Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
Table 8.1
CANADA'S ELECTRICITY MIX 2011
(in Terawatt Hours)
2011
% of Total
Hydro
372.78
62.9
Nuclear
90.03
15.2
Conventional steam (coal)
95.65
16.1
Internal combustion
1.12
0.2
Combustion turbine (oil, NG)
25.10
4.2
Tidal
0.03
0.0
Wind
7.56
1.3
Solar
0.05
0.0
TOTALS
592.32
100.0
Source
: Canadian Centre for Energy Information.
high aggregate consumption levels and comparatively heavy reliance on fos-
sil fuel-ired power in provinces that are not well-endowed with hydropower
resources. As of 2010, Canada had 269 fossil fuel thermal generation plants
including 10 coal-ired power plants, 114 natural gas-ired plants, and 136
oil-ired plants.
25
With over 20% contribution from fossil fuels, the electricity sector is a
candidate for reform within Canada's climate change mitigation strategy.
Under the Copenhagen Accord, Canada committed to reducing GHG emis-
sions to 17% below 2005 levels by 2020 (3% above 1990 levels). he govern-
ment has also announced a domestic goal of reducing GHG emissions to 60
to 70% below 2006 levels by 2050. As of 2009, GHG emissions had fallen
to 690 million tonnes of CO
2
equivalent. his represents a 6% decrease
from 2005 levels.
26
However, for Canada to meet its 2020 and 2050 targets,
emissions will have to be reduced considerably amidst economic expansion,
which will increase energy demand by an average of 0.7% per year between
2008 and 2035.
27
In 2009, electricity generation accounted for 14.2% of all
GHG emissions. A further 9.3% of all GHG emissions for 2009 came from
fossil fuel production activities.
28
herefore, if Canada is to achieve its lofty
2050 GHG emission reduction, goal, oil, and coal-ired electricity generation
represent obvious candidates for reduction. Promisingly, Ontario, which is
responsible for 23.9% of Canadian GHG emissions, has recently declared an
intention to phase-out all coal-ired power plants by 2014.
29
In order to understand why Canada's uses so much fossil fuel for electric-
ity generation, one must irst understand the essence of Canada's constitu-
tion. Constitutionally, sovereignty over electricity generation and natural
