Contribute to the Future Supply Plan
In 2022, we started talking to Saskatchewan people about how the province is powered. That’s because our power system is changing, and we’re in the process of updating our Long-Term Supply Plan.
In Stages 1 and 2 of the process we asked people about their values, priorities and about the power supply options they preferred. And then we used this information to develop scenarios that show what our power system could look like in the future. In Stage 3 we asked for thoughts about four scenarios that define possible pathways to net zero.
Stage 4
Our Long-Term Supply Plan is a roadmap. It provides direction for decision-makers to ensure we can continue to provide reliable, sustainable and cost-effective power to 2050. But before we can finalize the 2024 plan, we want to know if you think we’re on the right track.
The heart of the Long-Term Supply Plan is in the lessons we learned and our recommendations for the future. We created these using:
- Public input from surveys, workshops and other engagement activities
- Technical findings and assessments from our internal supply planning process
Find the lessons and recommendations in our Long-Term Supply Plan: Draft Summary.
Our public survey and workshops have concluded. Thank you to everyone who participated!
In 2022, we started talking to Saskatchewan people about how the province is powered. That’s because our power system is changing, and we’re in the process of updating our Long-Term Supply Plan.
In Stages 1 and 2 of the process we asked people about their values, priorities and about the power supply options they preferred. And then we used this information to develop scenarios that show what our power system could look like in the future. In Stage 3 we asked for thoughts about four scenarios that define possible pathways to net zero.
Stage 4
Our Long-Term Supply Plan is a roadmap. It provides direction for decision-makers to ensure we can continue to provide reliable, sustainable and cost-effective power to 2050. But before we can finalize the 2024 plan, we want to know if you think we’re on the right track.
The heart of the Long-Term Supply Plan is in the lessons we learned and our recommendations for the future. We created these using:
- Public input from surveys, workshops and other engagement activities
- Technical findings and assessments from our internal supply planning process
Find the lessons and recommendations in our Long-Term Supply Plan: Draft Summary.
Our public survey and workshops have concluded. Thank you to everyone who participated!
Ask a Question
The power industry is changing like never before. Advancements and new technologies emerge every day — impacting how our power system will look in the future. If it seems like a lot to keep up with, it is!
We’re looking into these technologies to see if they’re the right fit for our province.
Ask us a question below, we'd love to hear from you!
Comments and questions that are disrespectful will be removed.
For a quicker response, please submit your questions individually.
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Share Will SaskPower look into creating a Solar grant for rooftop systems as an alternative for solar farms. In my opinion this option would be a much more viable option for a multitude of reasons; - Saves SaskPower maintenance as you don't have to pay to service your arrays. - This would create in province/local jobs for smaller companies with helps our Saskatchewan economy by keeping the funds within the province rather than paying a large corporation to install a large system. - Saves stress on the power grid- lessoning the power load on the grid by not needing to carry large amount of power from a large facility to a nearby city. The smaller systems benefit the homeowners as well as their neighbors- the power generated doesn't require expensive transfer stations. - Utilizes no little to no land as the arrays would predominantly be on rooftops and occasionally a small section of a yard whereas the Solar farms takes up nearly an entire quarter of usable land that could be used either for grain farming or ranch land which are both in need of more resources. on Facebook Share Will SaskPower look into creating a Solar grant for rooftop systems as an alternative for solar farms. In my opinion this option would be a much more viable option for a multitude of reasons; - Saves SaskPower maintenance as you don't have to pay to service your arrays. - This would create in province/local jobs for smaller companies with helps our Saskatchewan economy by keeping the funds within the province rather than paying a large corporation to install a large system. - Saves stress on the power grid- lessoning the power load on the grid by not needing to carry large amount of power from a large facility to a nearby city. The smaller systems benefit the homeowners as well as their neighbors- the power generated doesn't require expensive transfer stations. - Utilizes no little to no land as the arrays would predominantly be on rooftops and occasionally a small section of a yard whereas the Solar farms takes up nearly an entire quarter of usable land that could be used either for grain farming or ranch land which are both in need of more resources. on Twitter Share Will SaskPower look into creating a Solar grant for rooftop systems as an alternative for solar farms. In my opinion this option would be a much more viable option for a multitude of reasons; - Saves SaskPower maintenance as you don't have to pay to service your arrays. - This would create in province/local jobs for smaller companies with helps our Saskatchewan economy by keeping the funds within the province rather than paying a large corporation to install a large system. - Saves stress on the power grid- lessoning the power load on the grid by not needing to carry large amount of power from a large facility to a nearby city. The smaller systems benefit the homeowners as well as their neighbors- the power generated doesn't require expensive transfer stations. - Utilizes no little to no land as the arrays would predominantly be on rooftops and occasionally a small section of a yard whereas the Solar farms takes up nearly an