Low wind power in Saskatchewan as cold drives up electricity demand

Low wind power in Saskatchewan as cold drives up electricity demand

On Tuesday, Dec. 20, SaskPower saw just 1 per cent of its power production come from wind, whereas in recent days that number has been in the six to 10 per cent range.

Wind power production averaged just 39 megawatts, out of a nameplate capacity of 617 megawatts. That’s an average of 6.3 per cent of nameplate capacity.

Canada moves to mandate electric vehicle sales starting in 2026

Canada moves to mandate electric vehicle sales starting in 2026

One-fifth of all passenger cars, SUVs and trucks sold in Canada in 2026 will need to run on electricity under new regulations Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault proposed Wednesday.

By 2030, the mandate will hit 60 per cent of all sales and by 2035, every passenger vehicle sold in Canada will need to be electric.

Alberta issues second “grid alert” in one day, the third in 24 hours, and fifth in three weeks, and sets another demand record

Alberta issues second “grid alert” in one day, the third in 24 hours, and fifth in three weeks, and sets another demand record

As Alberta’s internal electrical load creeps up again to close to record levels at supper time on Wednesday, Dec. 21, the Alberta Electric System Operator (AESO) issued its second “grid alert” in one day, its third in 24 hours across two days, and its fifth in three weeks. It did this as the grid’s internal load set another record, exceeding the previous record set two days before.

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Lithium in SK, Part 9: And the acquisitions begin, with Prairie Lithium to be acquired by Arizona Lithium

Lithium in SK, Part 9: And the acquisitions begin, with Prairie Lithium to be acquired by Arizona Lithium

EMERALD PARK – As the race for lithium development heats up in Saskatchewan, it’s just seen its first major acquisition.

Emerald Park-based Prairie Lithium announced at suppertime on Tuesday, Dec. 20, that it had been acquired by Arizona Lithium Limited (AZL) in a CAD $70.6 million deal, consisting of CAD $40.0 million in cash and 500 million common shares of AZL at a deemed price of CAD $0.0612 per share based on the 10-day VWAP of AZL’s shares.

Imperial Oil plans $1.7 billion in capital spending in 2023

Imperial Oil plans $1.7 billion in capital spending in 2023

CALGARY — Imperial Oil Ltd. is planning $1.7 billion in capital spending for next year. 

The company says the plan includes a ramp-up for its Strathcona renewable diesel project, application of solvent technologies at Cold Lake and ongoing investment on an in-pit tailings project at its Kearl oilsands facility. 

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Brian Crossman: How the Grinch tried to steal the oilpatch

Brian Crossman: How the Grinch tried to steal the oilpatch

He flew in his plane, so high in the air, burning jet fuel, he had not a care. With Steve on his lap he looked down below, he could see rig activity.  It was not slow.

“What are they doing?” He said in a huff, “They are still working, producing that stuff!” The rigs were still drilling, turning to the right. They drilled through the day, and all through the night. The Grinch looked at Steve and said, “They are still successful, in spite of my meddling; they ignored my efforts, and did not buy what I was pedaling.”

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On Tuesday, Dec. 13, SaskPower’s wind generation dropped to next to nothing, again

On Tuesday, Dec. 13, SaskPower’s wind generation dropped to next to nothing, again

ASSINIBOIA, HERBERT – In recent weeks, wind power has been usually running around 10 per cent of power production, usually a bit over 300 megawatts, averaged out over 24 hours, while the average power generation for the whole province came in around 3,300 megawatts.
Total power generated that day averaged 3,252 megawatts, meaning wind accounted for 1 per cent of total average daily production.

Lithium in SK, Part 8: Ministry of Energy and Resources response to primacy of rights issues

Lithium in SK, Part 8: Ministry of Energy and Resources response to primacy of rights issues

Saskatchewan is experiencing something of an embarrassment of riches, with the development of several commodities underway. Beyond the usual oil and gas, helium, lithium and geothermal potential are all being explored, with the possibility of several of these commodities being produced from the same formations, or even the same well.
Pipeline Online had initially asked Premier Scott Moe about this in December, 2021, and Energy and Resources Minister Jim Reiter at the Lloydminster Heavy Oil Show in September. Both had noted the province is working on the issue. In early December, Pipeline Online sent a detailed list of questions. These are the responses from Scott Kistner, Assistant Deputy Minister of Energy and Resources:

Lithium in SK, Part 7: Dealing with an embarrassment of riches – sorting out the primacy of rights

Lithium in SK, Part 7: Dealing with an embarrassment of riches – sorting out the primacy of rights

Saskatchewan is facing a curious and perhaps perplexing dilemma. In addition to oil and gas, it is now seeing development of helium and soon lithium production, too. And in one area near Torquay, geothermal power production is also in development.
The issue then arises of who owns the rights to what. Oil and gas rights are one thing, but in recent years the province has been holding Crown land sales auctions for lithium, too. And helium’s lease rates are ridiculously low, at five cents per hectare, having been established in the 1960s and not changed since.
In many ways, it could be an embarrassment of riches. But then it can also lead to serious conflicts in ownership. That’s because some of these wells could see not just the targeted resource, but several others coming up from the very same wellbore.
This is something Pipeline Online is calling “primacy of rights.” Whose rights trump whom?

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Lithium in SK, Part 6: Direct Lithium Extraction is the multi-billion dollar question

Lithium in SK, Part 6: Direct Lithium Extraction is the multi-billion dollar question

Back in 1903, someone was going to invent the airplane.
People were working on it in New Zealand, Brazil, France, Germany and America. It just happened to be that two brothers who had a bicycle shop in Dayton, Ohio, travelled to Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, and took off with the first airplane, the Wright Flyer.
But if they had not succeeded, one of the others almost certainly would have. It might have been 1904, or 1905, but powered flight was inevitable.
And that’s currently what’s happening in the world of lithium development from sedimentary brines.

Ken From: The “energy transition” is discussed without much thought. This recently retired CEO of SaskEnergy thinks about it a lot

Ken From: The “energy transition” is discussed without much thought. This recently retired CEO of SaskEnergy thinks about it a lot

Ken From recently retired as SaskEnergy president and CEO. In his introductory column on Pipeline Online, he writes, “We have thrown out the phrase “energy transition” almost automatically and without much thought in the past year. By definition the word “transition” means to go from one state to another clearly defined state. That simple phrase and the way it is portrayed at large, I would argue, causes confusion as it implies the pathway to success has been picked – electrify everything – as opposed to continue to de-carbonize our energy systems.
“I would suggest that a more accurate depiction of our global goals would be the continued evolution of energy systems such that we develop multiple pathways to reduce emissions, taking into account sectoral differences such as transportation, buildings and heavy industry.”

David Yager: Canada increases domestic energy costs while co-operating to reduce prices globally

David Yager: Canada increases domestic energy costs while co-operating to reduce prices globally

If you’re confused by 21st century energy geopolitics, it’s not your fault. 
The Russia/Ukraine war, EU’s economic crisis, global energy prices, rising inflation and interest rates, and the G7/EU price cap on Russian oil exports announced December 5 have created daunting challenges for international politics and diplomacy. 
The most recent solution is one whereby G7 member Canada has helped make oil cheaper for the world without relaxing existing commitments to increase Canadian energy costs through carbon taxes, emissions caps, and the Clean Fuel Regulations.