Electricity generation in Canada

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Breakdown of electricity generation in Canada (2003)
Enlarge
Breakdown of electricity generation in Canada (2003)

Most electricity in Canada is generated by Hydroelectric,natural gas, coal and nuclear power, while biomass, solar energy, wind generators and fuel oil are used to a limited extent.

The electrical generating capacities of each province and territory in Canada are broken down below. Units when available are provided in megawatts (MW).

Contents

[edit] Alberta

Data is as of May, 2005 [1]:

  • Coal - 5,840 MW - 48.3%
  • Natural gas - 4,903 MW - 40.5%
  • Hydro - 900 MW - 7.4%
  • Wind - 270 MW - 2.2%
  • Biomass - 178 MW - 1.4%
  • Fuel Oil - 8 MW - 0.06%

Total: 12,099 MW

[edit] Manitoba

Manitoba Hydro is the crown corporation that generates most power in Manitoba.

Installed capacity:

  • Hydro - 4,947 MW (91%)
  • Natural Gas - 381 MW (7%)
  • Coal - 95 MW (2%)
  • Diesel - 4 MW

Total 5,427 MW

[edit] New Brunswick

Taken from NBPower WebSite

Generation

NB Power Generation supplies wholesale energy products in a competitive environment. It wholly-owns three subsidiaries: NB Power Coleson Cove Corporation, which owns and operates the Coleson Cove Generating Station; and NB Coal Limited, which mines coal to supply the Grand Lake Generating Station.

Electricity is generated at 14 hydro, coal, oil, diesel, nuclear and Orimulsion®, powered stations, with an installed net capacity of 3,313 MW comprised of 1,903 MW thermal, 884 MW hydro and 526 MW of combustion turbine capacity. With limited natural resources to generate electricity in the province, NB Power Generation has developed one of the most diverse generating systems in North America. Units have performed well against availability and reliability targets, which are essential to meeting operational and financial objectives. The 458 MW base load unit at Belledune was recently recognized by an industry benchmarking group as the one of the most economic coal-fired generators in North America.

Capitalizing on geographic location and regional weather diversity, the generating system was designed to meet winter peaks and benefit from non-winter sales to neighbouring jurisdictions.

[edit] Ontario

[edit] History

In the 1990s at the Pickering A nuclear station 2 reactors were taken out of service - are not worth repairing; it was expected that they would last at least 30 years. They did supply at least 1000 MW.

The Darlington nuclear plant was completed in 1993, $32 billion over budget.

One of the Ontario government's election promises was to close down by 2007 all of the coal-fired generating stations because of their air pollution, but this has been delayed pending their replacement. Most of the air pollution in Ontario comes from plants in the USA.

[edit] As on August, 2005:

Ontario Power Generation (OPG): Ontario Power Authority (OPA):

Scheduled to supply by December 2005 an integrated plan for long-term electricity supply. Previously a similar massive 4-volume report "Balance of Power" was published in 1989 by the then Ontario Hydro, covering the estimated requirements until 2014, but because of the recession in the early 1990s, and the consequent unforeseen reduction of electricity demand, the recommendations of that report were not implemented. I am looking at page A9 of the April 16, 1990 issue of THE GLOBE AND MAIL. Public Information Centres were set up under the Environmental Assessment Act, 1980, and a graph shows the expected gap between the available electricity power [in Gigawatts (GW)] up to 2014, and the expected electricity demand, if no new, additional and replacement sources of electricity would be made available.

..... A letter (enclosed with the 4-volume set?) by Chris Taylor of the Public Relations Division, dated February, 1990, mentions a public feedback program during the first six months of 1990.

[edit] As on February, 2006:

The government of Ontario provided households with a small booklet "Our Energy, Our Future. It's Time To Talk About Our Electricity Future" and requested comments from the public. See the website http://www.energy.gov.on.ca/index.cfm?fuseaction=english.energyfuture

Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO):

Maximum demand so far, on July 13, 2005, was 26100 MW. About 3000 MW had to be purchased from outside Ontario because at that time about 2500 MW of potential generation from Ontario plants was not available because of repairs, maintenance, etc.

[edit] Québec

Data is as of 2002[2]:

  • Hydro - 96.7%
  • Nuclear - 2.3%
  • Oil - 0.5%
  • Biomass - 0.3%
  • Natural gas - 0.2%
  • Wind - 0.1%

[edit] Newfoundland and Labrador

Newfoundland and Labrador Hydro is a major generator of electric power, by hydroelectric and fossil fuel sources. The largest source of generation is from the Churchill Falls hydroelectric station in Labrador. However under the terms of the Upper Churchill Falls contract in 1969, the lion's share of revenue goes to Hydro Quebec which purchases the electricity at extremely low rates for 65 years.

Installed Capacity (2005):

  • Hydro - 6367 MW (87%)
  • Oil - 490 MW (7%)
  • Gas Turbine - 150 MW (2%)
  • Diesel - 56 MW (<1%)

Total: 7288 MW

[edit] Saskatchewan

SaskPower is the crown corporation that generates most power in Saskatchewan. A mix of power sources are used including coal, natural gas, hydro and wind.

Installed Capacity (May 2006):

  • Coal - 1654 MW (48%)
  • Hydro - 851.8 MW (25%)
  • Natural Gas - 767 MW (22%)
  • Wind - 172 MW (5%)

Total: 3444.8 MW

[edit] Yukon

Yukon Energy Corporation is the crown corporation that generates most in the Yukon. A mix of power sources are used including hydro, wind and diesel generators. The Yukon has two separate grids neither connected to the continental power grid.

  • Hydro - 75 MW (99%)
  • Wind Power 0.81 MW (1%)
  • Diesel - emergency backup

Total 75.81 MW

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ Alberta Energy - Electricty Generation
  2. ^ Government of Quebec - Energy Strategy

[edit] External links

Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org../../../e/l/e/Electricity_generation_in_Canada_2b98.html"