SaskPower set to surpass 2030 commitment to lower greenhouse gas emissions

The most recent operations forecast from SaskPower is anticipating that the Crown will succeed in reducing its greenhouse gas emissions even further than it had previously pledged by 2030.

SaskPower says it will reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by at least 50 per cent below 2005 levels by 2030, exceeding the 2015 commitment to lower emissions by 40 per cent during the same period.

“We are pleased with the rapid progress SaskPower is making toward exceeding its targets,” said Don Morgan, Minister Responsible for SaskPower, in a press release. “This positive forecast is a strong indicator that SaskPower’s investments in renewables and lower-carbon baseload power are paying off.”

Greenhouse gas emissions for 2020 are clocked in at about 20 per cent lower than the year previous, and 10 per cent lower than the benchmark 2005 levels. SaskPower says the significant drop is due to several factors, including increased generation from renewable resources and increased carbon capture.

The opening of the low-emitting Chinook Power Station also played a part, as well as the pandemic.

Emissions have been trending downwards since 2018, and SaskPower said it is currently considering further changes to continue the momentum.

Evaluation of existing and emergent low- or non-emitting power generation options is underway, including increasing the use of wind and solar energy storage, small modular nuclear reactors, and carbon capture.