Energy Dictionary

Minimum level of electricity demand over a sustained period. Baseload power plants (nuclear, hydroelectric, coal) operate continuously providing reliable generation independent of time of day or season. Distinguished from peak power meeting variable demand.

CANada Deuterium Uranium reactor - Canadian-designed nuclear reactor using heavy water as moderator and natural uranium as fuel. Ontario operates 18 CANDU reactors. Features include online refueling capability, passive safety systems, and horizontal fuel channels.

Ratio of actual energy generated to maximum possible generation if operating at full capacity continuously. Expressed as percentage. Wind turbines typically achieve 25-45% capacity factors; nuclear plants exceed 90%. Indicates technology reliability and resource availability.

Programs incentivizing consumers to reduce or shift electricity consumption during peak periods. Industrial customers may curtail operations; residential customers may adjust thermostats or shift appliance use. Enhances grid reliability and reduces generation costs.

Geothermal technology creating artificial reservoirs in hot dry rock through hydraulic stimulation. Water circulated through fractured rock extracts heat for electricity generation or direct use. Alberta explores EGS potential in deep sedimentary basins.

Policy mechanism guaranteeing renewable energy producers fixed prices for electricity over long-term contracts. Ontario's FIT program (2009-2017) catalyzed wind and solar deployment. Provides revenue certainty encouraging renewable energy investment.

Process of connecting and coordinating diverse generation sources with transmission and distribution infrastructure. Challenges include managing variable renewable output, maintaining frequency stability, and balancing supply with demand in real time.

Hydroelectric generation using natural river flow without large storage reservoirs. Minimal environmental disruption compared to dam-based hydro. Output varies with seasonal water availability. Examples include Quebec's Beauharnois facility.

Technology capturing kinetic energy from tidal currents using underwater turbines. Bay of Fundy's FORCE site tests commercial-scale turbines. Predictable generation patterns unlike wind/solar. Challenges include harsh marine environments and high installation costs.

Massive hydroelectric development in northern Quebec begun 1971. La Grande River complex generates 16,527 MW through network of dams, reservoirs, and powerhouses. Transformed Quebec into clean energy exporter while raising environmental and Indigenous rights considerations.

Standard unit of electrical energy consumption equal to one kilowatt of power used for one hour. Average Canadian household consumes 10,000-12,000 kWh annually. Utility billing typically in kWh. One megawatt-hour (MWh) equals 1,000 kWh.

Continuous process of matching electricity generation with consumption to maintain grid frequency and voltage. System operators dispatch generation resources, import/export power via interties, and manage energy storage to balance loads in real time.

Localized electricity network integrating generation, storage, and loads with ability to disconnect from main grid and operate autonomously. Northern communities deploy microgrids combining solar, wind, batteries, and diesel backup for reliable remote power.

Billing arrangement crediting solar system owners for excess electricity exported to grid. Bidirectional meter tracks consumption and generation. Customer billed for net energy (consumption minus generation). Available in most Canadian provinces with varying rules.

Mixture of sand, water, clay, and bitumen found in northern Alberta. Contains 166 billion barrels recoverable oil. Extracted via surface mining (shallow deposits) or in-situ methods like SAGD (deeper deposits). Significant emissions reduction efforts underway including CCS.

Maximum electricity consumption during specified period, typically daily or annually. Winter peaks driven by heating in most provinces; summer peaks by air conditioning. Grid infrastructure sized to meet peak demand plus reserve margins ensuring reliability.

Energy storage method pumping water to elevated reservoir during low-demand periods, releasing it through turbines during high-demand periods. Provides large-scale storage (100-1000+ MW) with 70-85% round-trip efficiency. Ontario and Quebec operate pumped storage facilities.

Tradeable instrument representing environmental attributes of one megawatt-hour renewable electricity generation. Separated from physical electricity, allowing consumers to support renewable energy regardless of physical grid supply. Tracked through registries ensuring uniqueness.

In-situ oil sands extraction method injecting steam through horizontal wells to heat bitumen, allowing gravity drainage to production wells below. Major technique for deep deposits. Innovations reducing steam requirements and emissions intensity under development.

Nuclear reactor design generating 10-300 MW, factory-built for efficient deployment. Enhanced safety through passive systems. Applications include remote communities, industrial sites, and replacing retiring coal plants. Ontario developing Canada's first grid-scale SMR at Darlington.

Advanced electricity meter recording consumption in intervals (typically hourly), communicating data wirelessly to utilities. Enables time-of-use pricing, remote disconnect/reconnect, outage detection, and detailed consumption analysis. Over 15 million installed across Canada.

Vertical difference between high and low tides. Bay of Fundy experiences world's highest tidal range exceeding 16 meters, creating powerful currents ideal for tidal energy generation. Predictable patterns enable reliable generation forecasting.

Electricity pricing varying by time of day to reflect generation costs. On-peak periods (highest prices), mid-peak, and off-peak (lowest prices). Incentivizes load shifting to reduce system peaks. Enabled by smart meters. Ontario implemented province-wide TOU pricing 2011.

High-voltage infrastructure transporting bulk electricity long distances from generation to distribution networks. Voltages range 69 kV to 765 kV. Quebec's 735 kV lines deliver James Bay power southward. Interprovincial and international interties enable electricity trade.

Renewable energy sources with output varying based on natural conditions—primarily wind and solar. Requires grid flexibility through energy storage, dispatchable generation, demand response, and transmission to balance variability. Advanced forecasting improves VRE integration.

Vehicle producing no tailpipe emissions—electric vehicles (EVs) and hydrogen fuel cell vehicles. Growing ZEV adoption increases electricity demand while offering grid flexibility through managed charging. Canada targets 100% ZEV new vehicle sales by 2035.