Toronto: The outlook for Ontario’s bulk electricity grid is positive over the next year and a half, the Independent Electricity System Operator said in its latest 18-Month Outlook, released December 12.
The report anticipates adequate supply levels and transmission resources to meet provincial demand under both normal and extreme weather conditions.
Between December 2013 and May 2015, more than 3,300 MW of renewable resources are expected to be added to the system. At the same time, the province will close nearly 2,150 MW of generation through the retirement of its remaining coal-fired generators.
The flexible resources to adapt to this evolving fuel mix have been found through the maneuverability of nuclear units, demand response measures and new tools for managing wind and solar variability.
Electricity demand will remain relatively flat over the period of the report, as population and economic growth are mitigated by conservation initiatives and growth in embedded generation capacity, which is expected to reach 2,500 MW by May 2015. Generation embedded in distribution systems serves to reduce demand on the bulk power system.