We’re there when the Ont. electrical grid needs us

Weather warnings dominated the news across Ontario this week. It was hot, really hot. Air conditioners were given a tough workout in homes, businesses, and large buildings. The electrical grid withstood the high demand placed on it thanks to natural gas power plants.

With all that in mind, we wanted you to know a little more about how natural gas contributes to the grid, about its resilience and how it’s going to support the electrical grid in the future. We asked Jim Redford, VP Energy Services Gas Distribution and Storage, Max Hagerman, Acting Director S&T Sales, and Paul Dhaen, Manager S&T Sales, three direct questions.

Hope their answers give you a clearer picture of our role in Ontario’s grid.

Why does the electrical grid in Ontario need natural gas, especially during this hot weather?

Answer: Natural gas generation plays a key role in supporting the Ontario electrical grid during periods of extreme weather when other forms of generation are not sufficient to meet the demand.?Over the past several days of extreme heat, natural gas has contributed in excess of 30 percent of the generation demand for Ontario. On July 4, natural gas supplied 31.1 percent of the total peak demand requirement and 27.4 percent of the total daily generation demand.?On July 5, natural gas supplied 32.7 percent of the total peak demand and 29.7 percent of the total daily generation requirement.

What are the strengths of our system?

Answer: The natural gas system in Ontario can meet these demands due to the reliable infrastructure that is in place and can be utilized to meet demand when and where it is required.?The natural gas system is resilient, connected to one of North America’s most physically traded markets at the Dawn Hub, supported by robust storage at Dawn and transmission pipeline systems, and able to meet longer-term demands in Ontario as the economy grows. Enbridge Gas has designed “High Deliverability Storage and Transportation Services” to meet the specific, short-notice needs of gas-fired power generators in Ontario.

What role will natural gas play in the future of the electrical grid?

Answer: Natural gas generation will continue to support the Ontario electrical grid, providing energy during extreme weather events or when other resources aren't available or sufficient to meet Ontario's demands.?The natural gas market in Ontario is mature, reliable, and easily dispatchable to manage power demand fluctuations.?In fact, the IESO has concluded that additional natural gas generation will be required, and they are actively working on procuring additional resources, to support Ontario’s demand until at least 2035, and beyond.???