Ontario to add 3.5 GW of renewables by Nov 2015

Jun 20, 2014 - The Canadian province of Ontario expects to add 3,500 MW of wind, solar, hydro and biomass power generation capacity by November 2015, the Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO) said.

Among the plants to come on stream is a 142-MW biomass unit at the Thunder Bay Generating Station. The facility first started operation in 1963 as a coal-fired power plant. Thanks to a conversion project initiated by the Ontario Government, coal burning at Thunder Bay ceased in April this year and the plant will now use advanced biomass as fuel.

In its latest 18-Month Outlook for June 2014-November 2015 the IESO noted that the increase in embedded solar and wind capacity coupled with conservation initiatives are helping limit the need for bulk power system electricity. The higher solar and wind capacity share also puts downward pressure on peak demands on the bulk electric system.

As of mid-April the province’s total power generation capacity stood at 32,829 MW, including 1,824 MW of wind, 124 MW of biomass and landfill gas and 8,014 MW of hydropower plants.

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