Advancing a New Generation of Sustainability-Based Assessments for Electrical Energy Systems: Ontario as an Illustrative Application—A Review

Negative social and ecological trends are putting essential life-support systems at risk. Necessary responses include sustainability transformations in diverse sectors to enhance the planetary capacity to deliver more positive effects to all. Sustainability-based assessment frameworks are tools to g...

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Main Authors: F. Ignacio Aguilar, Robert B. Gibson
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2023-08-01
Series:Energies
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/16/17/6285
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author F. Ignacio Aguilar
Robert B. Gibson
author_facet F. Ignacio Aguilar
Robert B. Gibson
author_sort F. Ignacio Aguilar
collection DOAJ
description Negative social and ecological trends are putting essential life-support systems at risk. Necessary responses include sustainability transformations in diverse sectors to enhance the planetary capacity to deliver more positive effects to all. Sustainability-based assessment frameworks are tools to guide the evaluation of initiatives in different human sectors and promote decisions that enhance overall social and ecological well-being. However, advancing sustainability remains difficult, in part because it must be pursued in a world of complex interactions and must respect the specifics of each case and context. This paper reports the process of building a sustainability-based assessment framework for electrical energy systems carried out by Aguilar. This work further specified the framework for electrical energy systems for application in the case and context of the electrical energy system in the Canadian province of Ontario. The illustrative application revealed that Ontario’s electrical energy system has made some progress towards contributions to sustainability but requires improved efforts to be on a path to adequate transformation. The research found that the sustainability-based assessment framework for electrical energy systems is promising and well-suited for further application to particular electricity-related initiatives. However, more applications are needed to further test the utility of the framework and refine the proposed criteria.
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spelling doaj.art-3f95d1b399294f1e96f67b3aeca492a72023-11-19T08:05:48ZengMDPI AGEnergies1996-10732023-08-011617628510.3390/en16176285Advancing a New Generation of Sustainability-Based Assessments for Electrical Energy Systems: Ontario as an Illustrative Application—A ReviewF. Ignacio Aguilar0Robert B. Gibson1School of Environment, Resources and Sustainability, University of Waterloo, 200 University Avenue West, Waterloo, ON N2L3G1, CanadaSchool of Environment, Resources and Sustainability, University of Waterloo, 200 University Avenue West, Waterloo, ON N2L3G1, CanadaNegative social and ecological trends are putting essential life-support systems at risk. Necessary responses include sustainability transformations in diverse sectors to enhance the planetary capacity to deliver more positive effects to all. Sustainability-based assessment frameworks are tools to guide the evaluation of initiatives in different human sectors and promote decisions that enhance overall social and ecological well-being. However, advancing sustainability remains difficult, in part because it must be pursued in a world of complex interactions and must respect the specifics of each case and context. This paper reports the process of building a sustainability-based assessment framework for electrical energy systems carried out by Aguilar. This work further specified the framework for electrical energy systems for application in the case and context of the electrical energy system in the Canadian province of Ontario. The illustrative application revealed that Ontario’s electrical energy system has made some progress towards contributions to sustainability but requires improved efforts to be on a path to adequate transformation. The research found that the sustainability-based assessment framework for electrical energy systems is promising and well-suited for further application to particular electricity-related initiatives. However, more applications are needed to further test the utility of the framework and refine the proposed criteria.https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/16/17/6285sustainability assessmentsustainability transformationselectrical energy systems
spellingShingle F. Ignacio Aguilar
Robert B. Gibson
Advancing a New Generation of Sustainability-Based Assessments for Electrical Energy Systems: Ontario as an Illustrative Application—A Review
Energies
sustainability assessment
sustainability transformations
electrical energy systems
title Advancing a New Generation of Sustainability-Based Assessments for Electrical Energy Systems: Ontario as an Illustrative Application—A Review
title_full Advancing a New Generation of Sustainability-Based Assessments for Electrical Energy Systems: Ontario as an Illustrative Application—A Review
title_fullStr Advancing a New Generation of Sustainability-Based Assessments for Electrical Energy Systems: Ontario as an Illustrative Application—A Review
title_full_unstemmed Advancing a New Generation of Sustainability-Based Assessments for Electrical Energy Systems: Ontario as an Illustrative Application—A Review
title_short Advancing a New Generation of Sustainability-Based Assessments for Electrical Energy Systems: Ontario as an Illustrative Application—A Review
title_sort advancing a new generation of sustainability based assessments for electrical energy systems ontario as an illustrative application a review
topic sustainability assessment
sustainability transformations
electrical energy systems
url https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/16/17/6285
work_keys_str_mv AT fignacioaguilar advancinganewgenerationofsustainabilitybasedassessmentsforelectricalenergysystemsontarioasanillustrativeapplicationareview
AT robertbgibson advancinganewgenerationofsustainabilitybasedassessmentsforelectricalenergysystemsontarioasanillustrativeapplicationareview