Some impact on the environment is unavoidable in the production and delivery of electricity. However, Saskatchewan’s SaskPower has a commitment to sustainability means that we are always working to improve our environmental performance.
In newer facilities, the impacts are anticipated and mitigation measures put in place during the environmental assessment and approval process. However, many of Saskatchewans facilities were built before environmental assessments were required and at a time when environmental concerns were not as prominent as they are today.
Consequently, we are actively managing a number of issues associated with our operations like Emissions, Climate Change, Environmental Assessment and Approvals, Electric and Magnetic Fields (EMF) and Endangered Species like the Zebra Mussels.
When assessing future power supply options, there are no clear winners. Every option carries with it a combination of positive and negative attributes, so we aim to have as wide a selection as possible.
A diverse power supply portfolio helps manage risk, and we will continue to pursue this approach. Our current installed capacity includes 28 per cent power generation from renewable fuel sources. Our future supply strategy will work to increase this component in an economically and technically responsible manner.
We will also selectively get involved with technologies such as clean coal, where the corporation has particular expertise, to accelerate the commercialization of those technologies. With other technologies where others have developed expertise, SaskPower maintains a working knowledge of the technology and continuously assesses its applicability to our system.
Future sources of supply will address stringent environmental regulations; meet a range of economic requirements, and measure up to tough operational demands that include reliability, quality, safety and security. Transmission line renewal and expansion will go hand in hand with the generation system’s revitalization. Future generation and transmission plans will also have to specifically address the growing need for electricity in northern Saskatchewan due to industrial and population growth.
In the medium term, creative, groundbreaking solutions will be thoroughly examined, including the pursuit of potential partnerships with private sector partners to build, own and operate generation facilities.
Possibilities for medium term generation solutions include:
Hydroelectric, Clean Coal, Biomass and heat recovery, Natural gas, Wind Power, Nuclear Power, Cogeneration and Polygeneration
