Electrical Power Generating Stations, 1997

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The maps in this sub-topic are based on data from the 1997 edition of the Statistics Canada publication, Electric Power Generating Stations (Catalogue number 57-206-XPB) and from the database used for that publication. Both are based on an annual survey of operators, which give details on all stations of 500 kilowatts (kW) or greater capacity in operation as of December 31, 1997. The cooperation and advice of the Energy Section of Manufacturing, Construction and Energy Division in Statistics Canada is gratefully acknowledged.

This set of maps is in three groups:

• The first group shows stations on the basis of their size (generating capacity). There are two maps: one showing all stations, and a second showing those of the largest single operator type, utilities.
• The second group focusses on the nature of the operators. An introductory map shows the complete set of stations, and it is followed by maps showing the stations operated by four operator types.
• The third group consists of a single map showing the stations classifed on the basis of the fuel they use.

There has been updating of political geography to reflect the creation of Nunavut in April 1999. However, no other updating of company names or data has been done.

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Distribution of Electric Power Generating Capacity in Canada

The Statistics Canada survey indicates that at the end of 1997, Canada had an electrical generating capacity of 112 606 000 kilowatts (or 112 606 megawatts). The graph shows the distribution of electrical generating capacity by province and territory, giving for each political unit a breakdown by type. The generating types shown are hydro, thermal, or nuclear. A fourth generation type, wind energy, has too small a total capacity to be seen in this graph.

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Figure 1. Installed Generating Capacity by Type, 1997

The distribution of total capacity by province or territory across Canada roughly reflects population, with total capacity being highest in the two most populous provinces (although the more-populous Ontario has a slightly smaller capacity than that of Quebec). The third and fourth provinces by population, British Columbia and Alberta, also rank third and fourth, respectively, in total generating capacity.

The graph also shows the breakdown of capacity by type within each province or territory. Of Canada's developed capacity, nearly 60% is hydro-electric, about 30% is thermal, and 10% is nuclear. Wind energy in 1997 made up 0.01% of total capacity. Compared to other countries, Canada has a high proportion of its capacity as hydro. This reflects Canada's geography: much of Canada's large area contains sites suitable for hydro-electric development.

The breakdown of capacity type reveals great differences from province to province. The provinces and territories authorize the development of electric power sites within their boundaries. As a rule, they have developed hydro sites before building thermal or nuclear capacity. Several provinces have been able to develop their capacity mainly as hydro, notably British Columbia, Manitoba and Quebec. Provinces with little hydro capacity (such as Alberta and Saskatchewan) have based much of their additional capacity on thermal plants using locally-produced coal or natural gas. In some provinces that have developed most of the suitable hydro sites, notably Ontario and New Brunswick, much of the subsequent capacity has been as nuclear plants.