Umair Gaines
Saskatchewan, a province in Canada, receives most of its electricity from fossil fuels, with natural gas and coal accounting for a significant proportion of its energy mix. SaskPower, the province's primary electric utility, serves over 550,000 customers and manages a vast network of power lines spanning approximately 160,000 kilometers. While SaskPower holds the exclusive right to supply electricity in most areas, some cities like Saskatoon and Swift Current have their own electrical services. Saskatchewan is also a leader in developing emerging technologies, such as small modular reactors and carbon management, and has seen growth in wind and solar power, thanks partly to Indigenous community initiatives.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Main Sources of Power Generation | Coal and Coke, Natural Gas, Hydro, Wind, Biomass, and Geothermal Energy |
| Largest Share of Electricity Production (as of July 2023) | Coal and Coke (39%) |
| Fossil Fuel Electricity Production (2021) | 86% (44% from natural gas, 41% from coal, and a small amount of petroleum) |
| Renewable Electricity Production (2021) | 14% (primarily hydroelectricity) |
| Electricity Generated in 2021 | 24.9 terawatt-hours (TWh) (approximately 4% of total Canadian generation) |
| Estimated Generating Capacity in 2021 | 4,602 megawatts (MW) |
| Main Electricity Supplier | SaskPower |
| Electricity Suppliers in Saskatoon and Swift Current | Saskatoon Light & Power and Swift Current Department of Light and Power, respectively |
| SaskPower Customers | Over 550,000 |
| Power Lines Covered by SaskPower | Over 160,000 kilometres |
| Service Territory Covered by SaskPower | Approximately 652,000 square kilometres |
| Interconnections | Four with Manitoba, one with North Dakota, and one with Alberta |
| Electricity Exports | To Alberta and Montana |
| Electricity Imports | From British Columbia (BC) and Montana |
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What You'll Learn
SaskPower, the province's primary electricity supplier
SaskPower is the main electricity supplier in Saskatchewan, Canada. It is owned by the government through its holding company, the Crown Investments Corporation, and governed by a board of directors appointed by the lieutenant governor of Saskatchewan. The board is accountable to the provincial government Minister Responsible for Saskatchewan Power Corporation.
SaskPower has the exclusive right and obligation to supply electricity in the province, except in the city of Swift Current and most of Saskatoon. The Swift Current Department of Light and Power provides electricity within the municipal boundary of Swift Current, while Saskatoon Light & Power serves customers within the 1958 boundaries of Saskatoon. SaskPower is responsible for areas annexed after 1958.
SaskPower serves more than 550,000 customers through over 160,000 kilometres of power lines across a service territory of approximately 652,000 square kilometres. This low customer density means that while most North American electrical utilities supply an average of 12 customers per circuit kilometre, SaskPower supplies about three.
SaskPower was founded in 1929 by an Act of the provincial legislature as the Saskatchewan Power Commission. The Commission's purpose was to research and establish a provincial power system to provide safe and reliable electricity to the province's residents. At the time, electricity was largely unavailable outside of larger centres, and rates varied significantly between communities due to the independent operation of electrical utilities. The rapid growth in Saskatchewan's population led to a sharp increase in electricity demand, and the provincial government recognised that the lack of inexpensive power was hindering industrial development.
The Commission initially operated 35 generating stations and over 8,800 kilometres of transmission lines. In 1949, it became the Saskatchewan Power Corporation and began purchasing and integrating the province's small, independent electrical utilities into a province-wide electrical grid. The Corporation also undertook the electrification of rural areas, bringing power to over 66,000 farms and hundreds of schools, churches, and community halls between 1949 and 1966. To manage the high costs of rural electrification, SaskPower implemented a single-wire ground return distribution system, which was a pioneering effort at the time.
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Fossil fuels: coal, coke, and natural gas
Saskatchewan's electricity sector produces the second-highest amount of greenhouse gas emissions in Canada, primarily due to its reliance on fossil fuels. In 2021, 86% of electricity in Saskatchewan was produced from fossil fuels, with natural gas accounting for 44% and coal for 41%. Saskatchewan's two largest power stations are coal-fired: the Poplar River Power Station in Coronach and the Boundary Dam Power Station in Estevan. The Boundary Dam Power Station has been partially retrofitted with carbon capture and storage technology, capturing and storing emissions that would otherwise be released into the atmosphere.
Historically, most natural gas production in Saskatchewan came from wells in the southwest of the province. However, an increasing amount of natural gas is now produced as a byproduct of oil production from various formations. Saskatchewan's total potential for recoverable, sales-quality gas is estimated to be 13.4 trillion cubic feet, with 4.7 trillion cubic feet remaining at the end of 2021. Natural gas was the main energy consumed in Canada in 2020, accounting for 38% of consumption.
Saskatchewan's remaining resource of crude oil is estimated to be 7.6 billion barrels as of December 2021. The province is the second-largest crude oil-producing province in Canada, accounting for 9% of the country's crude oil production in 2023. Most of Saskatchewan's crude oil is heavy oil, and two refineries in the province consume western Canadian crude oil. While crude oil production has decreased in recent years, natural gas production has also decreased, dropping from 0.41 billion cubic feet per day to 0.31 billion cubic feet per day.
