Hydroelectricity in Canada

From Infogalactic: the planetary knowledge core
Jump to: navigation, search

Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.

Canada is the world's second largest producer of hydroelectricity after China which is more than double Canada's level. [1] and one of few countries to generate the majority of its electricity from hydroelectricity (59% in 2006). In 2011, Canada consumed the equivalent of 85.2 megatonnes of oil of hydroelectricity, 10.8% of all the hydroelectricity generated in the world.[2] Some provinces and territories, such as British Columbia, Manitoba, Newfoundland and Labrador, Quebec and Yukon produce over 90% of their electricity in this manner. All of the dams with large reservoirs were completed before 1990, since then most development has been run-of-the-river both large and small. Natural Resources Canada calculates the current installed small hydro capacity is 3,400 MW, with an estimated potential of 15,000 MW.[3]

British Columbia

90% of BC Hydro's generation is produced by hydroelectric means. Wind and wave power are being investigated and natural gas and thermal power round out the generation portfolio.[4]

Over 80% of BC Hydro's installed in generating capacity is at hydroelectric installations in the Peace and Columbia river basins. The GM Shrum and Peace Canyon generating stations on the Peace River produced 29% of BC Hydro's electricity requirements. In the Columbia River Basin, Mica and Revelstoke hydroelectric plants together contributed 25%, while Kootenay Canal and Seven Mile generating stations together supplied 10%.[4]

The remaining 25 hydroelectric generating stations supplied 14% of electricity production. BC Hydro also operates thermal power plants. The Burrard Thermal Generating Station contributes 7.5% and the remaining 14.5% of the electricity requirement was supplied by purchases and other transactions.[4]

Bc Hydro's last dam was completed in 1984, since then run-of-the-river projects with private partners have been built. As of 2012 there were approximately 40 small hydro sites generating 750 MW. [5]

Manitoba Hydro

As of March 31, 2013, Manitoba Hydro serves a peak Manitoba electrical load of more than 4500 megawatts. Electrical supply to Manitoba customers was 21.5 terawatt-hours in fiscal 2013, with total revenue due to electricity of $1.733 billion CAD. Extraprovincial sales were at 9.1 terawatthours, with normal water flows. The company also delivered 2.05 billion cubic metres of natural gas in 2013, which contributed $573 million CAD to revenues.[22]

Newfoundland and Labrador

Newfoundland and Labrador Hydro's installed generating capacity, 7289 megawatts (MW), is the fourth largest of all utility companies in Canada.

Ontario Hydro

Ontario Hydro Has hydroelectric, coal-fired generation and nuclear-powered facilities.

Quebec

Hydro-Québec's extensive network of 61 hydroelectric dams have a combined capacity of 36,068 megawatts,[6] accounting for nearly half of the Canadian total. Hydropower accounts for 95.73%[7] of the supply sold by the Quebec state-owned utility. Five of Hydro-Québec's hydroelectric facilities are rated above 2,000 MW — the Manic-5, La Grande-4, La Grande-3 La Grande-2-A and Robert-Bourassa stations — while 7 others have a capacity of over 1,000 megawatts.[6]

Gallery

  • The Robert-Bourassa (LG-2) spillway, on Quebec's La Grande River.

  • Centrale RB Intérieur.jpg

    Inside the Robert-Bourassa generating station powerhouse, the largest in North America with an installed capacity of 5,616 MW.

  • The Daniel-Johnson Dam, on Quebec's Manicouagan River (1968)

  • Centrale du Rocher-de-Grand-Mère.jpg

    The 230-MW Rocher-de-Grand-Mère station, on Quebec's Saint-Maurice River (2004)

  • HQ - Centrale de Rapide-Blanc 2.jpg

    The 204-MW Rapide-Blanc generating station, on Quebec's Saint-Maurice River (1934)

  • ArrowLakesPic.JPG

    A hydroelectric dam on the Arrow Lakes in British Columbia.

See also

References

<templatestyles src="Reflist/styles.css" />

Cite error: Invalid <references> tag; parameter "group" is allowed only.

Use <references />, or <references group="..." />

Further reading

  • Desbiens, Caroline. Power from the North: Territory, Identity, and the Culture of Hydroelectricity in Quebec (2014)
  • Froschauer, Karl. White gold: Hydroelectric Power in Canada. (Vancouver: UBC Press, 1999) excerpt and text search
    Retrieved from "https://infogalactic.com/w/index.php?title=Hydroelectricity_in_Canada&oldid=4940857"