Tausi Insider

A report by Ontario's Independent Electricity System Operator concluded that creating a net-zero grid by mid-century would nearly triple annual costs to roughly $60-billion, compared to $20-billion today. Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press An emissions-free electrical grid in Ontario – one that could support mass adoption of electric cars and heat pumps – would cost three times more each year than what the province pays today, the body that co-ordinates the province’s electricity system said Thursday. In a report responding to questions from Minister of Energy Todd Smith concerning the future of Ontario’s grid, the Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO) concluded that accomplishing a net-zero grid by mid-century would require approximately $400-billion in new infrastructure, not to mention lots of land. The annual costs would be roughly $60-billion, as compared to $20-billion today. The amount of electricity produced would double, displacing use of gasoline, natural gas an...

Nuclear power emits no GHGs and is accessible, whether or not the sun is shining and/or the wind is blowing. Petr David Josek/The Associated Press John Richards is an emeritus professor at Simon Fraser University, and fellow-in-residence at C.D. Howe Institute. Christopher Mabry has a master’s of public policy at SFU, and is currently a policy analyst at Natural Resources Canada. They co-authored a recent C.D. Howe monograph , assessing the case for small nuclear reactors. A great part of Canada’s goal of eliminating emissions from electricity generation by 2050 relies on renewable energy, and the relevant technology is simply not there yet. Wind and solar generate valuable zero-greenhouse-gas power – but only provided there exist low-cost means to “store” surplus electricity not needed by the utility at time of generation but needed later. Without adequate storage, power utilities heavily dependent on wind/solar risk instability. The problem has not arisen in Canada, but has elsewhe...