CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT

The never-ending quest for continuous improvement is a defining characteristic of humanity. However, the impact of 150 years of North American industrialization brings with it the need to response environmentally - to protect our natural landscape.

Aside from addressing the day-to-day considerations associated with serving more than 441,000 customers, SaskPower is committed to meeting the highest standards in fulfilling future supply requirements. While wind is one source, the Corporation is exploring other options in order to maintain a diverse generation mix, including recently announced feasibility studies into clean coal and polygeneration.

Continuous improvement also demands that appropriate reporting, auditing and governance structures are in place. In this regard, SaskPower is guided by our Environmental Management System and our Environmental Policy. Clear corporate governance structures ensure issues are proactively addressed and regulatory compliance is achieved.

Rick Patrick » profile
Vice-president
Planning, Environment and Regulatory Affairs
SaskPower

Supplying a viable environmental outcome

Over his 39-year history with SaskPower, Rick Patrick has spent a lot of time imagining the future. Moving from plant engineer to project manager to vice-president of Power Production, he became increasingly concerned with how power generation could leave a smaller environmental footprint.

Now the vice-president of Planning, Environment and Regulatory Affairs, Rick is firmly focused on establishing what's ahead for power generation in the province. "The future needs to be a managed result," he says. "We don't want it to just happen to us by accident."

Increasing societal concern around how electricity is generated and delivered means that industry must address multifaceted and sometimes conflicting criteria. These include the necessity to find a pathway into future supply that meets stringent environmental demands while maintaining affordability for customers.

Rick explains: "There's a new dream emerging and it's clarifying a little bit every day. The new expectation is that electricity will be produced in an environmentally sustainable way. But as much as we dream about the future, we must also be practical." That's why SaskPower's Centennial Wind Power Facility is part of a Canadian Electricity Association pilot project to assess the environmental impacts of a generating project over its entire operational life. The Life Cycle Impact Assessment considers all environmental variables and monetizes them, creating a level playing field for decision making on future generation projects.

SaskPower will need to replace or refurbish virtually its entire generating fleet within the next 25-30 years. For Rick and his industry colleagues across the country, most of whom are in similar situations, this represents a remarkable opportunity.

Because of enormous construction expenses and as a result of subsequent life extension efforts, generating facilities are used for 50 or more years. In the case of hydroelectric stations, their operation can often extend to 100 years. If a new fleet is constructed based on this pattern of replacement, the opportunity for major change and its associated environmental benefits can be lost for a half-century or more.

With SaskPower entering a rare system-wide window of renewal, the potential of a future with near-zero emissions technology keeps Rick motivated to find innovative solutions. Research into clean coal technology and polygeneration is inspiring optimism in the next phase of power generation.

"If we choose wisely and a little bit bravely," Rick says, "we can go to a much cleaner future in one bold step."