Utility-operated Generating Stations, 1997: By Technology

View this map

Abstract

This map shows the 630 generating stations operated by utilities, with the stations being classed by their operating technology. The seven technologies shown represent water-power (hydro-electric and tidal), conventional thermal (internal combustion, combustion turbine, and steam), nuclear, and alternative fuels (wind energy). One can see a few location patterns: internal combustion plants are dominant in the north, hydro-electric plants are the main type in the south, and most of the remaining plants in the south are steam plants. Three technology types are found in only a few areas: the one tidal plant is in Nova Scotia, nuclear plants are concentrated in Ontario, and the four wind energy plants are in southern Alberta.

Electric power utilities are defined by the North American Industrial Classification System (NAICS) as those firms whose business is producing electricity (as compared to other operators which produce power mainly for on-site consumption). This map shows the 630 utility plants.

The plants are shown by type of generation technology used: the main reason for using this variable is to show the three types of technology used for thermal plants - steam, internal combustion, and combustion turbine. Each of these technologies has distinctive patterns of location, size and predominant fuel types.

The map shows a number of spatial patterns for the technology used in utility plants:

• British Columbia, Manitoba and Québec have predominantly hydro-electric plants.
• Two of the Prairie Provinces (Alberta and Saskatchewan) have little hydro capacity, and so have developed huge steam plants using coal, and, in a few cases, natural gas.
• In Ontario and New Brunswick, hydro, steam and nuclear are roughly equally prominently used for generating capacity.
• Hydro and steam capacity provide most of the power used in Nova Scotia and Newfoundland and Labrador.
• The two plants on Prince Edward Island are both thermal - one is a steam plant, the other a combustion turbine plant.
• Most of the plants in the three territories are stand-alone internal combustion plants (i.e. the plants are not connected to the grid).