Electricity Choices

A Choice of Electricity Options

The range of supply options, both large and small, for British Columbia include:

Bioenergy: Bioenergy is derived from organic biomass sources such as wood residue, agricultural waste, municipal solid waste and other biomass and may be considered a carbon-neutral form of energy, because the carbon dioxide released by the biomass when converted to energy is equivalent to the amount absorbed during its lifetime.

A number of bioenergy facilities operate in British Columbia today. Many of these are "cogeneration" plants that create both electricity and heat for on-site use and in some cases, sell surplus electricity to BC Hydro.

Coal Thermal Power: The BC Energy Plan establishes a zero emission standard for greenhouse gas emissions from coal-fired plants. This will require proponents of new coal facilities to employ clean coal technology with carbon capture and sequestration to ensure there are no greenhouse gas emissions.

Geothermal: Geothermal power is electricity generated from the earth. Geothermal power production involves tapping into pockets of superheated water and steam deep underground, bringing them to the surface and using the heat to produce steam to drive a turbine and produce electricity. British Columbia has potential high temperature (the water is heated to more than 200 degrees Celsius) geothermal resources in the coastal mountains and lower temperature resources in the interior, in northeast British Columbia and in a belt down the Rocky Mountains. Geothermal energy's two main advantages are its consistent supply, and the fact that it is a clean, renewable source of energy.

What is the Difference between Firm and Intermittent Electricity?

Firm electricity refers to electricity that is available at all times even in adverse conditions. The main sources of reliable electricity in British Columbia include large hydroelectric dams, and natural gas. This differs from intermittent electricity, which is limited or is not available at all times. An example of intermittent electricity would be wind which only produces power when the wind is blowing.

Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technology: British Columbia companies are recognized globally for being leaders in hydrogen and fuel cell technology for mobile, stationary and micro applications. For example, BC Transit's fuel cell buses are planned for deployment in Whistler in 2009.

Large Hydroelectric Dams: The chief advantage of a hydro system is that it provides a reliable supply with both dependable capacity and energy, and a renewable and clean source of energy. Hydropower produces essentially no carbon dioxide.

Site C is one of many resource options that can help meet BC Hydro's customers' electricity needs. No preferred option has been selected at this time; however; it is recognized that the Province will need to examine opportunities for some large projects to meet growing demand.

As part of The BC Energy Plan, BC Hydro and the Province will enter into initial discussions with First Nations, the Province of Alberta and communities to discuss Site C to ensure that communications regarding the potential project and the processes being followed are well known. The purpose of this step is to engage the various parties up front to obtain input for the proposed engagement process. The decision-making process on Site C includes public consultation, environmental impact assessments, obtaining a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity, obtaining an Environmental Assessment Certificate and necessary environmental approvals, and approval by Cabinet.

Race Rocks Tidal Energy Project

Announced in early 2005, this demonstration project between the provincial and federal governments, industry, and Pearson College is producing zero emission tidal power at the Race Rocks Marine Reserve on southern Vancouver Island. Using a current-driven turbine submerged below the ocean surface, the project is producing about 77,000 kilowatt hours of electricity per year, enough to meet the needs of approximately eight households. The knowledge gained about tidal energy will help our province remain at the forefront of clean energy generation technology.

Natural Gas: Natural gas is converted into electricity through the use of gas fired turbines in medium to large generating stations; particularly high efficiencies can be achieved through combining gas turbines with steam turbines in the combined cycle and through reciprocating engines and mini and macro turbines. Combined cycle power generation using natural gas is the cleanest source of power available using fossil fuels. Natural gas provides a reliable supply with both dependable capacity and firm energy.

Small Hydro: This includes run-of-river and micro Hydro. These generate electricity without altering seasonal flow characteristics. Water is diverted from a natural watercourse through an intake channel and pipeline to a powerhouse where a turbine and generator convert the kinetic energy in the moving water to electrical energy.

Twenty-nine electricity purchase agreements were awarded to small waterpower producers by BC Hydro in 2006. These projects will generate approximately 2,851 gigawatt hours of electricity annually (equivalent to electricity consumed by 285,000 homes in British Columbia). There are also 32 existing small hydro projects in British Columbia that generate 3,500 gigawatt hours (equivalent to electricity consumed by 350,000 homes in British Columbia).

Solar: With financial support from the Ministry of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources, the "Solar for Schools" program has brought clean solar photovoltaic electricity to schools in Vernon, Fort Nelson, and Greater Victoria.

The BC Sustainable Energy Association is leading a project which targets installing solar water heaters on 100,000 rooftops across British Columbia.

Tidal Energy: A small demonstration project has been installed at Race Rocks located west-southwest of Victoria. The Lester B. Pearson College of the Pacific, the provincial and federal government, and industry have partnered to install and test a tidal energy demonstration turbine at Race Rocks. The project will generate about 77,000 kilowatt hours on an annual basis (equivalent to electricity consumed by approximately eight homes).

Wind: British Columbia has abundant, widely distributed wind energy resources in three areas: the Peace region in the Northeast; Northern Vancouver Island; and the North Coast. Wind is a clean and renewable source that does not produce air or water pollution, greenhouse gases, solid or toxic wastes.

Three wind generation projects have been offered power purchase contracts in BC Hydro's 2006 Open Call for Power. These three projects will have a combined annual output of 979 gigawatt hours of electricity (equivalent to electricity consumed by 97,900 homes).

Table 1: Summary of Resource Options

British Columbia's Strength in Electricity Diversity

British Columbia is truly fortunate to have a wide variety of future supply options available to meet our growing demand for energy. A cost effective way to meet that demand is to conserve energy and be more energy efficient. However, British Columbia will still need to bring new power on line to meet demand growth in the years ahead. In order to ensure we have this critical resource available to British Columbians when they need it, government will be looking to secure a range of made-in-B.C. power to serve British Columbians in the years ahead.

Government's goal is to encourage a diverse mix of resources that represent a variety of technologies. Some resource technologies, such as large and small hydro, thermal power, wind and geothermal provide well-established, commercially available sources of electricity. Other emerging technologies that are not yet widely used include large ocean wave and tidal power, solar, hydrogen and advanced coal technologies.

2004 Total Electricity Production by Source (% of total)