Contribute to the Future Supply Plan
We’re preparing for Stage 3 in our 5-stage process to develop our Future Supply Plan for 2030 and beyond. We’re planning ways that we can reduce greenhouse gas emissions, while providing reliable and affordable power.
In the fall of 2022, we began engaging with people across the province on how we’ll supply power to Saskatchewan beyond 2030.
Stage 3 — Future Power Supply Scenario Exploration – Starts October 2023
Stage 2 — Understanding Your Priorities – Now Complete
In this stage we asked Saskatchewan residents about the power supply options they preferred. We also learned which values and priorities were most important in key areas such as:
- Cost and technology
- Emissions and environment
- Human and social factors
From Nov. 16, 2022 to April 6, 2023 we had:
- 14,600 visits to saskpower.com/engage
- 15,323 completed surveys
- 174 completed quick polls
- 42 ideas submitted
- 43 questions answered
Read the Stage 2 What We Heard report or the Summary.
Stage 1 — Getting to Know You – Now Complete
In this stage we asked Saskatchewan residents:
- how they want to participate in the engagement process
- what supply options they’d like to learn more about
- what opportunities they see for the future
From September to November 2022, we reported:
- 13,300 site visits to saskpower.com/engage
- 450 online learning session views
- 240 completed surveys
- 160 visioning workshop participants
Read the Stage 1 What We Heard Report or the Summary.
We’re preparing for Stage 3 in our 5-stage process to develop our Future Supply Plan for 2030 and beyond. We’re planning ways that we can reduce greenhouse gas emissions, while providing reliable and affordable power.
In the fall of 2022, we began engaging with people across the province on how we’ll supply power to Saskatchewan beyond 2030.
Stage 3 — Future Power Supply Scenario Exploration – Starts October 2023
Stage 2 — Understanding Your Priorities – Now Complete
In this stage we asked Saskatchewan residents about the power supply options they preferred. We also learned which values and priorities were most important in key areas such as:
- Cost and technology
- Emissions and environment
- Human and social factors
From Nov. 16, 2022 to April 6, 2023 we had:
- 14,600 visits to saskpower.com/engage
- 15,323 completed surveys
- 174 completed quick polls
- 42 ideas submitted
- 43 questions answered
Read the Stage 2 What We Heard report or the Summary.
Stage 1 — Getting to Know You – Now Complete
In this stage we asked Saskatchewan residents:
- how they want to participate in the engagement process
- what supply options they’d like to learn more about
- what opportunities they see for the future
From September to November 2022, we reported:
- 13,300 site visits to saskpower.com/engage
- 450 online learning session views
- 240 completed surveys
- 160 visioning workshop participants
Read the Stage 1 What We Heard Report or the Summary.
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.
-
Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linkedin Email this link
Could you expand upon some of the benefits of the potential reactor near Lake Diefenbaker in terms of power reliability and cooling pond water use for expanded irrigation?
Keith asked about 1 month agoThanks for your question. In terms of power reliability, one possible benefit is an improved level of service. This is because upgrades will need to be made to the local distribution system to support construction of the facility. In terms of water use, there is potential to design the cooling water system collaboratively with other partners in the area. This could include irrigation projects.
-
Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linkedin Email this link
How can we in this province rely on wind and solar without spending billions for unreliable power ? When can we get the true facts out to the public regarding this whole climate ,net zero and never ending horrors of a change in temperature if it happens in a hundred years?
BR asked about 1 month agoReaching net-zero greenhouse gas emissions from the power grid is going to require significant financial investment. No matter which generation options we use going forward, power rates will increase. Currently, wind and solar are the two cheapest generating options available in Saskatchewan. But it’s important to note that wind and solar are non-dispatchable or intermittent power supply options. Given this intermittency of renewable generation, currently about 80 per cent of the energy consumed in Saskatchewan comes from reliable baseload sources that can provide power 24/7. Today, most of our baseload sources emit greenhouse gases (GHGs). Until emerging low- and non-emitting baseload (or dispatchable) generation options -- such as long-duration energy storage, carbon capture and storage on natural gas, and nuclear small modular reactors -- are commercially available in Saskatchewan, natural gas generation will continue to be critical to ensuring reliability for our customers.
-
Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linkedin Email this link
I am interested in being a part of these discussions; unfortunately they are conducted at a busy time of the year for anyone like myself who is farming full time. Why not conduct them during winter? I have solar panels on my farm and am considering installing more on a secondary farm/residential property that is part of our operation.
