Canada's electricity outlook
Between 2014 and 2040, Canada's electricity demand is expected to grow at an annual rate of 1%. Most of the growth in energy demand will come from the industrial sector, and overall energy demand in this sector is expected to grow at a rate of 0.7%.
In order to meet the growing demand, Canadian producers will increase their power generation capacity. The source of future supply increase will depend on the policies and business decisions made by the provincial government and power producers, respectively. Hydropower is expected to continue to dominate the power supply structure, but its share will drop from 55% to 51% by 2040. In the total power generation, the share of wind power is expected to increase from more than 7% in 2014 to close to 11% in 2040. By 2040, the share of biomass, solar and geothermal will account for about 5%, during the forecast period, the share of renewable energy in total power generation is expected to be approximately 67%.
Natural gas-based power generation will increase, and the proportion of total natural gas power generation during 2014-2030 will increase from 15% to 22%, while the power generation of oil-fired and coal-fired power plants is expected to decrease. It is estimated that by 2040, nuclear power generation will drop from 10% to 6%.
• Canada is vast and diverse, with a large number of renewable resources that can be used to produce energy; these resources include mobile water, wind, biomass, solar, geothermal, and ocean energy.
• Canada is a world leader in the production and use of renewable energy resources. Currently, renewable energy accounts for approximately 18.9% of Canada’s total primary energy supply.
• Hydropower is Canada’s most important renewable energy source, providing 59.3% of Canada’s electricity. In fact, Canada is the world's second largest producer of hydropower.
• Wind energy is the second most important renewable energy source in Canada. It accounts for 3.5% of Canadian electricity generation. Biomass is the third largest renewable energy source for electricity generation in Canada. Its share of Canadian electricity generation is 1.4%.
• Wind energy and solar photovoltaic energy are the fastest growing sources of electricity in Canada.
Renewable Energy
Renewable energy is energy produced in natural processes, and its replenishment rate is equal to or faster than its consumption rate. There are many forms of renewable energy, which come directly or indirectly from the heat generated by the sun or the depths of the earth. They include solar energy, wind energy, geothermal energy, hydroelectric power and marine resources, solid biomass, biogas and liquid biofuels. However, biomass is a renewable resource only when its consumption rate does not exceed its regeneration rate.
Over time, various energy production technologies and equipment have been developed to utilize these natural resources. As a result, usable energy is produced in the form of electricity, industrial heat, thermal energy for space and water conditioning, and transportation fuel.
Canada has a vast territory, diversified territory, and has a large number of renewable resources that can be used to produce energy. Canada is a world leader in the production and use of energy from renewable resources. Currently, renewable energy accounts for 18.9% of Canada’s total primary energy supply.
To date, hydropower is the most important renewable energy source produced in Canada. Wind energy and bio-energy have also made important contributions to Canada's energy structure. Wind power and solar photovoltaic power generation have the highest growth rates.
Hydropower
The natural flow of water in the river provides kinetic energy, which can be converted into usable energy. Early uses include mechanical power for milling and sawing, etc. and irrigation. Similarly, rivers have been used for transportation purposes, such as moving logs from forests to industrial centers.
Currently, hydropower is the main form of usable energy produced by flowing water. In order to generate hydroelectric power, the water flow is directed to the blades of the turbine to rotate, so that the generator connected to the turbine also rotates to generate electricity.
The energy extracted from flowing water depends on the volume of water and its speed. Generally, hydroelectric power plants are built on steep slopes or waterfalls to take advantage of the speed of water due to gravity. Dams are built in some locations to help regulate the flow of water and thereby regulate the amount of electricity generated.
Canada has many rivers that flow from the mountains to its three adjacent oceans. In 2014, Canada had 542 hydropower stations with an installed capacity of 78,359 MW. These power stations include 379 small hydropower stations, that is, facilities with a nameplate capacity of 50 MW or less, totaling 3.6 GW, accounting for approximately 4.6% of Canada’s installed capacity.
In 2014, all hydroelectric power stations in Canada produced 378.8 trillion watt-hours of electricity, accounting for 59.3% of Canada's total electricity generation. Canada is the world's second largest producer of hydropower.
Hydroelectric power stations have been developed in Canada, where geography and hydrology are favorable, especially in Quebec. Other regions that generate large amounts of hydroelectric power include British Columbia, Newfoundland and Labrador, Manitoba and Ontario.
