Ontario's energy system relies primarily on nuclear and hydroelectric generation. Nuclear provides most of the province's baseload supply through reactors like the CANDU system. As nuclear plants age, there is debate around extending their operations or replacing capacity. Renewables like wind and solar provide some intermittent supply but integration challenges remain. Natural gas plants help balance the grid during fluctuations in renewable output. Energy storage and new demand for electricity are areas of focus as the grid transitions further towards lower-carbon sources. Nuclear waste management and public perception of risk also influence energy planning debates.

1. Energy Systems in
Ontario

2. Footer text here
2
The unit of energy: kWh
~$0.15

3. 3

4. Footer text here
4

5. 5
Calculating Energy
Consumption
Energy (kWh) = Power (W) xTime (h)
• Many ways to arrive at the same amount
of energy, with different combinations
of power and time values
• However, high power value over short
time requires higher energy production
capacity than same energy demand
spread over a longer time period

6. Price of electricity in ON (Time of Use pricing)
Footer text here
6
Time of use pricing designed to even out daily fluctuations in energy demand and avoid large peak demands

7. Different types of electricity generation
1. Baseload Generation
Nuclear and run-of-the-river hydro plants generate a constant, steady supply of
electricity - 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.The output of these generators is
consistent and reliable, but rarely changes (or changes very slowly, i.e., on seasonal
timescales). Because of these operating characteristics, they are typically used first
to meet Ontario's energy needs.
2. Intermediate and Peaking Generation
As demand rises and falls throughout the day, more flexible intermediate forms of
electricity generation are used. Generators such as natural gas plants and hydro
dams – which can adjust their output up or down quickly – play a crucial role in
matching supply and demand throughout the day.These generators can also be
called upon to meet peak demand when electricity use is at its highest.
July 22, 2012 Footer text here
7

8. Ontario’s Energy Supply Capacity (NOT production):
8
https://www.ieso.ca/en/Learn/Ontario-Electricity-Grid/Supply-Mix-and-Generation
https://www.ieso.ca/en/Corporate-IESO/Media/Year-End-Data

9. ElectricityGeneration in Ontario by fuel type (2021)
9
• While capacity represents the maximum amount of
electricity that the system can supply at any given
time, the actual amount of energy produced varies
• For example, while natural gas represented about
28% of Ontario’s total transmission-connected
capacity in 2021, it only accounted for about 9% of
actual generation.
• Most of the electricity produced in Ontario is
generated at nuclear and hydro plants, which produce
low levels of greenhouse gas emissions.
https://www.cer-rec.gc.ca/en/data-analysis/energy-markets/provincial-
territorial-energy-profiles/provincial-territorial-energy-profiles-ontario.html
https://www.ieso.ca/en/Corporate-IESO/Media/Year-End-Data
Total Electricity Output by Source in 2021 (Source: Year
End Data)
143TWh*
*153TWh in 2019

10. Ontario’s energy supply mix
Footer text here
• ON leads Canada in wind capacity
• Varied mix compared to QC and
MB (which are primarily hydro)
• Notice prevalence of coal in
neighboring US states

11. Electricity Generation andTransmission in Ontario (2022)
http://www.ieso.ca/ontarioenergymap/index.html

12. Conservation measures: Demand response
Footer text here
15
• Using smart thermostats
that can be controlled
remotely and coordinate
electricity consumption
during peak demand
(typically hot summer days)
• Other measures include
(i) Rebate programs to
retrofit homes with
energy efficient
heating/cooling
(ii) ‘Green Button’ app to
track energy use

13. Footer text here
16
Conservation:
Green Button Initiative
greenbuttondata.org

14. Conservation: Green
Button Initiative
greenbuttondata.org
Footer
text
here
17

15. Intensity (efficiency) and total demand
Footer text here
18

16. Intensity, efficiency and total demand
Footer text here
19
Let’s do the math…
2010: 5000 hh x 10 MWh/hh = 50,000 MWh
2030: 6500 hh x 8 MWh/hh = 52,000 MWh
Total demand is still increasing, despite
lowered intensity and increased efficiency!

