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Home > News Releases > News Releases 2008 > Coal still an important ingredient in Canada's energy mix

Coal still an important ingredient in Canada's energy mix

08/29
For immediate release
8 August 2008

CALGARY - While coal-fired power generation remains an important component of Canada's energy industry, environmental concerns could limit its wider development, the National Energy Board (NEB) said today.

In a briefing note called Coal-Fired Power Generation: A Perspective, the NEB describes the factors that influence the use of coal-fired power generation to meet Canadian energy requirements.

Canada's coal reserves are roughly equivalent to its oil reserves and coal fired generation represents over 16 200 MW of the installed power generation capacity in Canada: 13 per cent of Canada's total. In 2006, approximately 16 per cent of Canada's electricity was generated from coal, mostly in Alberta and Ontario. Coal-fired generation is non-existent in provinces such as British Columbia and Quebec, which have an abundance of hydroelectric resources.

The NEB expects that the use of coal will decline but will remain an important part of meeting Canada's energy requirements with an estimated 10 000 MW of installed capacity in place in 2030.

Some of the issues surrounding coal burning processes originate from environmental concerns. Coal-fired processes - even with access to the most up to date technology and low sulphur coal - result in more greenhouse gas emissions than gas-fired generation. Uncertainty about the direction of future GHG regulations, and the cost and reliability of newly developed, clean coal technologies limit the opportunity for increased coal-fired generation. Time will tell whether carbon capture and storage technology will prove viable for coal-fired power plants.

This energy brief is part of the NEB's Energy Information Program, which was launched to provide energy related information to diverse audiences.

The NEB is an independent federal agency that regulates several parts of Canada's energy industry. Its purpose is to promote safety and security, environmental protection, and efficient energy infrastructure and markets in the Canadian public interest, within the mandate set by Parliament in the regulation of pipelines, energy development and trade. As part of its mandate, the NEB monitors the supply of all energy commodities in Canada and reports its findings. The NEB Internet site is regularly updated with new energy information for the Canadian public.

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For further information:

Carole Léger-Kubeczek
Communications Officer
National Energy Board
E-mail: carole.leger-kubeczek@neb-one.gc.ca
Telephone: 403-299-2717
Telephone (toll free): 1-800-899-1265
Telecopier: 403-292-5503
Telecopier (toll free): 1-877-288-8803
TTY (Teletype): 1-800-632-1663

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