Methodology

Setting the scope
Identifying main data sources

Setting the scope

List of GHG technologies

GHG technologies are defined as systems, equipment or processes that reduce or prevent the release of greenhouse gases in the earth’s atmosphere – carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, chlorofluorocarbons, hydrofluorocarbons, perfluorocarbons and sulphur hexafluoride. The list below highlights the GHG technologies covered in two environmental surveys, the Survey of Environmental Protection Expenditures and the Environment Industry Survey.

The Survey of Environmental Protection Expenditures collected information on the use or adoption of one or more of the following systems or equipment related to reducing GHG emissions:

1. Cogeneration

2. Small, mini and micro-hydroelectricity

3. Solar energy

4. Wind energy

5. Waste-to-energy

6. Other renewable energy

7. Alternative fuel technology

8. Fuel substitution

9. Other systems, equipment or employee training that improved energy efficiency

The Environment Industry Survey collected information on the revenues earned from the production, sales or marketing of one or more of the following GHG technologies:

1. Solar energy

2. Waste-to-energy

3. Wind energy

4. Small, mini and micro hydroelectricity

5. Fuel cells (transportation and stationary)

6. Alternative fuel technologies (other than fuel cells)

7. Cogeneration

8. Methane capture or use from landfill sites or agricultural sources

9. Clean technologies and related components

10. Other renewable energy (wave, tidal, ocean thermal energy conversion)

11. Other systems or equipment for energy conservation and efficiency

Source: Statistics Canada, Environment Accounts and Statistics Division, Survey of Environmental Protection Expenditures and Environment Industry Survey, Ottawa.

Identifying main data sources

Information on two environmental surveys

Survey of Environmental Protection Expenditures

The Survey of Environmental Protection Expenditures provides a measure of expenditures made by industry for environmental protection in Canada in response to Canadian and international environmental regulations, conventions and voluntary agreements. The survey also aims to identify environmental management practices and technologies used in Canadian industry for the purpose of preventing or abating pollution. For the 2002 survey cycle, the SEPE collected the following information related to GHG technologies:

• Adoption or use of systems or equipment to reduce GHG emissions;

• Amount of operating, capital and total expenditures on GHG technologies;

• Proportion of capital machinery and equipment expenditures on GHG technologies that was manufactured in Canada;

• Innovation activities, i.e., adoption of new or significantly improved systems or equipment that reduced GHG emissions and the overall impact of these innovative GHG technologies on GHG emissions;

• Obstacles and drivers to the adoption of innovative GHG technologies;

• Use of systems or equipment to reduce fugitive or vented GHG emissions; and

• Use of systems or equipment to reduce GHG emissions from electricity generation

Environment Industry Survey

The Environment Industry Survey collects data on the revenues earned by Canadian businesses from the production of environmental goods, the provision of environmental services and the undertaking of environment-related construction activities. In addition, the survey collects data on exports of environmental goods and services. During the 2002 survey cycle, the EIS collected the following information on GHG technologies:

• Revenues realised from the production, sales or marketing of GHG technologies;

• Environmental export revenues from GHG technologies;
  Research and development (R&D) activities of firms related to GHG technologies (type of R&D activities and sources of R&D funding);

• Innovation activities of firms related to GHG technologies (product innovation, process innovation);

• Information on unsuccessful or incomplete projects to develop or introduce new or significantly improved goods and/or services to reduce GHG emissions; and

• Problems and obstacles to the provision of goods and services to reduce GHG emissions.

Exclusions and data limitations

Information on the following systems or equipment to reduce GHG emissions were not collected through the SEPE and EIS:

• Large-scale hydroelectricity

• Nuclear energy/power

• Energy efficient building technologies and retrofits for residential buildings and institutional buildings

• Intelligent transport systems, mass transit systems and advanced vehicles

• Alternative fuels (for example: reformulated and oxygenated fuels) bought and sold at the pump

• Adaptation technologies

Source: Statistics Canada, Environment Accounts and Statistics Division, Survey of Environmental Protection Expenditures and Environment Industry Survey, Ottawa.