17. GHG emissions from energy production in Ontario
Footer text here
20
Ontario’s Long-Term Energy Plan:
https://www.ontario.ca/document/2017-long-term-
energy-plan
• GHG emissions from
electricity production
are 80% below 1990
levels (due to phasing
out coal)
• BUT no further
reductions expected for
foreseeable future
• Impact of pickering
nuclear plant going off
line?  replaced by N/G
as per Conservatives?
• Potential gains from
steel industry switching
to electric arc
technology and EVs

18. GHG reductions in Ontario’s
electricity sector
Footer text here
21
Non-Emitting: nuclear, hydro (not entirely accurate), wind, solar
Emitting: primarily natural gas

19. But electricity demand expected to increase significantly in near-
future
Footer text here
22 https://www.pwu.ca/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/ontarios-long-term-energy-plan.pdf
• ON is facing an energy shortfall as the climate
crisis prompts drivers, homeowners, farmers
and industries to convert from fossil energy to
electricity to power their cars, homes, farms
and businesses.
• Additional 92TWh of zero-carbon electricity
required to meet 2030 emission reduction
targets… a major challenge for current energy
production infrastructure

20. New demand for zero-carbon electricity
Three types of new demand that will emerge in Ontario as emissions are reduced:
1. Home heating, a seasonal demand that Ontario currently meets with fossil fuels.To reduce
GHGs, Ontario will have to use a different method to meet its emissions targets.This is
considered the largest challenge to the energy system, particularly the distribution
network.
2. Electric vehicles and water heating represent daily demand that is driven by consumer
behaviour.There is a belief that much of this demand can be accommodated through smart
controllers and, consequently, the use of off-peak energy as much as possible.
3. The industrial applications and development of an Ontario hydrogen industry, for electricity
storage and energy services, could be an important part of Ontario’s baseload capacity mix.
Footer text here
24

21. 1. Are renewables
‘clean’?

22. Not categorically...many challenges remain
26

23. 27
• Ontario’s investment
into the solar sector has
been through micro-
generation across the
province
• Thus, it is only expected
to make up a very small
amount of Ontario’s
energy supply into the
foreseeable future.

24. http://www.ieso.ca/ontarioenergymap/index.html
Electricity Generation in Ontario (2022)

25. Footer text here
• Wind energy is
produced
almost
exclusively in
rural areas
• Need large
area to
produce ~8.5%
of ON supply
Wind Energy in Ontario
29

26. The Rural-Urban Divide
Ripley (near Lake Huron) Toronto
30
• Rural areas have to bear social and environmental costs of energy demand in urban areas
• Requires expansion of power grid to deliver this energy to urban centres
• Potential for wind energy generation nearToronto (offshore) is under utilized due to NIMBYism (NIMBY =
Not In My BackYard)

27. NIMBYism and WindTurbine Syndrome
31

28. 32
WindTurbines vs. Birds

29. 33
• The biggest environmental
problem that wind
turbines cause is due to the
materials used in their
generators

30. Neodymium Magnets
The generators in the wind turbines are
made with very powerful neodymium
magnets. Neodymium is a rare earth
metal (REM)s which is currently mined
almost entirely in China
(Neodymium is also used in EVs and
many other applications such as
cellphones and computers).
34

31. Footer text here
35
}Used in wind
and solar
technology
• Difficult to mine in an environmentally sustainable way (processing of ore uses large quantities of
toxic chemicals)
• Externalities generated by the mining process are offloaded onto developing countries

32. Baotou
Inner Mongolia, China
• China produces 85-90% of the world’s
rare earth elements. Of this amount,
approximately half is mined around the
city of Baotou in Inner Mongolia
Autonomous Region.The region is
covered with slag mines and toxic tailings
ponds
• Compounded by desertification and land
degradation already occurring there
36

33. 37
From lush grasslands to dried up
tailings pond (15 km across)

34. • China holds 30% of world
Neodymium deposits, but
produces 90% of global
Neodymium supply
• China’s dominance of rare earth
mineral market is because they are
more willing than most nations to
bear environmental costs
Footer text here
38
https://getpocket.com/explore/item/the-dystopian-lake-filled-by-the-world-s-tech-lust?utm_source=pocket-newtab