SaskPower, owned by the government through the Crown Investments Corporation, has the exclusive right and obligation to supply electricity to the province, except in the city of Swift Current and most of Saskatoon. SaskPower serves more than 550,000 customers through over 160,000 kilometres of power lines and covers a territory of approximately 652,000 square kilometres. SaskPower buys electricity from Independent Power Producers, who operate facilities such as the Chinook Power Station, a natural gas power station near Swift Current.
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Renewable sources: hydro, wind, solar
Saskatchewan has been historically reliant on fossil fuels for electricity generation, with natural gas and coal accounting for 86% of its electricity production in 2021. However, the province is taking steps to transition towards renewable sources such as hydro, wind, and solar power.
Hydro
Saskatchewan has about 889 MW of hydroelectric capacity. The facilities are scattered across the province, with some as far north as Lake Athabasca in northwest Saskatchewan. In March 2021, a new 230-kilovolt transmission line, the Birtle Transmission Project, was completed, increasing interprovincial transfers of renewable-sourced power from Manitoba to Saskatchewan. Under new long-term power agreements, Manitoba Hydro will supply up to 315 MW of renewable hydroelectric power to Saskatchewan each year.
Wind
Wind power has been a source of electricity generation in Saskatchewan for decades, with farm families using wind turbines to generate electricity as early as 1948. The province has immense potential for wind power, and it has grown in recent years, thanks partly to the leadership of Indigenous communities. In 2023, the Government of Canada announced a $50 million contribution to the Bekevar Wind Energy project, demonstrating their support for wind energy development in the province.
Solar
Southern Saskatchewan has some of the highest solar photovoltaic potential in Canada, with Regina and Saskatoon receiving an average of 7.15 and 7.10 kilowatt-hours of solar energy per square meter, respectively. The province has attracted investments in clean electricity projects, including support for Indigenous and community-led initiatives, which may include solar energy development.
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Trade with Manitoba and North Dakota
SaskPower has four interconnections with Manitoba and one with North Dakota. Both Manitoba and North Dakota are on the same grid frequency as Saskatchewan, which means interconnections can be made directly using a normal AC transmission line. In 2023, Saskatchewan's net interprovincial and international electricity inflows were 0.6 TWh. Saskatchewan trades electricity primarily with Manitoba and North Dakota.
SaskPower and Manitoba Hydro completed a new 230-kilovolt transmission line in March 2021 (the Birtle Transmission Project), which increased interprovincial transfers of renewable-sourced power from Manitoba to Saskatchewan. Under new long-term power agreements, Manitoba Hydro will supply up to 315 MW of renewable hydroelectric power to Saskatchewan each year. Saskatchewan has several long-term supply agreements with Manitoba Hydro, which can provide up to 290 MW of electricity per hour.
SaskPower's interconnection with North Dakota is through the Great Plains Synfuels plant, which provides carbon dioxide for the Boundary Dam Power Station's carbon capture and storage facility.
The trading of electricity is done through various "interconnections" in the form of cross-border transmission lines. SaskPower can deal directly with its equivalent organization across the border, either purchasing electricity to reduce costs or selling excess electricity to generate revenue. These interconnections provide reliability benefits in normal operations and emergency situations, helping to keep the lights on for SaskPower customers.
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Carbon capture and storage
Saskatchewan's electricity is generated by SaskPower, which serves over 550,000 customers and covers a geographic area of approximately 652,000 square kilometres. In 2021, 86% of electricity in Saskatchewan was produced from fossil fuels, with natural gas and coal being the largest sources.
Saskatchewan has been taking steps to reduce emissions by investing in carbon capture and storage (CCS) technology. The Boundary Dam Power Station in Estevan, Sask., is the world's first power station to use CCS technology to capture harmful CO2 emissions. The station's Unit 3 boiler is the world's first fully integrated post-combustion CO2 capture and storage project and has captured over four million tonnes of CO2 to date. Saskatchewan also has 12 CO2 enhanced oil recovery (EOR) projects in operation, which can increase the life-cycle and sustainability of oil wells.
The province has announced priorities to advance private sector investment in CCUS technology, including expanding provincial pipeline infrastructure and working with the energy sector to ensure the competitiveness of CO2 injection projects. The government is also focusing on predictability and minimal administrative burden for industry investment in CCUS, as well as maximising credit generation for captured and sequestered CO2.
Saskatchewan's Carbon Storage Research Centre near Estevan hosts Aquistore, an independent research and monitoring project that demonstrates the safe storage of carbon dioxide (CO2) underground. The Weyburn-Midale Project, another CCUS initiative, has resulted in two books detailing best practices for validating CO2 geological storage.
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Frequently asked questions
In 2023, Saskatchewan generated most of its electricity from fossil fuels, with coal and coke accounting for 39% of the total electricity produced. Other fossil fuels used include natural gas and petroleum.
SaskPower, established in 1929 by the provincial government, is the principal electric utility in Saskatchewan and has the exclusive right to supply electricity in the province, except in the city of Swift Current and most of Saskatoon.
Saskatchewan has a growing electricity system and has shown leadership in the development of emerging technologies, such as small modular reactors and carbon management technologies. The government of Canada has also invested in clean electricity projects in the province, and Saskatchewan is projected to see some of the greatest growth rates in clean energy jobs by 2050.
