Toronto to bake under heat, power suppliers worried

subscribe

As Toronto residents brace for staggering heat, experts say striking a balance between power consumption and supply will be difficult.

Ontario's Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO) says three vital nuclear units - representing eight per cent of the province's power supply - are down at the Pickering Nuclear Power Plant, which could lead to power outages in the GTA.

The IESO says if the humidity rises with the mercury, residents could be asked to limit their power intake for the second time this summer.

"We obviously pay very close attention to the weather," Terry Young, a spokesperson from IESO, told CTV News.

Toronto has already experienced one power advisory this summer when residents were asked to limit their consumption to prevent rolling black outs.

According to the IESO every three-degree increase of humidity increases power demand 450 megawatts, which is equivalent to one nuclear reactor.

Forecasters are calling for temperatures in the mid-thirties the first week of August.

Tom Adams, a spokesperson from Energy Probe, says Toronto is particularly vulnerable because there aren't enough power lines to import energy from New York or other generators.

In order to meet increased demand the province will be firing up its coal plants, which are a major contributor to poor air quality.

Wind turbines are ruled out as a reliable source of energy.

On a hot day, the city uses 26,000 megawatts and on July 30 at noon the turbines were producing only nine megawatts of energy.

But for residents who love the heat, there are plenty of outdoor activities in the GTA designed to keep you cool.

City pools are open and the new HTO Park and beach at Spadina and Queen's Quay provides ample room for catching some rays.

Related News

tokyo electricity

Analysis: Out in the cold: how Japan's electricity grid came close to blackouts

TOKYO - Japan's worst electricity crunch since the aftermath of the Fukushima crisis has exposed vulnerabilities in the country's recently liberalised power market, although some of the problems appear self-inflicted.

Power prices in Japan hit record highs last month as a cold snap across northeast Asia prompted a scramble for supplies of liquefied natural gas (LNG), a major fuel for the country's power plants. Power companies urged customers to ration electricity to prevent blackouts, although no outages occurred.

The crisis highlighted how many providers were unprepared for such high demand. Experts say LNG stocks were not topped up ahead of winter and…

READ MORE
europe pollution

European responses to Covid-19 accelerate electricity system transition by a decade - Wartsila

READ MORE

Trump declares end to 'war on coal,'

Trump declares end to 'war on coal,' but utilities aren't listening

READ MORE

Canada expected to miss its 2035 clean electricity goals

READ MORE

washington-ag-leads-legal-challenge-against-trumps-energy-emergency

Washington AG Leads Legal Challenge Against Trump’s Energy Emergency

READ MORE