"Reducing emissions from power production is a cornerstone of our made-in-Saskatchewan climate plan, and we are pleased with the rapid progress SaskPower is making toward exceeding its targets," said Don Morgan, Minister Responsible for SaskPower. "This positive forecast is a strong indicator that SaskPower's investments in renewables and lower-carbon baseload power are paying off."
SaskPower's GHG emissions for 2020 are approximately 20 per cent lower than 2019, and 10 per cent lower than the 2005 benchmark, even though load has increased more than 25 per cent since 2005. Emissions have been trending downward since 2018, however the significant drop for 2020 can be attributed to 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.
"By running our system differently and making substantial investments in renewable energy like wind and solar power, we're ahead of schedule to fulfill our commitment," said SaskPower President & CEO Mike Marsh. "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."
SaskPower is evaluating existing and emerging low- or non-emitting power generation options to reduce GHG emissions to net zero by 2050. This includes increased generation from solar and wind with energy storage, nuclear power from small modular reactors, potential carbon capture and clean imports.
For more information, visit Our Power Future.
#Powering2030
At a glance...
- SaskPower's latest forecast shows a GHG emissions reduction of at least 50 per cent below 2005 levels by 2030
- This is greater than the 40 per cent commitment made by SaskPower in 2015
- More information can be found at Our Power Future