entire quarter of usable land that could be used either for grain farming or ranch land which are both in need of more resources. on Linkedin Email Will SaskPower look into creating a Solar grant for rooftop systems as an alternative for solar farms. In my opinion this option would be a much more viable option for a multitude of reasons; - Saves SaskPower maintenance as you don't have to pay to service your arrays. - This would create in province/local jobs for smaller companies with helps our Saskatchewan economy by keeping the funds within the province rather than paying a large corporation to install a large system. - Saves stress on the power grid- lessoning the power load on the grid by not needing to carry large amount of power from a large facility to a nearby city. The smaller systems benefit the homeowners as well as their neighbors- the power generated doesn't require expensive transfer stations. - Utilizes no little to no land as the arrays would predominantly be on rooftops and occasionally a small section of a yard whereas the Solar farms takes up nearly an entire quarter of usable land that could be used either for grain farming or ranch land which are both in need of more resources. link
Will SaskPower look into creating a Solar grant for rooftop systems as an alternative for solar farms. In my opinion this option would be a much more viable option for a multitude of reasons; - Saves SaskPower maintenance as you don't have to pay to service your arrays. - This would create in province/local jobs for smaller companies with helps our Saskatchewan economy by keeping the funds within the province rather than paying a large corporation to install a large system. - Saves stress on the power grid- lessoning the power load on the grid by not needing to carry large amount of power from a large facility to a nearby city. The smaller systems benefit the homeowners as well as their neighbors- the power generated doesn't require expensive transfer stations. - Utilizes no little to no land as the arrays would predominantly be on rooftops and occasionally a small section of a yard whereas the Solar farms takes up nearly an entire quarter of usable land that could be used either for grain farming or ranch land which are both in need of more resources.
HL asked 3 months agoThanks for engaging with us! Your question touches on elements of a decentralized vs centralized power system which we know is a growing area of interest during the energy transition and one we’re considering as we plan for the future.
To answer your first question, our current Net Metering program no longer includes installation rebates or grants and we aren’t looking at re-introducing any. That’s because residential solar photovoltaic systems have become readily available in the Saskatchewan market and their prices are now significantly lower than when such rebates were first introduced. Our Net Metering program is designed for customers who are interested in offsetting their own power use to help lower their monthly bill. The program successfully delivers on that goal with an average of 400 new program applicants each year.
When it comes to achieving our GHG emissions reduction targets, we don’t depend on rooftop solar because there are more cost-effective and efficient technologies to reduce GHG emissions – such as utility-scale renewables. We’re currently in the competitive process to build 400 MW of wind power and 200 MW of solar power in south central Saskatchewan. That’s on top of a competition that recently closed for a 100-MW solar facility near Estevan, which will be the largest solar facility in Saskatchewan to date. These competitions have shown again that utility-scale wind and solar facilities are more economical than roof top solar and help keep power rates cost-effective. It’s also worth noting that these new facilities are built by Independent Power Producers (IPPs) through Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) so the IPPS are responsible for building, maintaining and operating the wind and solar facilities, not SaskPower.
There’s no one supply option that can meet all of Saskatchewan’s power needs, that includes solar power. So even though Saskatchewan does have tremendous solar potential, the profile for solar here doesn’t align with how Saskatchewan customers use electricity. Unlike most American utilities and many in Canada, Saskatchewan is a winter peaking utility. That means that the demand for electricity is greatest in the winter between 6-9 p.m. and SaskPower must serve that demand in real time. During that period of peak demand, the sun has set, and customers aren’t able to rely on any solar generating systems for power. For net metering customers (and everyone else), that means relying on other sources of power generation like natural gas or coal. So all customers – with rooftop solar panels or not – need back up power from SaskPower and need the system/infrastructure that comes with it. Essentially, net metering customers rely on the SaskPower grid just as much as non-net metering customers. Of the 14¢/kWh that SaskPower charges for electricity just 4¢ is to cover the actual electricity used. Most of the amount (10¢) is used to cover fixed costs for system maintenance, electricity demand, and distribution and transmission assets.
So while we aren’t considering rebates or grants for rooftop solar systems, we will be seeking public input to help inform our customer generation plan. Our goal is to offer more options when it comes to purchasing, generating, storing and managing your electricity consumption. If you’d like to learn more please visit Net Metering (saskpower.com).
Our mission is to provide cost-effective, reliable and sustainable power for our customers and the communities we serve. Balancing the trade-offs and benefits of every supply option is key to delivering on that mission. To learn more about centralized and decentralized power, consider viewing our recent energy education series about microgrids: https://youtu.be/JYSM4HX1248?si=7tA6FsJnLRu4aKQg and to learn more about the environmental trade offs and impacts of power generation check out this video: https://youtu.be/mkGZyLEma7I?si=VKeVvU-8I2Z8uIj2.
