In 2021, electric utility thermal plants in Canada generated 180.6 million megawatt-hours (MWh) of electricity, declining slightly (-1.0% or -1.9 million MWh) from 2020.
While 2020 saw electricity generation fall as a result of the decline in demand for electricity, largely because of the COVID-19 pandemic, a further decline in electricity generation from combustibles was seen in 2021. This was the result of lower generation from uranium, down 4.4 million MWh (-4.8%) to 87.4 million MWh, and lower generation from coal, which fell for the fifth consecutive year.
Uranium-sourced generation in Ontario was 83.0 million MWh in 2021, down 4.0 million MWh (-4.6%), compared with the previous year because of lower generation at nuclear power stations as a result of refurbishment and extended maintenance. In New Brunswick, generation fell because of a longer maintenance period during the year at its nuclear facility (-370,267 MWh or -7.7%).
Nationally, coal generation decreased by 3.9 million MWh (-10.8%), to 32.0 million MWh in 2021. Alberta was the exclusive contributor to the decline, falling 6.1 million MWh (-27.3%). This was due to some coal generation plants that converted to natural gas plants during the year.
Largely because of this change in Alberta, natural gas was the only major source of electricity from combustible generation that increased, growing 6.6 million MWh and reaching 54.4 million MWh. Generation from this fuel in Alberta rose 23.2% or 5.6 million MWh. Alberta accounted for 85.0% of the overall increase in natural gas generation in Canada because of the conversion of the coal plants in 2021.
Nationally, natural gas, coal and uranium fuel sources continued to be the largest fuel sources for thermal electrical generation in 2021, making up 96.2% of the total.
Note to readers
The Annual Survey of Electric Power Thermal Generating Station Fuel Consumption provides data on the amount of fuel consumed by thermal generating plants, the cost of the fuel consumed for electric power generation, and the amount of electricity generated from these fuels.
Data from 2016 to 2020 have been revised.
The Annual Survey of Electric Power Thermal Generating Station Fuel Consumption is now administered as part of Statistics Canada's Integrated Business Statistics Program (IBSP). Detailed information about the IBSP is available from the Behind the data module of our website.
Visit the Energy statistics portal to find data, tools and reports to provide you with the latest information on energy in Canada.
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