A transition to an energy system that capitalizes on Canada's renewable energy potential is the safe, resilient, and secure way forward. The returns on investment of a continued adherence to a hydrocarbon fuel system are diminishing and the benefits to the Canadian economy are overstated. New investments in old technologies, even under the presumption that such infrastructure can support emerging hydrogen technology, is not prudent. Investment in circular fuel technology is needed. Circular fuels, produced using renewable power and their own by-product as a feedstock, address the key bottleneck in the development of renewable power: intermittency and distribution. Using electricity to produce fuels, such as aluminum and iron, provides a mechanism whereby clean energy can be strategically stockpiled and/or distributed around the world, enabling Canada to establish itself as a leader in the global trade of renewable power.
Yousefzadeh et al. (2026) studied this question.