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Share Follow-up question to the answers provided on the recent LCOEs provided by SaskPower (July-2024). What exactly does 'Nuclear- SMR (two units): 145-295 $/MWh' mean? Specifically, is the $/MWh for 2 units, at say 300MW each, therefore $145 - $295/MWh for a total of 600MW? on Facebook Share Follow-up question to the answers provided on the recent LCOEs provided by SaskPower (July-2024). What exactly does 'Nuclear- SMR (two units): 145-295 $/MWh' mean? Specifically, is the $/MWh for 2 units, at say 300MW each, therefore $145 - $295/MWh for a total of 600MW? on Twitter Share Follow-up question to the answers provided on the recent LCOEs provided by SaskPower (July-2024). What exactly does 'Nuclear- SMR (two units): 145-295 $/MWh' mean? Specifically, is the $/MWh for 2 units, at say 300MW each, therefore $145 - $295/MWh for a total of 600MW? on Linkedin Email Follow-up question to the answers provided on the recent LCOEs provided by SaskPower (July-2024). What exactly does 'Nuclear- SMR (two units): 145-295 $/MWh' mean? Specifically, is the $/MWh for 2 units, at say 300MW each, therefore $145 - $295/MWh for a total of 600MW? link
Follow-up question to the answers provided on the recent LCOEs provided by SaskPower (July-2024). What exactly does 'Nuclear- SMR (two units): 145-295 $/MWh' mean? Specifically, is the $/MWh for 2 units, at say 300MW each, therefore $145 - $295/MWh for a total of 600MW?
MGB asked 3 months agoThanks for your follow up question. If two 300 MW small modular reactors are built the expected LCOE range is between $145 and $295/MWh for the energy produced by the combined 600 MW of generation. There are economies of scale with nuclear meaning that if one unit was built the range would be higher.
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Share I feel like nuclear power is going backwards. You’re adding dangerous waste that will stick around for decades. You can’t totally promise there won’t be a problem with it. Also, there is the chance of accidents, water leaks, radiation leaks problems with the plant, high cost. Wouldn’t your money and time be better put into other projects, like natural gas, using our natural resources, not adding dangerous waste and outdated plants like nuclear? on Facebook Share I feel like nuclear power is going backwards. You’re adding dangerous waste that will stick around for decades. You can’t totally promise there won’t be a problem with it. Also, there is the chance of accidents, water leaks, radiation leaks problems with the plant, high cost. Wouldn’t your money and time be better put into other projects, like natural gas, using our natural resources, not adding dangerous waste and outdated plants like nuclear? on Twitter Share I feel like nuclear power is going backwards. You’re adding dangerous waste that will stick around for decades. You can’t totally promise there won’t be a problem with it. Also, there is the chance of accidents, water leaks, radiation leaks problems with the plant, high cost. Wouldn’t your money and time be better put into other projects, like natural gas, using our natural resources, not adding dangerous waste and outdated plants like nuclear? on Linkedin Email I feel like nuclear power is going backwards. You’re adding dangerous waste that will stick around for decades. You can’t totally promise there won’t be a problem with it. Also, there is the chance of accidents, water leaks, radiation leaks problems with the plant, high cost. Wouldn’t your money and time be better put into other projects, like natural gas, using our natural resources, not adding dangerous waste and outdated plants like nuclear? link
I feel like nuclear power is going backwards. You’re adding dangerous waste that will stick around for decades. You can’t totally promise there won’t be a problem with it. Also, there is the chance of accidents, water leaks, radiation leaks problems with the plant, high cost. Wouldn’t your money and time be better put into other projects, like natural gas, using our natural resources, not adding dangerous waste and outdated plants like nuclear?
Pat asked 3 months agoThanks for engaging with us. Due to concerns around climate change, the energy landscape is changing around the world, as well as here in Saskatchewan. This is challenging the conventional use of fossil fuels like coal and natural gas which emit greenhouse gases (“GHG”), like carbon dioxide. Under current federal regulations, our GHG emissions must reach net-zero by 2050 or sooner. As well, SaskPower must meet the growing need for power by people, businesses and industry. SaskPower is looking at all options to achieve this goal, while providing cost-effective, reliable, and sustainable power to our customers.
Nuclear power produces zero greenhouse gas emissions and is available 24/7. Our analysis shows that nuclear power from SMRs is reliable, clean and cost-effective.
Canada’s nuclear industry has a strong safety record which has been built on more than 70 years of innovation with safety and environmental protection at its core. Nuclear power plants have many layers of protection. If there’s ever an issue, many systems keep the plant safe. SMRs are an advancement in nuclear power technology. They have further layers of protection for human safety and the environment.