Coyote53 asked about 1 month agoHi there! Thanks for your interest in participating in the Shared Renewables focus groups. We’re sorry you’re not able to make it to this discussion. We will be covering this topic at our Power Talks session -- Customer Renewable Programs: Alternatives to Self-Generation on Oct. 12 from 12 – 1 p.m. Please register at saskpower.com/powertalks to attend. We’re also planning more engagement activities to talk about the future of customer self-generation in the coming months.
In the meantime, we’re about to begin Stage 3 of our Future Supply Plan – 2030 and Beyond engagement project and we’ve been working hard to be as inclusive as we can during this project. Stage 1 ran from September to November 2022. Stage 2 ran from December to April 2023. As we head into the fall, you’ll see more chances for engagement coming up in October, November, and December 2023.
Stage 3 will include:
- Online deep-dive engagement sessions
- In-person workshops in five Saskatchewan cities
- Virtual learning events (Power Talks series)
- Surveys, quick polls, and more!
We’ll share new engagement opportunities here on saskpower.com/engage and through our Future Supply newsletter. Sign up at saskpower.com/newsletters.
-
Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linkedin Email this link
Is Saskpower considering Vehicle-to-Grid options for residents like other countries around the globe for potential storage and / or access during peak load period?
kiy asked about 1 month agoElectric vehicles are an interesting emerging technology that we’re certainly keeping our eye on. As more electric vehicles are purchased by our customers, it presents opportunities for SaskPower to serve an increasing load as customer demand for electricity grows and to potentially take advantage of the energy storage capability of the batteries in these electric vehicles. To capitalize on these and other opportunities, we are transforming our distribution system to enhance our ability to manage our power grid in the future.
-
Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linkedin Email this link
What price does SaskPower pay for the power from the turbines near assiniboine
Lyle hansen asked 30 days agoThanks for your question! Potentia Renewables is the independent power producer that owns and manages the wind facility south of Assiniboia. We have a power purchase agreement (PPA) with them to buy the power the wind facility generates. Due to the competitive nature of PPAs we aren’t able to disclose the exact cost we pay Potentia per megawatt hour ($/MWh). However, during the competitive request for proposals phase, SaskPower reviewed 29 proposals from 15 pre-qualified proponents. The average price of all 29 bids was $42/MWh, including the cost of connecting the facility to the power grid. The winning bid provided by Potentia came in well below that.
-
Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linkedin Email this link
What is the life of a solar panel and the batteries they feed. Also dont solar panels reflect heat that used to be absorbed by the earth
Rayc25 asked about 1 month agoThe expected lifespan for photovoltaics is 20-35 years, and for concentrated solar power is 30 years. We’re currently building our first battery energy storage system and we expect its lifespan will be about 20 years. Solar panels may reflect some of the sun’s rays, but anti-reflection coatings can mitigate this while also increasing a solar panel’s efficiency. Solar power is an important component of Saskatchewan’s future energy mix.
-
Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linkedin Email this link
What does net zero really mean ?
BR asked about 1 month agoPut simply, net zero means achieving a balance where carbon emitted into the atmosphere is equal to the carbon removed from it. This can be achieved by cutting greenhouse gas emissions to as close to zero as possible and finding ways to remove (offset) any remaining emissions. Offsets may include introducing management practices that improve the carbon absorbing capacity of the land, sequestering greenhouse gases from industrial processes, or extracting carbon from the air using new technologies.
-
Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linkedin Email this link
There are many scientists who dispute the story line that CO2 is causing any kind of climate change, can someone give us undisputed FACTS on the climate change story besides , maybe ,could , might and big one of consensus ?
BR asked about 1 month agoThe United Nations Climate Change branch is a leader in climate science and has done much research on this topic. They report that multiple independent studies over the past 19 years have found that between 90 and 100 per cent of scientists agree that humans are responsible for climate change, with most of the studies finding a 97 per cent consensus. The UN offers some great resources to learn more about climate change, the causes of climate change, threats of climate change and more at ClimateChange | United Nations. For up-to-date global greenhouse gas data, trends, and resources, visit Global Monitoring Laboratory - Carbon Cycle Greenhouse Gases (noaa.gov).
