Ontario's energy transition

[FBaggins]

Air quality in Canada's Ontario province has improved dramatically in recent years, simultaneously with the ramping up of nuclear power and the phase-out of coal. Ontario is home to a large portion of Canadian industry, the cities of Ottawa and Toronto and some 40% of the country's population of 33.4 million. Data from the Ontario Ministry of the Environment shows a dramatic reduction in the air pollution that in 2005 was affecting these people for at least ten days during the year. The worst-affected places in 2005 had been 14 of 37 Ontario locations which with more than 40 smog-warning days. Every location had at least ten smog days.

In 2011, by contrast, the worst-affected place had only eight smog-warning days, while 18 of the 37 locations had no smog warnings at all. Overall, days on which the people were warned about unhealthy levels of smog at one location or another have dropped from 53 in 2005 to just nine in 2011.


...snip...

Overall in Ontario nuclear capacity has increased by 4134 MWe since 2003, while coal has decreased by 4368 MWe. Renewable capacity grew by 2560 MWe and gas by 5672 MWe, according to the Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO). In terms of delivered power Ontario was 85% carbon-free on 29 April, said IESO data. Nuclear provided 58% of electricity, with hydro at 26%, gas at 13% and wind at about 2%. This results in a carbon dioxide intensity of about 72 grams per kilowatt-hour.


http://www.world-nuclear-news.org/EE_Ontarios_energy_transition_2904131.html

Hmmm... I could have sworn that I was told barely a year ago that nuclear power has an "existential" problem in Ontario.

[pscot]

1. The French model

It seems to be working.