Canada has a long history of safely storing high level radioactive waste. The licensing process for any nuclear activity in Canada must include a plan for waste management over the full operational lifecycle. In Canada, the Nuclear Waste Management Organization (NWMO) handles the implementation of the safe, long-term management of spent nuclear fuel and waste. Spent fuel will be stored at the facility while it cools. Then, it will be transported to a long-term storage facility developed by the NWMO.
If you’d like to learn more about SaskPower’s SMR project as well as how nuclear waste is managed in Canada, please visit the links below.
Planning for Nuclear Power (saskpower.com).
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Share Please provide the LCOEs for all options being considered (including nuclear) but do not include the carbon tax in your calculations for this series of calculations. As a residential customer, I understand that I am being refunded 90%+ of the carbon tax I pay so I would prefer to see those options that have the lowest LCOE being selected (without inclusion of carbon pricing). on Facebook Share Please provide the LCOEs for all options being considered (including nuclear) but do not include the carbon tax in your calculations for this series of calculations. As a residential customer, I understand that I am being refunded 90%+ of the carbon tax I pay so I would prefer to see those options that have the lowest LCOE being selected (without inclusion of carbon pricing). on Twitter Share Please provide the LCOEs for all options being considered (including nuclear) but do not include the carbon tax in your calculations for this series of calculations. As a residential customer, I understand that I am being refunded 90%+ of the carbon tax I pay so I would prefer to see those options that have the lowest LCOE being selected (without inclusion of carbon pricing). on Linkedin Email Please provide the LCOEs for all options being considered (including nuclear) but do not include the carbon tax in your calculations for this series of calculations. As a residential customer, I understand that I am being refunded 90%+ of the carbon tax I pay so I would prefer to see those options that have the lowest LCOE being selected (without inclusion of carbon pricing). link
Please provide the LCOEs for all options being considered (including nuclear) but do not include the carbon tax in your calculations for this series of calculations. As a residential customer, I understand that I am being refunded 90%+ of the carbon tax I pay so I would prefer to see those options that have the lowest LCOE being selected (without inclusion of carbon pricing).
SB asked 4 months agoThanks for engaging with us! As of July 2024, the Levelized Cost of Electricity (LCOE) (before government subsidies) is:
Wind: 55-80 $/MWh
Solar: 80-130 $/MWh
Natural Gas: 85-185 $/MWh
Imports: 70-190 $/MWh
Hydro: 220-295 $/MWh
Nuclear- SMR (two units): 145-295 $/MWh
Geothermal: 200-395 $/MWh
Biomass: 240-400 $/MWh
LCOE includes the costs to build a facility, the fuel to run it, staffing, maintenance, decommissioning and the price SaskPower would pay through a third-party power purchase agreement (PPA). While cost is one consideration when choosing supply options, factors such as supply option characteristics, federal regulations, customer expectations, innovation and electrification, also influence supply planning. That’s why it’s important that we keep a diverse mix of generation options, including baseload and intermittent generation options.
Wind and solar are renewable options that are lower cost and help reduce greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs). Wind and solar need to be complemented with dependable supply options such as natural gas, nuclear, etc.
The assumed capacity factor for natural gas facilities is 85 per cent. However, future use is expected to see a lower capacity factor as low-cost energy from renewables is used more often. In the LCOE calculations, carbon tax only applies to natural gas. The low end of the range for the natural gas LCOE assumes carbon tax is returned to SaskPower for investment in assets and activities that support GHG emissions reduction. The high end assumes that carbon tax isn’t returned. CCS on natural gas is expected to be higher cost than unabated natural gas because the avoided carbon tax is outweighed by higher capital and operating costs.
The LCOE of imports is a large range because it depends on market factors like:
- the type of energy (non-emitting vs. emitting)
- the price structure (firm supply vs. variable market price)
- the availability (baseload vs. non-dispatchable)
LCOE for SMRs includes two units because nuclear generation requires significant fixed costs related to design, regulations and safety, and security. To take full advantage of the very low variable costs and to ensure the best value for SaskPower’s customers it’s advisable to build multiple units on one site. While the LCOE for SMRs is high compared to some other supply options, it’s worth noting the average facility lifespan for SMRs is 40-60 years. This is compared to 20-30 years for wind, solar, geothermal, biomass and natural gas.
