Greenhouse Gases Environment Canada’s Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Reporting program requires emitters of a specific size to report emissions of the six classes of GHGs that are identified in the Kyoto Protocol. Of these six GHGs, four result from NSPI’s operations.
Carbon dioxide (CO2) results from the combustion of carbon in fossil fuels. This is NSPI’s main greenhouse gas, comprising almost 99% of the total GHG emissions.
- Methane (CH4) results from small amounts of methane being emitted from the stacks of natural gas-fired plants
- Nitrous Oxide (N2O), which is created in lower temperature combustion systems such as Point Aconi
- Sulphur Hexafluoride (SF6), which is an insulating gas that can leak from electrical equipment
The Canadian government has proposed regulations governing GHG emissions in Canada that would require an 18% reduction in the emission rate or “intensity” for each industrial sector, from 2006 levels, beginning in 2010, and an additional 2% intensity reduction each year thereafter until 2020. Also, the provincial government in Nova Scotia has enacted legislation that established a goal of reducing provincial GHG emissions to 10% below 1990 levels by 2020. In early 2009 the provincial government published a climate change action plan that includes greenhouse gas emissions caps for NSPI, where emissions would be projected to decrease from 9.7 million tonnes in 2010 to 7.5 million tonnes in 2020.
Over the last 5 years, NSPI’s CO2 emissions have remained steady at approximately 10 megatonnes per year.
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NSPI is embarking on a process to transform the delivery of electricity in the province from one of high carbon intensity to that of lower carbon intensity without compromising the economic and social structure of Nova Scotia. The strategy, which includes short, medium and long-term objectives, will use a portfolio approach to facilitate this transformation. The portfolio will include the use of technology, alternative fuels, conservation and efficiency initiatives, increased use of renewable energy, the use of offset credits, investment in research and development of technology such as tidal power and carbon dioxide storage and investments in transmission assets that will allow for the increased use of regional energy sources. |