An energy systems modelling approach for the planning of power generation: a North American case study

Due to Saskatchewan's growing energy demands, the public's environmental concerns and the decommissioning of existing coal-fired facilities, the province will need to construct new electric generating facilities with high economic performance and lower emission levels. New facilities will not only affect the consumption of primary energy but also the level of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of which the province's electricity sector is a major contributor. This study aims to explore potential power generation technologies and to evaluate the economic and environmental performance of Saskatchewan energy system within a long-term energy planning framework (1988 to 2032). One reference case and three scenarios were analysed. Recommendations of strategies to achieve the lowest GHG emission from power generation are provided based on the modelling results. The proposed modelling approach can be extended to national or regional level for supporting the planning of power generation and other energy activities in a long- or short-term framework.