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Share In the fall of 2016, Crown Investments Corporation published a value for money report showing more than a $300 Million savings by having SaskPower build and operate the Chinook Power station rather than having Independent Power Producers do so. Why isn’t SaskPower building and operating solar and wind projects itself. SaskPower has experience on large wind projects (the 150 MW Centennial Wind Farm near Swift Current) and has experience selecting and finding solar sites such as the solar site near the yet to be built 100MW solar facility near Estevan. It would be expected that savings could be enjoyed due to the lower cost of borrowing that SaskPower should be able to obtain and because of its lower profit expectations than a IPP. Thank you. on Facebook Share In the fall of 2016, Crown Investments Corporation published a value for money report showing more than a $300 Million savings by having SaskPower build and operate the Chinook Power station rather than having Independent Power Producers do so. Why isn’t SaskPower building and operating solar and wind projects itself. SaskPower has experience on large wind projects (the 150 MW Centennial Wind Farm near Swift Current) and has experience selecting and finding solar sites such as the solar site near the yet to be built 100MW solar facility near Estevan. It would be expected that savings could be enjoyed due to the lower cost of borrowing that SaskPower should be able to obtain and because of its lower profit expectations than a IPP. Thank you. on Twitter Share In the fall of 2016, Crown Investments Corporation published a value for money report showing more than a $300 Million savings by having SaskPower build and operate the Chinook Power station rather than having Independent Power Producers do so. Why isn’t SaskPower building and operating solar and wind projects itself. SaskPower has experience on large wind projects (the 150 MW Centennial Wind Farm near Swift Current) and has experience selecting and finding solar sites such as the solar site near the yet to be built 100MW solar facility near Estevan. It would be expected that savings could be enjoyed due to the lower cost of borrowing that SaskPower should be able to obtain and because of its lower profit expectations than a IPP. Thank you. on Linkedin Email In the fall of 2016, Crown Investments Corporation published a value for money report showing more than a $300 Million savings by having SaskPower build and operate the Chinook Power station rather than having Independent Power Producers do so. Why isn’t SaskPower building and operating solar and wind projects itself. SaskPower has experience on large wind projects (the 150 MW Centennial Wind Farm near Swift Current) and has experience selecting and finding solar sites such as the solar site near the yet to be built 100MW solar facility near Estevan. It would be expected that savings could be enjoyed due to the lower cost of borrowing that SaskPower should be able to obtain and because of its lower profit expectations than a IPP. Thank you. link
In the fall of 2016, Crown Investments Corporation published a value for money report showing more than a $300 Million savings by having SaskPower build and operate the Chinook Power station rather than having Independent Power Producers do so. Why isn’t SaskPower building and operating solar and wind projects itself. SaskPower has experience on large wind projects (the 150 MW Centennial Wind Farm near Swift Current) and has experience selecting and finding solar sites such as the solar site near the yet to be built 100MW solar facility near Estevan. It would be expected that savings could be enjoyed due to the lower cost of borrowing that SaskPower should be able to obtain and because of its lower profit expectations than a IPP. Thank you.
SB asked 4 months agoThanks for engaging with us. While SaskPower has had success in the past building and constructing projects, there are many advantages to using IPPs specifically for renewable projects.
Experience
- There’s a mature market of renewable generation developers that focus on the business of renewable generation development. By taking an IPP model approach, SaskPower can leverage this market of developers and utilize their development experience. This ensures we get the best value projects for the province.
Risks
- SaskPower can mitigate project risks and not manage these risks internally.
Cost
- Through the IPP model approach, all developers compete in an open competition to secure a project. SaskPower can then choose the lowest-price project which has the most minimal impact on our customers in the province.
- IPPs may also have access to certain tax benefits, credits, funding, and other programs.
Engagement
- The IPP selection process includes requirements for Indigenous ownership that create opportunities for Indigenous companies to take part in generating power. This helps foster meaningful partnerships with the developers and Indigenous communities.
- Community engagement is very important to the process. Developers are vetted based on their plans to engage with Rightsholders, municipal authorities, landowners, surrounding communities and any other key stakeholders.
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Share How do you project the number of SaskPower customers - residential and industrial - each year for the period from 2024 to 2050 (given the current customer base of 550,000)? on Facebook Share How do you project the number of SaskPower customers - residential and industrial - each year for the period from 2024 to 2050 (given the current customer base of 550,000)? on Twitter Share How do you project the number of SaskPower customers - residential and industrial - each year for the period from 2024 to 2050 (given the current customer base of 550,000)? on Linkedin Email How do you project the number of SaskPower customers - residential and industrial - each year for the period from 2024 to 2050 (given the current customer base of 550,000)? link
How do you project the number of SaskPower customers - residential and industrial - each year for the period from 2024 to 2050 (given the current customer base of 550,000)?
ttbclav asked 7 months agoHi there! Mass market customers (residential, small business, etc.) are forecast based on historic and predicted population, as well as other statistical and economic factors that are known to impact customer growth. Some examples are resource production forecasts, household size, and GDP. The industrial customer group is well understood and forecast on an individual basis with collaboration from the customers themselves as well as their respective SaskPower account manager.
