The world’s nations are concerned about the potential end of fossil fuels and the effect this would have on their energy infrastructures. Equally of concern is the economy, both the global economy and the economies of the individual nations. There is broad agreement amongst them that these two concerns - green energy and economy - are intertwined. Amongst the nations looking for solutions is Canada.

In 2008 more money was invested in renewable energy, worldwide, than the total investment in nuclear, coal and natural gas electricity. 148 billion US dollars were invested in green energy projects across the world. This investment trend continues today and it stands to reason then that nations who develop green energy will be in the market for this capital. Canada will need to look to its available resources and needs if it wishes to maintain its strong position in the emerging global market, as most developed nations, especially Canada’s neighbors, are working to attract this money for themselves.

For example, in the United States recent legislation outspends the Canadian Federal budget by fourteen times toward renewable energy.

As well as the ailing economy, the worsening environment is impetus to develop economies sustained by natural energy. Carbon emissions must be reduced in order to combat climate change and according to the International Energy Agency the nations comprising the major Economies Forum, one of whom is Canada, will have to spend 3 to 6 times as much every year than they are now if the goal of reducing 2005 levels of carbon emission to 50% of what they were by the year 2050.

Canada has stated that it favors research into the capture and storage of carbon emissions. The government also claims to be investing heavily into the necessary Research and Development toward that end. However, in comparison, the United States and Australia, both of whom have an ambivalent attitude toward the reality of global warming, still spend hundreds of millions of dollars more yearly than Canada.

If Canada wishes to enter fully into the renewable energy economy, it already has a strong base from which to develop this capacity. Hydroelectric dams already produce most of Canada’s electricity. Quebec, Manitoba, Labrador, and Yukon produce over 90% of their electricity this way.

It is noted that Ontario, Quebec and the Prairies have strong potential for solar energy. Right now, little of Canada’s energy comes from solar power. However, there are solar-powered systems across the country set up for non-electric space and water heaters. By 2025, government studies demonstrate five percent of Canadian energy requirements will be filled by solar power.

Many areas of Canada are hard to reach and/or sparsely populated. Thus, they do not have easy access to the nation’s energy grid. Here solar power is already put to use through photovoltaic cells. PV cells, when exposed to light, use semiconductor materials to generate directly electric power. In the northern provinces and territory, they have are used as standalone units to distribute electricity, particularly for remote homes, telecommunications equipment and navigational devices. Because they replace the costly diesel fuel systems that used to provide this energy, they also benefit the economy of these areas.

Canada is beginning to increase its reliance on wind power. There are already ninety-nine wind farms generating a little over one percent of Canadian electricity. According to the Canadian Wind Energy Association, the building of new wind farms could allow the country to reach 55,000 MW by 2025. That is twenty percent of Canada’s energy requirements.

Ontario is a demonstrative case of how new energy initiatives in Canada can enhance the economy. They recently passed the Green Energy and Green Economy Act of 2009. One of the provisions of the act is to offer low- or no-interest loans to homeowners in order to pay for the cost of using renewable alternative energy generators and to make their homes more energy efficient.

In British Columbia, GLOBE Foundation of Canada estimates the province’s recent turn to a green economy could be worth over 27 billion dollars by 2020. It is already responsible for 117,000 full time jobs and over 15 billion dollars of provincial GDP.

However the debate in government and amongst citizens goes, it is clear that Canada has plenty natural energy, has proven skilled at creating energy systems that harvest it and in some provinces has already shown economic growth as a result of developments in green alternative energy and economy.

Solar Power devices, green energy sources like the field of science is around every day. The children learn with fun optical equipment, telescopes and science lab equipment.

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