Bioenergy
Bioenergy includes different forms of usable energy obtained from materials called biomass. Biomass is a biological material in solid, liquid or gaseous form that stores sunlight in the form of chemical energy. This definition excludes organic materials that have been converted into coal or oil for a long time through geological processes.
Canada has vast land, active forests and agricultural industries, and can obtain large and diverse biomass resources that can be used for energy production. Currently, bioenergy is the second most important form of renewable energy in Canada.
Historically, in Canada, the use of wood has been very important for space and water heating and cooking. It is still important today because 4.6% of households use wood as a primary or secondary source of space heating. Every year, wood energy consumed by the residential sector accounts for more than 7% of residential energy consumption.
The most important type of biomass in Canada is industrial wood waste, especially waste from the pulp and paper industry, used to produce electricity and steam. Every year, the industrial sector uses 400 petajoules of bioenergy. To date, the pulp and paper industry is the largest industrial user of bioenergy, accounting for more than half of the energy used by the industry.
As of the end of 2014, Canada had 70 bio-energy power plants with a total installed capacity of 2,043 megawatts, most of which were constructed using wood biomass and waste slurry and landfill gas. In 2014, 8.7 GWh of electricity was generated using wood chips, pulping waste liquid, landfill gas and organic municipal solid waste. Most of the ability to use biomass for combustion is found in provinces with active forestry activities: British Columbia, Ontario, Quebec, Alberta and New Brunswick.
In Canada, biofuels (or fuels derived from renewable resources) are a growing bioenergy. In 2013, Canada accounted for 2% of the world's biofuel production (ranked fifth in the world after the United States, Brazil, the European Union and China). Canada produces two main types of biofuels: ethanol (gasoline substitute) and biodiesel (diesel substitute).
In Canada, the main agricultural raw materials for ethanol production include corn, wheat and barley. Canada is a major world producer and exporter of these grains. The main types of raw materials used to produce biodiesel include vegetable oils, inedible waste oils and fats and animal fats.
According to estimates from the Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) program, Canada produced 1.7 billion liters of ethanol and 124 million liters of biodiesel in 2013.
• The Canadian government currently takes some measures to support the production and use of renewable fuels: The "Renewable Fuel Regulations" stipulates the minimum level of renewable fuel content: 5% (based on total gasoline) (effective in December 2010), and 2% renewable energy content in diesel and heating oil (effective in July 2011)
• Support farmers to participate in the industry-Ecological Agriculture Biofuel Capital Program (US$200 million invested in four years);
• Support domestic production-bioenergy eco ENERGY plan through operation incentive plan ($1.5 billion in 9 years)
• Support next-generation biofuel technologies from unconventional feedstocks – Next Gen Biofuels Fund™ (US$500 million).
British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Ontario all have valid provincial renewable fuel directives. British Columbia has also established low-carbon fuel standards.
Wind Energy
The kinetic energy in the wind can be converted into useful forms of energy, such as mechanical energy or electricity. For hundreds of years, wind energy has been used to propel sailboats, turn mills and water pumps. Nowadays, more and more wind is used to generate electricity. Turbines with large propellers are erected on a "wind farm" located in a strategic area with good wind energy and close to the existing power grid. The wind energy is captured only when the wind speed is sufficient to move the turbine blades, and in strong winds, the generator may be damaged if the turbine is operated.
Canada has vast wind energy resources, so it has great potential to expand wind power. Some of the highest quality areas are offshore and coastlines. Canada has not yet established offshore wind farms, and the development of coastal wind farms is restricted because most of Canada’s coastline is located in remote areas, far from the existing power grid. In different parts of Canada (including the southern prairies and the Gulf of St. Lawrence), there are also high-quality inland areas.
In recent years, the installed capacity of wind power in Canada has grown rapidly. Due to the increased interest of power producers and government initiatives, it is expected that the installed capacity of wind power will continue to grow rapidly. As of December 31, 2014, Canada had more than 5,130 wind turbines operating on 225 wind farms, with a total installed capacity of 9,694 MW, compared to only 60 wind turbines, 8 wind farms and 27 megawatts in 1998 watt. It is Ontario, Quebec and Alberta.
Solar Energy
Solar energy is energy from the sun in the form of radiant heat and light. The radiant energy of the sun can be used to provide lighting and heat to buildings and to generate electricity. Historically, solar energy was used through passive solar technology. Generally, they involve the strategic location of buildings and various elements of these buildings, such as windows, overhangs, and thermal mass. This approach uses sunlight to illuminate and heat the space, thereby greatly reducing the use of electrical or mechanical equipment. Solar energy can only be used during the day and when the sun is not blocked by clouds, buildings or other obstacles.