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Share Last question before you block me - A number of Electrical Engineers in Alberta presented a plan to the Alberta Government which was the creation of a Western Canadian Grid - between BC, AB, Sask & MB. The interprovincial grid connected primarily renewable sources of energy and would successfully reach our net zero goals while providing reliable power for the 4 provinces. Has this been looked into? AB residents faced a the risk of a total blackout & raised the revenues of the power companies while a viable solutions are available that do not add to the bottom lines of private companies. Will you add a Western Canadian Grid to your search for reliable cost efficient and green energy to your planning? on Facebook Share Last question before you block me - A number of Electrical Engineers in Alberta presented a plan to the Alberta Government which was the creation of a Western Canadian Grid - between BC, AB, Sask & MB. The interprovincial grid connected primarily renewable sources of energy and would successfully reach our net zero goals while providing reliable power for the 4 provinces. Has this been looked into? AB residents faced a the risk of a total blackout & raised the revenues of the power companies while a viable solutions are available that do not add to the bottom lines of private companies. Will you add a Western Canadian Grid to your search for reliable cost efficient and green energy to your planning? on Twitter Share Last question before you block me - A number of Electrical Engineers in Alberta presented a plan to the Alberta Government which was the creation of a Western Canadian Grid - between BC, AB, Sask & MB. The interprovincial grid connected primarily renewable sources of energy and would successfully reach our net zero goals while providing reliable power for the 4 provinces. Has this been looked into? AB residents faced a the risk of a total blackout & raised the revenues of the power companies while a viable solutions are available that do not add to the bottom lines of private companies. Will you add a Western Canadian Grid to your search for reliable cost efficient and green energy to your planning? on Linkedin Email Last question before you block me - A number of Electrical Engineers in Alberta presented a plan to the Alberta Government which was the creation of a Western Canadian Grid - between BC, AB, Sask & MB. The interprovincial grid connected primarily renewable sources of energy and would successfully reach our net zero goals while providing reliable power for the 4 provinces. Has this been looked into? AB residents faced a the risk of a total blackout & raised the revenues of the power companies while a viable solutions are available that do not add to the bottom lines of private companies. Will you add a Western Canadian Grid to your search for reliable cost efficient and green energy to your planning? link
Last question before you block me - A number of Electrical Engineers in Alberta presented a plan to the Alberta Government which was the creation of a Western Canadian Grid - between BC, AB, Sask & MB. The interprovincial grid connected primarily renewable sources of energy and would successfully reach our net zero goals while providing reliable power for the 4 provinces. Has this been looked into? AB residents faced a the risk of a total blackout & raised the revenues of the power companies while a viable solutions are available that do not add to the bottom lines of private companies. Will you add a Western Canadian Grid to your search for reliable cost efficient and green energy to your planning?
Kelly28 asked 7 months agoThanks for your question! We’re aware of discussions to create a stronger Western Canadian Grid. We recognize the importance of interconnections with our neighbours and are exploring opportunities to increase our interconnections with them. While interconnections have existed for decades, they’re becoming increasingly important today because:
- They enhance resiliency to power system vulnerability caused by climate-driven extreme weather by acting as a good back-up for emergency situations.
- They have the potential to increase flexibility by supporting the growth of intermittent renewable generation in our supply mix.
- They enable us to explore supply options over a larger geographical area and with additional partners, potentially resulting in a more advantageous position and lower overall costs for generation development compared to relying solely on in-province resources.
- They allow us to import low- or non-GHG emitting power.
- They can be used to earn revenue by exporting energy from Saskatchewan.
However, there are also challenges to creating a Western Canadian Grid. Some of those challenges include:
- Funding. The anticipated costs for establishing a Western Canadian Grid are on the order of billions of dollars, with funding sources remaining unclear.
- Timeline. It’s estimated it would take 10 years or longer to build a Western Canadian Grid. This is too long to help the transition from conventional coal that’s set to retire by 2030 due to federal regulations.
- Permitting. The approvals on interprovincial projects are complex and not guaranteed.
- Other jurisdictions. Interconnections can be expanded beyond a Western Canadian Grid, so we’d need to evaluate if a western grid provides advantages over other grid expansions (for example – into the U.S.).
