Canada seeks input on clean electricity, net-zero grid

Source: Kevin Clark · POWER ENGINEERING · | March 17, 2022

Source: Pixabay

The Canadian government launched consultations to develop a Clean Electricity Standard, aimed at meeting the country’s goal of a net-zero electric grid by 2035.

Canada’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced the 2035 target for net-zero electricity at the COP26 summit. The target was 15 years earlier than the country’s original goal from December 2020.

In developing the Clean Electricity Standard, Canada said it would work with provinces and territories to consider possible clean power opportunities, as well as potential cost and reliability issues for ratepayers and utilities.

Canada already has one of the cleaner grids in the world, with 82% of electricity used coming from non-CO2 emitting sources. The country has a larger emissions reduction target of 40-45% below 2005 levels by 2030 and net-zero emissions by 2050.

Those interested are invited to submit comments on the Clean Electricity Standard discussion paper by April 15.

Coal phase out

In 2016 the country announced a plan to phase out coal by 2030. At the time, coal-generated power represented nearly 10% of greenhouse-gas emissions coming from four provinces — Alberta, Saskatchewan, Nova Scotia and New Brunswick.

In 2020 we reported power producer Maxim Power worked with GE and other companies in a transition from coal-fired to natural gas-fired generation at its Milner II plant. The 204 MW facility began generating gas-fired power into the Alberta grid. Maxim Power said the shift from coal-fired power cut carbon emissions by 50%.