35. Yttrium

36. Additional Challenges with wind/solar
1. Unpredictable supply: solar/wind only generate energy when
conditions are sunny/windy
2. Less flexibility: Cannot be turned on/off like fossil fuel powered
plants and can lead to brownouts/blackouts
3. Leads to supply/demand mismatches at certain times of day
• E.g., wind-powered generation is typically highest at night, but demand is highest
during the daytime
4. Can lead to situations where grid is overloaded
• Extra electricity cannot just disappear, but has to go somewhere
Footer text here
40

37. 41
Export Subsidies
• Arises from the disconnect between supply and demand
• Supply of wind energy peaks when demand is relatively low
• ON pays for extra energy to be exported to QC and US
• ON then buys back energy when demand is high
• ON pays twice AND ends up potentially purchasing non-
green electricity (from coal combustion in USA)
See also: https://thinkingenergy.ca/commentaries/renewables-based-distributed-energy-resources-in-ontario-a-three-part-series-of-unfortunate-truths-part-1-intermittency-considerations/

38. 42
NG = natural gas = methane = CH4
• Need large batteries to store
excess energy (more toxic
chemicals and metals, not
feasible until technology
improves)
• Offset excess energy by
having fossil fuel plants that
can be turned ON and OFF
quickly to maintain supply in
proportion to demand (natural
gas peaker plants in ON), but
leads to higher GHG emissions
• Use extra energy to generate
fuels high in “chemical
energy”, e.g., hydrogen and
natural gas from CO2 and H2
To avoid this issue

39. 43
Energy Storage and the Electricity System
Storage allows surplus energy to be stored
until needed
Storage can:
• Help maintain the reliability of the grid by
drawing electricity when demand is low and
releasing that stored energy when demand is
high
• Support the wide-scale integration of
renewables by stepping-in to cover reductions
in solar and wind output caused by sudden
weather changes
• Improve energy security by providing back-up
power to homes, businesses and communities
https://www.ieso.ca/en/Learn/Ontario-Electricity-Grid/Energy-Storage

40. 2. Natural gas and
biofuels

41. 45
• Form of bioenergy, like other
fossil fuels, it is formed through
decomposition of carbon-
based life-forms
• Generates 30% less CO2 than
oil combustion and 50% less
than coal combustion
• So “cleanest” of fossil fuels
• generally preferable to biofuel
• why?
Natural Gas

42. July 22, 2012 Footer text here
46

43. Natural Gas Peaker Plants
As we increase our reliance on wind and solar,
we simultaneously increase our reliance on fossil
fuels (back up power). Ideally, this will come
from natural gas.
These plants can be turned on and off
immediately during low-production times for
wind (and solar).
The other sources of energy (hydro and nuclear
generation) cannot be turned and off this
quickly!
47

44. Hydraulic Fracturing
(“Fracking”)
While fracking for shale gas is not yet a
common practice in Ontario, there are
plenty of reserves which offer the potential
to secure abundant and inexpensive energy
stocks for many years to come.
Fracking Explained:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uti2ni
W2BRA
48

45. Hydraulic Fracturing (“Fracking”)
Fracking Explained: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uti2niW2BRA
49

46. Renewable Natural Gas (RNG)
• RNG or biogas is produced by
capturing gases (mostly methane)
produced during the anaerobic
decomposition of organic matter found
in waste
• Sources of RNG include landfill gas,
livestock manure, wasterwater
treatment sludge among others
• RNG has the advantage of being
produced without drilling or fracking
Footer text here
50

47. 3. Nuclear energy
has potential.

49. July 22, 2012 Footer text here
53
Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station
Following magnitude 9 earthquake and tsunami, March 2011

50. Fukushima: Perceived vs. Actual Risks
Fukushima Daiichi Radiation*
0
(3 deaths due to workers
drowning in tsunami)
Tōhoku Earthquake/Tsunami
54
15,891 dead
6,152 injured
2,579 missing
*However there may be longer term
health impacts from both radiation
exposure and non-radiation causes (e.g.,
PTSD) https://www.who.int/ionizing_radiation/a_e/fukushima/faqs-fukushima/en/

51. July 22, 2012 Footer text here
55

52. 56
(2013)

53. 57
(2013)

54. 58
(2013)

55. July 22, 2012 Footer text here
59
Source: Survey of Canadians (n=2,500), Feb. 8-12, 2019

56. 2022 data

57. 61

58. 62
(2013)

