Ottawa (September 23) A new report from Electricity Canada and the Open Insights initiative, led by researchers at the University of Victoria, finds that expanding electricity connections between provinces could significantly strengthen Canada’s power grid against extreme weather while creating important economic benefits.
Building Grid Resilience through Interprovincial Interties examines how Canada’s electricity system could withstand heatwaves, cold snaps, droughts, wildfires and other extreme weather events as the grid evolves toward 2050. Using power-system and reliability modelling, the study compares a future with no additional interprovincial transmission against one with expanded connections across four key Canadian corridors.
An intertie is a high-voltage transmission connection that links the electricity grids of two provinces, allowing them to share power when and where it’s needed. The Electricity Canada / Open Insights report demonstrates that expanded interties could reduce the expected frequency of grid-level power outages nationally by 69 per cent under extreme weather conditions. In British Columbia, the model finds a 92 per cent reduction in expected outage frequency through stronger connections with Alberta.
Furthermore, the report states there are economic benefits by enabling provinces to share electricity rather than independently building enough generation to meet potential demand. Expanded interties can lower overall system costs. They can also allow provinces with abundant renewable resources to generate new export revenue and serve as “clean energy banks” for neighbouring jurisdictions.
The report’s findings point to greater interprovincial grid integration as a practical tool for managing weather-related risks while building a clean, reliable and affordable electricity system in Canada.
The report can be found on Electricity Canada’s website.
QUOTES
«Extreme weather doesn’t stop at provincial borders, and planning Canada’s response to increased electricity demand can’t afford to do that either. This research shows that stronger connections between provinces can help protect reliability, lower costs and make better use of Canada’s diverse electricity resources.»
- Josée M. Guibord, President and CEO, Electricity Canada
«As our power systems grow, electrify and evolve, reliability must remain at the centre of planning—and that means understanding how climate change impacts which solutions we need to invest in to make the grid more resilient to future shocks. This collaboration between Open Insights and Electricity Canada brings together rigorous, open-source energy-system modelling with the practical knowledge and experience of Canada’s electricity sector, allowing us to examine how extreme weather affects the reliability of Canada’s electricity system and assesses the solutions to help build a more resilient, reliable, and cost-effective grid.»
- Madeleine McPherson, Associate Professor, Department of Civil Engineering, University of Victoria
About Electricity Canada:
Electricity Canada is the national voice for electricity in Canada. Our members generate, transmit, and distribute power to homes and businesses across Canada. We represent integrated electric utilities, independent power producers, transmission and distribution companies, power marketers, and system operators. Our members deliver electricity to all Canadians, in every province and territory.
For additional Information or to arrange an interview:
Graeme Burk
Director of Communications
613-809-0720
burk@electricity.ca