In Canada, nearly 20% of our electricity is produced by coal. According to Natural Resources Canada, our country has over eight billion tonnes of proven coal reserves - storing more energy than our oil, natural gas and oil sands combined. In the world, it's estimated that by 2020 this abundant, secure and affordable fossil fuel will provide 40% of the planet's electricity. However, along with producing energy, burning coal results in the release of harmful emissions.

At SaskPower, we are committed to the ongoing quest to help minimize the environmental footprint of power production. As a result, we're engineering a world-leading way to clean up the coal-fired generation of electricity and further reduce emissions.

In the past few decades, significant gains have been made in controlling particulate matter, sulphur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen oxides (NOX) and mercury. However, carbon dioxide (CO2) - thought to be the primary contributor to global warming - remains one of the most significant challenges for electrical utilities around the globe.

PUTTING THE CLEAN INTO COAL

Presently, over 60% of Saskatchewan's electricity is generated through coal. This fossil fuel provides a favourable base load supply option because coal is a low cost, secure and abundant long-term fuel source.

In order to mitigate the environmental downside of coal combustion, SaskPower's Clean Coal™ Project will introduce technology capable of capturing at least 90 per cent of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. The additional use of SO2, NOX, mercury and particulate control and capture mechanisms will result in a near-zero emissions facility.

If developed, the 300 MW clean coal plant will capture approximately 8,000 tonnes of CO2 a day. This CO2 will be sold for enhanced oil recovery operations in southeast Saskatchewan, possibly generating enough revenue to offset the cost of its capture and delivery. Alternatively, the CO2 will be sequestered in deep saline aquifers.

The Shand Power Station near Estevan will be the location of the first potential clean coal plant.

Diagram of a conventional coal plant compared to SaskPower's clean coal power plant concept.