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Share An article in The Energy Mix theenergy.mix.com "Failed US Nuclear Project Raises Cost Concerns for Canadian SMR Development" NOv 10, 2023 Excellent report on the expensive subsidization of nuclear energy with taxpayer money - est. cost increased 53% over earlier estimates. as we know is Sask like the PA Hospital costs rising 1/4 of a billion within months due to - well no one really knows - how will the current estimates of $5 billion for each SMR be paid for ? the cost overuns? The project NuScale Power Corp terminated their commercial SMR project as it was bankrupting them - how will Sask Power and a SP government that uses taxpayer $ like monopoly money guarantee a project on budget that actually works as SMR's are untested technology? on Facebook Share An article in The Energy Mix theenergy.mix.com "Failed US Nuclear Project Raises Cost Concerns for Canadian SMR Development" NOv 10, 2023 Excellent report on the expensive subsidization of nuclear energy with taxpayer money - est. cost increased 53% over earlier estimates. as we know is Sask like the PA Hospital costs rising 1/4 of a billion within months due to - well no one really knows - how will the current estimates of $5 billion for each SMR be paid for ? the cost overuns? The project NuScale Power Corp terminated their commercial SMR project as it was bankrupting them - how will Sask Power and a SP government that uses taxpayer $ like monopoly money guarantee a project on budget that actually works as SMR's are untested technology? on Twitter Share An article in The Energy Mix theenergy.mix.com "Failed US Nuclear Project Raises Cost Concerns for Canadian SMR Development" NOv 10, 2023 Excellent report on the expensive subsidization of nuclear energy with taxpayer money - est. cost increased 53% over earlier estimates. as we know is Sask like the PA Hospital costs rising 1/4 of a billion within months due to - well no one really knows - how will the current estimates of $5 billion for each SMR be paid for ? the cost overuns? The project NuScale Power Corp terminated their commercial SMR project as it was bankrupting them - how will Sask Power and a SP government that uses taxpayer $ like monopoly money guarantee a project on budget that actually works as SMR's are untested technology? on Linkedin Email An article in The Energy Mix theenergy.mix.com "Failed US Nuclear Project Raises Cost Concerns for Canadian SMR Development" NOv 10, 2023 Excellent report on the expensive subsidization of nuclear energy with taxpayer money - est. cost increased 53% over earlier estimates. as we know is Sask like the PA Hospital costs rising 1/4 of a billion within months due to - well no one really knows - how will the current estimates of $5 billion for each SMR be paid for ? the cost overuns? The project NuScale Power Corp terminated their commercial SMR project as it was bankrupting them - how will Sask Power and a SP government that uses taxpayer $ like monopoly money guarantee a project on budget that actually works as SMR's are untested technology? link
An article in The Energy Mix theenergy.mix.com "Failed US Nuclear Project Raises Cost Concerns for Canadian SMR Development" NOv 10, 2023 Excellent report on the expensive subsidization of nuclear energy with taxpayer money - est. cost increased 53% over earlier estimates. as we know is Sask like the PA Hospital costs rising 1/4 of a billion within months due to - well no one really knows - how will the current estimates of $5 billion for each SMR be paid for ? the cost overuns? The project NuScale Power Corp terminated their commercial SMR project as it was bankrupting them - how will Sask Power and a SP government that uses taxpayer $ like monopoly money guarantee a project on budget that actually works as SMR's are untested technology?
Kelly28 asked 7 months agoWe’re aware that on Nov. 8, 2023, Portland-based NuScale and Utah Associated Municipal Power Systems mutually decided to cancel the small modular reactor (SMR) project set to be built in Idaho, largely due to the availability of lower-cost generation sources such as unabated natural gas and coal.
SaskPower has selected the GE Hitachi BWRX-300 reactor design in part due to this technology’s readiness for deployment, along with generation size, fuel type and cost. The BWRX is based on a proven design currently in operation around the world and was selected alongside Ontario Power Generation (OPG), who will deploy the BWRX first.
We’re committed to ensuring we can continue to provide safe, reliable, cost-effective power to customers in the future. We’re collaborating with OPG as they’re an experienced nuclear operator with a recent track record of completing nuclear projects on time and on budget. They’re currently in the process of extending the life of a four-reactor nuclear power facility and have completed the refurbishment of one of the units well ahead of schedule and on budget.
At the end of the day, SMRs will have to be cost-competitive with other sources of baseload, GHG emissions-free generation options, and make economic sense for Saskatchewan for us to proceed. Based on feasibility work done to date, SMRs have the potential to be a competitive option. If we decide to construct an SMR, two things will help mitigate cost overruns:
- The modularity aspect of SMRs in general. Modular in Small Modular Reactor, means some of the power plant can be built in a factory setting and assembled on site. This reduces the risk of construction cost overruns.
- Based on the completion of the same SMR design by Ontario Power Generation, SaskPower will work with OPG to better understand potential costs to inform our final investment decision in 2029 to build an SMR in Saskatchewan.
