The purpose of this study is to evaluate proposed energy sources as potential alternatives that can be integrated within the oil sands operations. The study addresses renewable and non-renewable energy systems for power generation as well as the oil sands industry situation, and its energy requirements based on consumption of natural gas required in fundamental steps of the oil sands recovering and upgrading activities. This study provides an assessment of environmental, economic and social aspects generated from the oil sands operations perspective. The study’s recommended energy systems are solar thermal, wind, geothermal and nuclear power as alternative energy systems. Their assessment covered technology and energy aspects, economic feasibility and environmental aspects based on current literature available. Despite the favourable technological and environmental assessments confirming the high potential of incorporating these technologies within in the oil sands activities, the economic analysis of these four energy systems demonstrated that they are reliant on natural gas prices reaching a minimum price point before they can be considered economically feasible. The benefits offered by all four sources include reduced GHG emissions which is a major incentive especially if a significant carbon penalty is introduced. Given the international attention on the oil sands operations and its environmental issues, further study into alternative sources as a method of reducing GHG emissions is highly recommended.