The Optimization of Energy Systems under Changing Policies of Greenhouse-gas Emission Control—A Study for the Province of Saskatchewan, Canada

Since most of the increased greenhouse gas emissions can be attributed to activities associated with production and consumption of energy, reducing greenhouse gas emission will inevitably affect the energy industry significantly. In this study, policy cases for reflecting greenhouse gas-emission reduction and energy development in the Province of Saskatchewan, Canada are investigated. The impacts of the Kyoto target on Saskatchewan's energy system are analyzed; the least-cost strategies for dealing with greenhouse gas-emission reduction in a long-term horizon are developed. The modeling results suggested that the developed model was capable of supporting in-depth analyses for energy-related activities in response to the greenhouse gas-emission reduction target and could provide effective support for the formulation of the Province's energy polices (utilization of renewable and nuclear power) and strategies in dealing with climate change issues.