SaskPower on pace for bigger drop in GHG emissions by 2030 than expected

SaskPower is ahead of schedule when it comes to greenhouse gas emissions.

The Crown corporation’s latest forecast says it will reduce GHG emissions by at least 50 per cent from 2005 levels by 2030, bettering the commitment it made in 2015 to reduce them by 40 per cent over the same time period.

“By running our system differently and making substantial investments in renewable energy like wind and solar power, we’re ahead of schedule to fulfil our commitment,” SaskPower president and CEO Mike Marsh said in a media release.

“We will carry this momentum as we work to make these projections a reality, and plan for even deeper cuts to GHG emissions beyond 2030.”

On Thursday, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Canada would exceed its goal of a 36 per cent reduction in GHG emissions by 2030. Trudeau said that number would be closer to 40 or 45 per cent.

To accomplish that, the federal government plans to use such tools as the carbon tax, a vow to phase out coal plants and a change to methane regulations.

According to SaskPower, its emissions for 2020 are about 20 per cent lower than 2019 levels and 10 per cent lower than the 2005 benchmark. It has accomplished that even though load has gone up more than 25 per cent since 2005.

The company says the drop in 2020 is a result of “increased generation from renewable sources, more capture at the Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) facility, the operation of the lower-emitting Chinook Power Station and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.”

Canada also plans to reduce emissions to net zero by 2050.

SaskPower also is aiming to attain that goal, which means continuing to examine other power generation options like solar and wind projects with energy storage, nuclear power from small modular reactors and carbon capture.

Saskatchewan, Alberta, Ontario and New Brunswick already have signed a memorandum of understanding for the development of small modular reactors.