6/19/12

Centre for Energy : Overview

A bou t En er g y > T h er m a l > Ov er v iew

Where is thermal electricity generated?

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Coal, the world's most abundant fossil fuel, is the dominant fuel for thermal electricity, accounting for about 39 per cent of global electricity generation. Countries such as the United States, China, India, Poland, South Africa and Australia produce most of their electricity from the burning of coal. Natural gas is used to produce approximately 17 per cent of the world's electricity generation, while oil represents about eight per cent. The United States and Japan are among the top producers in terms of electricity generated using natural gas or oil.

Canada
In Canada, coal is the number one fossil fuel used to generate electricity, accounting for about 19 per cent of net electricity generation. Natural gas is next at five per cent. While the natural gas share of Canada's electricity mix is still small, natural gas is becoming a preferred fuel for most new power plants. Compared with traditional coal-fired facilities, natural gas plants are smaller but emit fewer emissions, provide increased energy efficiencies and can be built more quickly and cost-effectively. Oil is the third most popular fossil fuel for electricity generation, accounting for two per cent. Thermal power varies across the country. Alberta and Saskatchewan depend on coal for about 79 per cent and 66 per cent respectively of their electricity needs, while coal fuels 24 per cent of Ontario's electricity. Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Manitoba also produce electricity from coal. Most oil-fired generation takes place in the Maritimes, and the majority of gas-fired generation is found in Ontario (making up eight per cent of that province's electricity supply). With an installed capacity of 3,920 megawatts of power, the coal-fired Nanticoke station, located in Ontario on the shore of Lake Erie, is Canada's largest thermal plant. The facility produces between 20 to 24 billion kilowatt-hours annually, enough electricity to run nearly 2.5 million households for a year. Other large thermal plants in Canada include: natural gas- and oil-fueled Lennox station near Kingston, Ontario (2,140 megawatts) coal-fired Sundance plant west of Edmonton (2,029 megawatts) coal-fired Lambton plant near Sarnia, Ontario (1,975 megawatts) coal-fired Lakeview plant in Mississauga, Ontario (1,140 megawatts) natural-gas fueled Burrard station near Vancouver (950 megawatts)

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