59. Pickering A/B
• Owned by Ontario Power Generation (OPG; a
crown corporation owned by the Ontario
Government)
• It has 8 515-516MW CANDU reactors
• Planned to go off-line in January 2025, leading to
a 75% reduction in surplus energy available in the
province
• Province of ON and OPG applying to extend
operation until September 2026 and potentially for
the next 30 years
• Operations past 2026 would require costly
refurbishments (hence the initial plan to shut down
in 2025), OPG carrying feasibility study to be
complated by end of 2023
64

60. Darlington
Also owned by OPG, it has 4 x 878 MW CANDU
reactors
• Unit 2 recently refurbished
• Units 1 and 3 currently being refurbished
• Unit 4 scheduled for refurbishment to start later
in 2023 (completion by 2026)
65
https://www.opg.com/strengthening-the-economy/our-projects/darlington-refurbishment/

61. Bruce A/B
Operated by Bruce Power, it has 8
CANDU reactors running between 730-
817 MW.
It is the world’s second largest nuclear
power plant.
66

62. 68
• Fission is splitting of an atom’s nucleus
• E.g., Uranium-235 splits into two when hit
with a neutron, forming Kr and Ba, and
releasing energy
• Chain reaction because 3 neutrons are
released, that can cause fission of other
Uranium nuclei
• Other nuclear fuel sources: plutonium
(from Uranium-238) and Uranium-233
(from thorium)
Neutron? Atom?
Nucleus? U-235 vs.
U-238?
Nuclear Energy produced by fission
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FU6y1XIADdg

63. Light Water Reactor
(LWR)
• Nuclear fission is carried out in
the reactor, heat from
reaction produces steam
which drives a turbine thus
producing electricity
• Fuel rods (enriched uranium)
• Normal water is used both as
a neutron moderator and a
coolant
• Control rods and water
neutron moderator are
required to prevent chain
reaction from getting out of
control 69

64. 70
• LWRs are not very efficient, they require the uranium fuel to be enriched (to concentrate U-
235)
• Generate more waste as well, because they can’t use U-238 as fuel
LightWater Reactor

65. Canada Deuterium-Uranium
(CANDU) Reactor
71
• Uses ‘heavy water’ enriched in deuterium, which increases neutron use efficiency by decreasing absorption of
neutrons by the water, and means that uranium fuel does not have to be enriched (therefore less expensive)
• CANDU reactors use 30–40% less mined uranium than light-water reactors (LWRs) per unit of electricity
produced
What are deuterium
and isotopes?

66. 72

67. TheWaste Problem
73
• bury it in deep mines/pits in the earth or put it in storage containers
• 3rd/4th gen. reactors are capable of reusing some of the fuel that was previously considered “spent”

68. TheWaste Problem
74
• Nuclear waste storage has become very effective at containing any radioactivity from leaking
• The concern is not leaking of radioactivity in the short-term, but whether people 5,000 or 10,000 years down
the road will even understand what it is if they happen to dig up nuclear waste containers

69. July 22, 2012 Footer text here
75

70. 76

71. 77

72. 78

73. Thorium Molten Salt Reactor Experiment (Oak
Ridge National Laboratory) – 1964-1969
79

74. 80
Some Advantages:
• Does not produce waste
that can be weaponized
• much less nuclear waste
• Meltdown proof
• Fuel lasts a lot longer
than uranium-based
reactors
• No need to use water for
cooling
• Energy of 1 tonTh = 200
ton U = 3.5 million ton
coal
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uK367T7h6ZY

75. 81

76. 82
Some challenges:
• Have to prevent
corrosion of reactor due
to salt core
• Have to demonstrate
feasibility at commercial
scale
• Capital intensive
• No economic driver for
change or development
(e.g., both U andTh are
abundant and cheap),
strong U lobby
• High cost of fuel
fabrication
https://www.world-nuclear.org/information-library/current-and-future-generation/thorium.aspx

77. 83
Thorium is abundant and is a by-product of REM ore processing

78. July 22, 2012 Footer text here
84
You can fit all of the fuel you would need for an entire lifetime into the palm of your hand.

79. 85
Ontario’s Long-Term Energy Plan:
https://www.ontario.ca/document/2017-long-term-
energy-plan

80. Conclusions

81. 87