Energy Briefs

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The Institute for Integrated Energy Systems (IESVic) works on strategic clean technologies, electrification and system integration, built environment, energy-economy-policy modeling, and integrated planning for water-energy-land systems. IESVic provides leadership at the University of Victoria in the study of critical energy issues, human dimensions of energy, education and training, and works closely with industry, not-for-profits, and government.

The IESVic Energy Briefs Series shares research and practice on the development of sustainable energy systems that are reliable, cost-effective and socially acceptable.

Charting Space Heating Futures: Toward a Blend of Electrification and Renewable Gas

• Full electrification of residential space heating by 2050 substantially increases electrical grid capacity requirements • Hybrid heating systems that switch from electric to gas heat during cold weather events reduce peak electricity demand • Hybrid heating systems using renewable gas avoid grid infrastructure expansion while meeting emissions limits

Communicating Net-Zero Climate Policy via an Interactive Visualization Dashboard

• Energy models are important tools for decision making, but the communication gap between stakeholders and energy modelers limits their potential value • A visualization dashboard has been developed to address this gap and facilitate dialogue • Expansions and applications for the dashboard have been uncovered from stakeholder feedback, widening the impact and user range of the dashboard

Assessing the impact of hybrid heating systems in combination with off-peak EV charging on grid capacity requirements

• Future capacity requirements are driven by electrification of heating and road transportation. • Hybrid heating systems switching from electric to gas heating operations during cold weather events reduce electricity demand for residential space heating. • Electric vehicle charging control can significantly limit capacity requirements of the electricity grid.

Electrification of medium- and heavy-duty road transportation increases grid flexibility requirements

• Electrification of end-uses changes the shape of electricity demand. • Shape of electricity demand drives electric grid infrastructure needs. • Future ramping rates are driven by electrification of medium- and heavy-duty commercial vehicles. • Electric vehicle charging control can limit capacity and flexibility requirements of the grid.

Big government, big trouble? The role of government size in climate policy support

• Size of government is studied as a new country-level contextual factor determining citizen support for climate policy • Larger size-of-government is associated with lower climate policy support • GDP-per-capita and emissions are positively associated with policy support • High-tax countries have an aversion to environmental tax increases

Residential demand response program modelling to compliment grid composition and changes in energy efficiency

• Grid composition plays a significant role in residential DR program effectiveness • Amount of VRE resources on grid impacts how DR potential is utilized • DR program effectiveness may increase with improved building stock efficiency

Barriers and enablers to the adoption of buildings and energy efficiency initiatives in Greater Victoria

• Focus group participants identify funding from provincial and federal governments as adequate and as enabling alongside staffing interactions • Staffing resources, the legislative, regulatory and political environment alongside governance and information and data management were identified as both barriers and enables • Political will and information exchange enable existing climate action, but municipalities lack of autonomy over the most effective policy instruments