Pathways Explorer

On July 5, 2023, the Institut de l’énergie Trottier (IET) at Polytechnique Montréal launched the Pathways Explorer, a new interactive online dashboard for net-zero scenarios visualization.

The tool represents an innovative resource that, by easing comparison of possible transformation pathways towards carbon neutrality, can help inform decision making and policy development. Powered by over a hundred scenarios, the platform is aimed at both decision-makers and individuals interested in climate and energy issues. The project was designed and led by IET, with modelling by ESMIA Consultants and data visualization by Kashika Studio. It was partly funded by the Government of Canada.

The results presented come from NATEM, a techno-economic optimization model of the energy system that is technology explicit. Operating at the provincial and territorial level across Canada, it optimizes the overall cost of transforming the energy system based on imposed constraints.

In addition to the results visualization interface, the Pathways Explorer integrates expert analyses produced by IET, guiding users through the wealth of information available.