-
Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linkedin Email this link
You do you no longer offer a fair one to one rate for individuals who privately install solar panels on their homes or private businesses? They are less of draw on the power grid and you get the excess power that is produced? By providing greater incentives for individuals to invest their own money into solar panels, you are supporting greater power generation in a context where the province clearly doesn't have a large enough investment into green energy. Will you consider changing your approach and making it more lucrative for individuals to participate?
Wendy T. asked 2 months agoWe’re committed to supporting customers who wish to generate their own power through renewable technologies. We must also ensure these customers have the opportunity to do so without being unfairly subsidized by customers who don’t self-generate.
SaskPower doesn’t offer incentives or rebates for the purchase or installation of solar panels, but there are opportunities available through the federal government’s Canada Greener Homes Initiative. Net-metering customers are credited for any power they send back to the grid. Currently, the rate paid for this power is 7.5 cents per kWh. That’s the average price that SaskPower pays for its power.
Despite Saskatchewan’s tremendous solar potential, the profile for solar 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 demand for electricity is greatest in the winter. SaskPower must serve that demand in real time. In winter, between 6-9 p.m., 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.
We’re currently developing plans for new and emerging small-scale technologies that will allow customers to have more control when it comes to generating, storing, and managing electricity. On the utility-scale, we plan to add up to 3,000 MW of wind and solar generation by 2035.
-
Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linkedin Email this link
With drought and irrigation (2 recent articles)... my question is: where water from Diefenbaker for a small modular nuclear reactor will be found, with the below two factors: 1) Diefenbaker Lake is 3 meters below normal level due to "hot and dry conditions in southern Alberta have caused a ripple effect in Saskatchewan. “That resulted in well-below-normal inflows to Lake Diefenbaker this spring. The June inflows that we looked at for the reservoir were very low. With those below inflows, outflows have been kept to a near minimum. Lake Diefenbaker is currently three metres lower than normal because of those hot and dry conditions.” 2) With 39 R.M.s declaring agricultural disasters due to drought, an eye is on the Lake Diefenbaker Irrigation Project, and is wondering where the province is at with the project, with an update on the Lake Diefenbaker Irrigation Project will be looked at this fall. from https://www.discovermoosejaw.com/articles/hotdry-conditions-impacting-buffalo-pound-and-lake-diefenbaker- https://www.620ckrm.com/2023/08/04/drought-in-saskatchewan-39-r-m-s-declare-agricultural-disasters-sarm-working-with-other-organizations-for-long-term-solutions/
Fran Kerbs asked about 2 months agoThanks for your question. One of the most important aspects of the site selection process for our SMR development project is the evaluation of water. We must understand how water will be used and impacted throughout the lifecycle of a facility. As we move closer to selecting a site, we’ve been assessing the long-term availability and sustainability of the waterbodies we shortlisted in our site selection process. This includes Lake Diefenbaker, which represents one of the most abundant sources of water for Southern Saskatchewan. We’ve also been accounting for many different scenarios of climate change, including drought, that could impact these resources. While we aren’t a part of the Lake Diefenbaker Irrigation project, we are collaborating closely with the province’s Water Security Agency (WSA) to evaluate the waterbodies shortlisted. Part of their mandate is to ensure that Saskatchewan’s water systems are not over-allocated. This includes future potential irrigation projects.
Stay Informed
Stay up-to-date on progress and participation opportunities for the Future Supply Plan - 2030 and Beyond.
Quick Polls
How quickly should we be transitioning to low and net-zero emissions power generation sources?
Thank you for your contribution!
Help us reach out to more people in the community
Share this with family and friends
Project Stages
-
Stage 1 - Getting to Know You
Contribute to the Future Supply Plan has finished this stageSeptember - October 2022
-
Stage 2 - Understanding Your Priorities
Contribute to the Future Supply Plan has finished this stageNovember 2022 - April 2023
-
Stage 3 - Future Power Supply Scenario Exploration
Contribute to the Future Supply Plan is currently at this stageOctober 2023
-
Stage 4 - Draft Long-term Plan
this is an upcoming stage for Contribute to the Future Supply PlanFebruary 2024
-
Stage 5 - Final Report Released
this is an upcoming stage for Contribute to the Future Supply PlanJune 2024
Who's Listening
-
Manager, Public Engagement & Stakeholder Consultation
-
Manager, Supply Planning
Contact Us
Please submit questions using the questions tool.
publicengagement@saskpower.com
1-855-566-1008 (toll free)
Thank you for your contribution!
Help us reach out to more people in the community
Share this with family and friends