Coal and Oil Fired Power

Of the total electricity generation in Canada, approximately 17% (107 million megawatt hours) can be attributed to the combustion of coal and oil. Steam electric plants (boilers), combustion turbines, and internal combustion engines currently provide a generating capacity of 36,300 megawatts. Coal-fired boilers account for 73% of this capacity.

Coal and oil-fired facilities account for the majority of air emissions from the electric power sector. The most prominent of these air emissions are nitrogen oxides (NO_x), sulphur dioxide (SO₂), particulate matter (PM), mercury and greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide (CO₂). Small amounts of toxic metals such as arsenic, cadmium, chromium and nickel, as well as the toxics resulting from the combustion of coal, such as methylchlorides, are also released. Major environmental issues related to the pollutants emitted include acid rain, smog, toxic substances and climate change.

Switching old coal boilers to natural gas combined cycle, in combination with the existing steam turbines, can dramatically reduce all types of emissions. However, due to limited natural gas supply, energy generation by smaller combined heat and power projects is considered a superior solution for new facilities.

Environment Canada's long-term goal for coal- and oil-fired plants is termed “clean as gas” which is generally understood to mean air emissions comparable to those of an efficient, natural gas-fired combined cycle generating unit, for all pollutants. For coal-fired plants, “clean coal” technologies – of which carbon capture-and-storage is an integral component – is an option for meeting this goal.

In January 2003, Environment Canada released the New Source Emission Guidelines for Thermal Electricity Generation under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act. These Guidelines provide limits for emissions of sulphur dioxide(SO₂), nitrogen oxides(NO_x) and particule matter(PM) from new fossil-fuel fired steam-cycle combustion units (boilers). Environment Canada also has Codes of Practice for steam electric power generation.

Between 2003 and 2006, Environment Canada co-led the development of the"Canada-wide standards for Mercury Emissions from Coal-Fired Electric Power Generation Plants" (PDF; 140 KB) to reduce mercury emissions from coal-fired power plants. The Canada -wide Standards were endorsed by the Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment (CCME) in October 2006.

Environment Canada led the development of the National Emission Guideline for Stationary Combustion Turbines, published by the Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment in December 1992. This Guideline is used today by many provincial permitting agencies.

Use the following link for information on:

• Canada's Energy Sector
• Coal Association of Canada