WaterPower Canada unveils guidebook to help maximize hydropower's role in Canada's Net-zero electricity grid
15 August 2023
WaterPower Canada (WPC) has unveiled a comprehensive guidebook aimed at assisting policymakers in unlocking the complete potential of water-generated electricity.
Titled "Hydropower’s Contribution to a Net-Zero Electricity Grid" this concise and robust report emphasizes the pivotal role of hydropower in shaping Canada's net-zero future. It underscores the indispensable grid services that hydropower provides and underscores their significance in upholding system dependability, and offers invaluable insights to Canadian electricity policymakers and various stakeholders within the electricity industry.
The whitepaper simplifies technical concepts, like electricity system frequency and inertia, power ramping and net demand variability, voltage and reactive power, as well as grid ancillary services, making them easily understandable for readers without technical backgrounds.
Amid Canada's swift transition towards achieving net-zero carbon emissions, the ongoing evolution of the electrical grid demands the expansion and advancement of transmission networks across broader areas to incorporate variable renewable energy sources. Benefiting from the extensive network of dams and reservoirs that dot the nation's landscape, hydropower emerges as a paramount electricity generator already indispensable to the grid. Its significance is poised to escalate further in the future due to its swift and responsive power generation, substantial energy storage capabilities, and emission-free production.
“The capabilities provided by hydropower facilities, along with firm generation and long-term storage, will become even more important as operators add variable renewables to their grids,” said Gilbert Bennett, WPC Interim President. “As fossil-fuel generation is retired and variable renewables such as wind and solar generation come online, the consistency of hydropower will continue to be a critical element in maintaining power system reliability.”
The report further encompasses four intricate illustrations from diverse regions of the country, showcasing the diverse and intricate nature of hydropower in practical scenarios. These instances spotlight actual applications in Western Canada, Ontario, Québec, and Atlantic Canada.
In the ever-evolving landscape of the electrical grid, resources of paramount importance, such as this report, become indispensable for policymakers. They serve as essential tools to guarantee the sustained provision of critical grid services.
Hydropower’s Contribution to a Net-Zero Electricity Grid received funding support from Energy and Natural Resources Canada.
