 16%, saving Canadians 426 PJ of energy and $4.9 billion in energy costs in 2016.

Energy intensity (MJ/$ of GDP) decreased 15%.

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Canada’s industrial sector energy use in 2016 was 3,414 PJ. Natural gas accounts for 39% of that energy use, electricity for 22%, still gas and petroleum coke for 13%, wood waste and pulping liquor for 11%, diesel fuel oil, light fuel oil and kerosene for 7%, and other fuel types for 8%.