Eugene Gerden, Contributing Editor
Canada intends to speed implementation of its ambitious plans for massive development and renovation of its underground infrastructure, in order to raise its efficiency and achieve a net-zero emissions target by 2050.
Canada’s energy and electricity system is already among the cleanest in the world, with heavy dominance of hydropower, as well as an important role for nuclear. However, part of the government’s plans is almost a complete switch from fossil fuels to clean electricity within the next four to five years.
According to earlier statements by Canadian Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, the establishment of a national grid that can supply needed electricity is one of the most important goals for the Canadian government at present. Implementation of these plans involves building several new power transmission lines that, according to state plans, will ensure stable energy supply in various parts of the country.
Despite the generally good technical condition of the Canadian electric distribution/transmission infrastructure, it is rapidly aging. Most local analysts believe the country will need its overhaul to meet plans in energy.
Several leading Canadian provincial utility providers have launched a series of investment projects for building transmission-line capacities to support increasing electricity demands and ensure transition to renewable energy.
For example, BC Hydro, announced plans to invest $36 billion over the next decade in non-generation power infrastructure – including $3.5 billion on high-voltage transmission lines between Prince George and Terrace. Ontario’s Hydro One has four major transmission projects planned. Alberta – a center of the Canadian hydrocarbons and petrochemicals’ production - is building a new 87-mile transmission line to strengthen its grid and ready the province for anticipated renewable energy generation.
Pick up the pace
Still, according Ali Hooshyar, Canada research chair in electric power systems and an associate professor of energy systems at the University of Toronto, in an interview with the Canadian Globe and Mail newspaper, the pace of investment in these projects is far slower than it needs to be. This poses a threat for the planned timing of implementation for achieving net-zero emissions.
At present, Canada ranks third among developed nations in terms of the lowest electricity rates for residential and industrial use, while the country plans more active development of its domestic power transmission/distribution network to keep tariffs low. This is especially important amid the conditions of high inflation in the country, at present, and tough economics.
In the meantime, there are also big plans for development of water and wastewater infrastructure of the country, with particular focus on the largest cities of Canada. These are located in the Ontario province, the southernmost and country's most populous province of the country.
An example is Ottawa – the Canadian capital – where earlier this year, a new Infrastructure Master Plan was approved by city authorities. It ensures Ottawa’s drinking water, wastewater and stormwater systems all have the capacity to serve residents to 2046 and beyond.
According to analysts’ predictions, by 2046, Ottawa’s population is anticipated to reach 1.4 million people and will require a well-developed water infrastructure. For this purpose, the city would upgrade its central water and wastewater systems to accommodate planned growth. There are plans, within the next several years, to build at least 16 water distribution system projects and 37 wastewater collection system projects.
Finally, a new stormwater management program will also be designed, to prevent increased flooding and reduce the impact of intensification on the performance of existing storm drainage systems.
In general, major expansion and renovation of water and wastewater infrastructure is planned across the entire Ontario province in years to come. As the province experiences a construction boom these days (with up to 500,000 new homes to be built within the next several years), up to $1,2 billion will be allocated from the existing Housing-Enabling Water Systems Fund, according to Ontario’s Premier Doug Ford. This fund is dedicated to building water infrastructure for planned future housing.
Of these projects, one of the most important involves the $35-million expansion of the G.E. Booth Water Resource Recovery Facility in the Region of Peel – a regional municipality in the Greater Toronto Area, with a population over 1.5 million people. The project will enable 46,784 housing units in the Region, and includes the extension of water systems and installation of new features, such as an aeration tank and filtering systems.
“By investing in drinking water and wastewater treatment facilities and connecting pipes, we are helping municipalities build more homes,” said Kinga Surma, Canada’s minister of infrastructure. “Homes can’t be built without connections to drinking water and wastewater.”
In the last decade, municipal water utilities in Canada have already spent about C$72 billion in expansion and upgrade of the country’s aging network of water pipes and treatment facilities. However, much more should be done in years to come. One of the reasons is the ever-growing urban population in Canada, that, according to most forecasts, will continue to increase, unabated, throughout the next decade.
Upgrades
Currently about 20 percent of water distribution and transmission pipes and more than 25 percent of sanitary sewer pipes (excluding storm water pipes) in Canada were built before 1970. Most local analysts believe the development and modernization of the country’s water infrastructure should continue, at least with the current pace, in order to prevent a serious crisis in the sector.
Finally, further development of the national gas pipelines’ infrastructure is also considered crucial by government officials. This is despite the existing strict environment commitments.
According to the Canadian Climate Institute, 44 percent of homes and most businesses, in Canada, still rely on gas for heating. This means that the country continues to be heavily dependent on gas supplies and requires a reliable gas pipeline network. According to estimates from experts of the International Institute of Sustainable Development, prior to 2022-2023, the direct support of the gas pipelines’ sector of the country by the Canadian government, was at the level CAD $7 billion (US$5 billion).
Still, in recent years the situation has changed, while authorities of some cities and provinces have begun to oppose a further expansion of the existing pipeline network (including a stop in subsidizing new gas connections). However, despite this, the development of the sector is ongoing with generally good dynamics, which is also reflected by the announcement of some major investment projects in this field.
Among the biggest of such projects are those implemented by Canadian Utilities. This involves building a C$2-billion (U.S. $1.46 billion) natural gas pipeline project in Alberta to transport natural gas to a Dow petrochemicals plant and other industrial facilities. The company, majority-owned by ATCO, said the Yellowhead Mainline project would include 124 miles of pipeline and related control and compression facilities, running from Peers, Alberta, to Edmonton. The construction of the pipeline will be completed by late 2027.
Also, Enbridge Inc. continues to invest in the U.S. Gulf of America (Mexico) by building natural gas pipelines, named the Canyon Gathering System, that will have a capacity of 125 million cubic feet per day and connect to Enbridge’s existing Magnolia Gas Gathering Pipeline. In general, Enbridge has been investing heavily in the U.S. Gulf Coast in recent years, as it seeks to build a strong position to meet growing global demand for energy. UI