Today, two active solar technologies involving electrical or mechanical equipment are becoming more and more common. First, solar collectors or panels are used to heat water or ventilate air for buildings. Second, solar photovoltaic technology uses solar cells to directly convert sunlight into electricity.
The potential of solar energy varies across Canada. Due to the increased cloud cover, the potential of coastal areas is low, while the potential of central areas is higher. The global solar potential has changed even more. In general, the solar energy potential of many Canadian cities is internationally comparable to that of many major cities. For example, by installing solar panels on the roofs of residential buildings, about half of Canada's residential electricity needs can be met.
In recent years, the use of solar energy in Canada has increased, although the market penetration rate is still relatively small. Since 2004, the annual compound growth rate of installed capacity of solar thermal power generation has been 13.8%. During 2008-2014, the installed capacity of solar photovoltaic power generation increased significantly, reaching 1,843 megawatts in 2014.
Geothermal Energy
Geothermal energy can be obtained from heat stored below the surface or heat absorbed from the atmosphere and ocean. First, geothermal energy can be obtained from naturally occurring underground steam and used to generate electricity. In the second case, heating and cooling can be achieved by using the temperature difference between outside air and groundwater or groundwater.
The regions with the highest geothermal temperatures are in British Columbia, Northwest Territories, Yukon Territories and Alberta. Thermal energy and power generation projects are being considered, and demonstration projects are being carried out. The South Meager project in British Columbia is Canada's most advanced geothermal power generation project.
In addition, in 2010, there were more than 95,000 ground source heat pumps, representing an installed capacity of approximately 1,045 megawatts of thermal energy (MWth), and the equivalent annual power generation capacity was 1,420 GWh.
Ocean Energy
The ocean is a huge energy source, which can be used to produce different forms of usable energy. For example, technologies have been developed to convert the energy of ocean waves and tides into electricity or other useful forms of electricity. However, there are still many technical, economic and environmental obstacles. Therefore, marine energy is not currently a widely used energy source.
Only inland Canada is inland along the southern border, and most of Canada is surrounded by ocean, which means that Canada has huge energy potential. Currently, Canada has a tidal power plant in Nova Scotia with a capacity of 20 megawatts. Current tidal technology demonstration projects have been deployed in British Columbia and Nova Scotia. In the next few years, the Bay of Fundy, Nova Scotia, is expected to install approximately 13 megawatts of tidal current capacity. The vertical tidal range of the Bay of Fundy is more than 16 meters. It is the highest tidal country in the world and a promising place for the future development of Canadian tidal resources.
Uranium
• Canada is the world's second largest uranium producer, accounting for 15% of global production in 2012.
• Canada has the world's largest high-grade uranium mine, with a uranium grade of 20%, which is 100 times the world average.
• In 2013, Canada produced 9,331.5 tons of uranium, all from mines in northern Saskatchewan.
• Almost 85% of Canada's uranium production is exported. The rest is used to power Canada's CANDU reactor.
• With its resource base and current output, Canada will continue to maintain its important position in uranium production in the future.
Industrial Structure
The Canadian uranium industry consists of the following companies: mining and grinding unprocessed uranium ore, refining and converting it into uranium dioxide and uranium hexafluoride, and producing fuel beams for the CANDU nuclear reactor.
The main Canadian producers are Cameco Corporation and AREVA Resources Canada Inc., which are one of the world's leading uranium suppliers. Many joint venture partners cooperate with Cameco and AREVA in mining and milling operations. In addition, hundreds of Canadian companies have filled specific barriers in the uranium industry, such as uranium exploration and engineering services. Canadian uranium is used to meet the nuclear fuel needs of power companies in Canada and the world.
Resources
Most of Canada's reserves are located in the Athabasca Basin in northern Saskatchewan, which is the world's largest high-grade deposit. For example, at the McArthur River mine, the average content of uranium ore is 18%, making it the highest grade uranium ore in the world. The grade of deposits mined in Canada is 10 to 100 times higher than the average grade of deposits mined elsewhere in the world.
Canada's uranium resources are the fourth largest in the world, after Australia, Kazakhstan and Russia. As of January 1, 2012, Canada had 490,000 tons of uranium, accounting for 9% of the known global recoverable uranium resources, and the price of uranium was US$100 per kilogram. At a higher price, the additional uranium deposits will be considered economically recoverable, thereby increasing Canada's uranium resources.