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Share In the report you neglect to provide the survey participants #'s regarding support for various power generation forms obtained from the survey. In particular I would like to see the actual numbers of Sask residents that support & oppose SMR's. I would also like to see how the Government intends to finance SMR's - where the waste will be deposited and the decommissioning plans. Also given the drought this year and in future years, the irrigation plans for Diefenbaker how will the water requirements be met for the SMR plant? So many more questions that have to date been ignored by the Minister & Moe on Facebook Share In the report you neglect to provide the survey participants #'s regarding support for various power generation forms obtained from the survey. In particular I would like to see the actual numbers of Sask residents that support & oppose SMR's. I would also like to see how the Government intends to finance SMR's - where the waste will be deposited and the decommissioning plans. Also given the drought this year and in future years, the irrigation plans for Diefenbaker how will the water requirements be met for the SMR plant? So many more questions that have to date been ignored by the Minister & Moe on Twitter Share In the report you neglect to provide the survey participants #'s regarding support for various power generation forms obtained from the survey. In particular I would like to see the actual numbers of Sask residents that support & oppose SMR's. I would also like to see how the Government intends to finance SMR's - where the waste will be deposited and the decommissioning plans. Also given the drought this year and in future years, the irrigation plans for Diefenbaker how will the water requirements be met for the SMR plant? So many more questions that have to date been ignored by the Minister & Moe on Linkedin Email In the report you neglect to provide the survey participants #'s regarding support for various power generation forms obtained from the survey. In particular I would like to see the actual numbers of Sask residents that support & oppose SMR's. I would also like to see how the Government intends to finance SMR's - where the waste will be deposited and the decommissioning plans. Also given the drought this year and in future years, the irrigation plans for Diefenbaker how will the water requirements be met for the SMR plant? So many more questions that have to date been ignored by the Minister & Moe link
In the report you neglect to provide the survey participants #'s regarding support for various power generation forms obtained from the survey. In particular I would like to see the actual numbers of Sask residents that support & oppose SMR's. I would also like to see how the Government intends to finance SMR's - where the waste will be deposited and the decommissioning plans. Also given the drought this year and in future years, the irrigation plans for Diefenbaker how will the water requirements be met for the SMR plant? So many more questions that have to date been ignored by the Minister & Moe
Kelly28 asked 7 months agoHi there! We asked about specific supply options in our Stage 2 survey. You can find the full results of that survey in our Stage 2 What We Heard report here, but we’ve also included the ‘Support for Generation Options’ for nuclear here:
- 39.4% strongly support
- 25.8% somewhat support
- 10.7% somewhat oppose
- 14.8% strongly oppose
- 9.4% don’t know
These numbers largely align with other publicly available research, such as Environics Research’s 2023 ‘Public Attitudes to Nuclear Power’ research which can be found here.
Based on early estimates, electricity from the GE-Hitachi small modular reactor (SMR) could be cost competitive with alternative base load, zero emissions generation options available in the early to mid 2030s. Based on the completion of the same SMR design by Ontario Power Generation by the end of 2028, SaskPower will have highly reliable cost estimates by the time a final investment decision is made in 2029 to build an SMR in Saskatchewan.
Water availability is a key consideration for a the SMR project. We’re working closely with the Water Security Agency, who allocates water for things like power generation and irrigation projects, and we’re conducting our own water availability study to help ensure that wherever our final site is, there will be sufficient water for the life of the facility.
Before receiving a licence to construct and a license to operate a nuclear power facility our lifecycle regulator, the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC), requires that plans for waste management and decommissioning are developed. Producing these types of plans prior to licencing is unique to the nuclear industry. Through the planning phase of the SMR development project we’re working towards developing these plans. If you’re interested in learning more, please visit the CNSC’s website.
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Share Does SaskPower consider emerging energy storage technologies developed in Europe, such as those described earlier this week at https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2024/apr/01/thermal-energy-storage-industry?CMP=share_btn_url or does it restrict its analyses to North American technology? on Facebook Share Does SaskPower consider emerging energy storage technologies developed in Europe, such as those described earlier this week at https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2024/apr/01/thermal-energy-storage-industry?CMP=share_btn_url or does it restrict its analyses to North American technology? on Twitter Share Does SaskPower consider emerging energy storage technologies developed in Europe, such as those described earlier this week at https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2024/apr/01/thermal-energy-storage-industry?CMP=share_btn_url or does it restrict its analyses to North American technology? on Linkedin Email Does SaskPower consider emerging energy storage technologies developed in Europe, such as those described earlier this week at https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2024/apr/01/thermal-energy-storage-industry?CMP=share_btn_url or does it restrict its analyses to North American technology? link
Does SaskPower consider emerging energy storage technologies developed in Europe, such as those described earlier this week at https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2024/apr/01/thermal-energy-storage-industry?CMP=share_btn_url or does it restrict its analyses to North American technology?
ttbclav asked 7 months agoThanks for your question! We monitor emerging energy storage worldwide for ones that may potentially be well suited to our operating environment. As far as energy storage goes, thermal energy storage is one of the technologies that we’re looking at for the future. Right now, we’re just starting to build batteries. Our internal analysis has shown that batteries can provide the best value when used to balance the grid and to stabilize the local transmission system in the short term (less than one hour). The Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) near Regina is the first of its kind in the province and is capable of powering 20 megawatts of load for up to one hour. Learn more about BESS.
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