| Ontario reviews power options | | Print | |
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The government of the Canadian province of Ontario are currently considering a report that sets out options for maintaining security of supply. The province is expected to experience a shortage of electricity from 2007 because the Government is committed to closing its coal fired plants by then (although the report recommends keeping them open until the generation gap is filled). The report recommends a diverse mix of fuel supplies including an increase in nuclear generation as well as energy conservation measures. It also concludes that the electricity market as established in Ontario does not ensure security of supply and must be reformed. The dilemma facing Ontario is that while it has five mothballed reactors that could be brought back on stream by 2007 (although it may not be possible to re-start two of them) the cost would be roughly equivalent to building new more efficient reactors. However any new reactor is unlikely to come on stream until 2011. Atomic Energy of Canada has proposed building four pairs of its new ACR design, which it would finance and build at a fixed cost. It would then offer these units to either state owned Ontario Power or the private sector generator Bruce Power. If either utility took up the offer they would be responsible for providing the sites for the reactors. Energy Minister Dwight Duncan has promised to publish proposals in response to the report this spring. |
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