According to current production levels, known uranium deposits will last for more than 40 years. However, geological evidence indicates the existence of large amounts of undiscovered sediments.
Production
Canada is the world's second largest uranium producer, accounting for approximately 15% of the world's total production. In 2013, Canada produced 9,331.5 tons of uranium, worth about 1.2 billion Canadian dollars.
Canada’s uranium production increased from approximately 9,000 tons per year in the early 1990s to a peak of 12,920 tons per year in 1998. Since then, the annual output of uranium has ranged from 8,214 to 12,552 tons.
Currently, uranium is mined from the MacArthur River, Cigar Lake and Rabbit Lake (Eagle Point) mines in northern Saskatchewan. The largest and only Canadian uranium refinery in the world is located in the Bled River in Ontario, where it refines uranium concentrates from Canada and abroad to produce uranium trioxide. The product is shipped to a conversion facility in Port Hope, Ontario, which produces uranium hexafluoride and also produces the world’s only commercial supply of fuel-grade natural uranium dioxide. Uranium hexafluoride is exported for the production of enriched uranium fuel for use in light water reactors in the United States and other regions. Uranium dioxide is transported to fuel manufacturing facilities in Port Hope in Toronto and Peterborough, Ontario to produce natural uranium fuel for CANDU reactors in Canada and abroad.
Export and Domestic Consumption
About 85% of Canada's uranium production is exported. In 2013, the total value of uranium exports from Canada was approximately 1 billion Canadian dollars. Export products are mainly sold to the United States, Europe and Asia.
The remaining uranium is used to fuel the domestic CANDU reactor, which currently provides about 15% of Canada's electricity. Of the 19 CANDU reactors operating in Canada, 18 are located in Ontario and one is in New Brunswick.
Exploration
Uranium is one of the heaviest and more common elements in the earth's crust. Its most unique physical property is its radioactivity, which makes a great contribution to the earth's natural background radiation. In order to make mining economically feasible, deposits of sufficient size and grade are required. Locating such uranium deposits usually involves ground or aerial radiation measurements in areas with favorable geological conditions, followed by a drilling plan to more accurately outline the size and grade of the deposit, and then decide to develop the mine.
The mining of uranium deposits presents several technical challenges in terms of groundwater, rock properties and radiation protection. Uranium producers have overcome the challenges by developing innovative ground freezing technologies and mechanized "non-entry" underground mining methods to mine high-grade deposits. For low-grade deposits, more traditional open-pit and underground mining methods are used. The presence of radioactive gas complicates safety. This potential hazard can be minimized by using powerful ventilation systems, remote control and special shielding equipment in underground mines.
Supply and Demand
Our industry is driven by energy and electricity consumption, and energy and electricity consumption is increasing year by year. More than 2 billion people in the world do not have reliable electricity, which is an important tool to improve people's quality of life.

Export and Domestic Consumption
About 85% of Canada's uranium production is exported. In 2013, the total value of uranium exports from Canada was approximately 1 billion Canadian dollars. Export products are mainly sold to the United States, Europe and Asia.
The remaining uranium is used to fuel the domestic CANDU reactor, which currently provides about 15% of Canada's electricity. Of the 19 CANDU reactors operating in Canada, 18 are located in Ontario and one is in New Brunswick.
Exploration
Uranium is one of the heaviest and more common elements in the earth's crust. Its most unique physical property is its radioactivity, which makes a great contribution to the earth's natural background radiation. In order to make mining economically feasible, deposits of sufficient size and grade are required. Locating such uranium deposits usually involves ground or aerial radiation measurements in areas with favorable geological conditions, followed by a drilling plan to more accurately outline the size and grade of the deposit, and then decide to develop the mine.
The mining of uranium deposits presents several technical challenges in terms of groundwater, rock properties and radiation protection. Uranium producers have overcome the challenges by developing innovative ground freezing technologies and mechanized "non-entry" underground mining methods to mine high-grade deposits. For low-grade deposits, more traditional open-pit and underground mining methods are used. The presence of radioactive gas complicates safety. This potential hazard can be minimized by using powerful ventilation systems, remote control and special shielding equipment in underground mines.
Supply and Demand
Our industry is driven by energy and electricity consumption, and energy and electricity consumption is increasing year by year. More than 2 billion people in the world do not have reliable electricity, which is an important tool to improve people's quality of life.