Saskatchewan: Clean electricity snapshot

Overview of electricity in Saskatchewan.

Saskatchewan boasts the natural resources it needs to fuel the transition to clean power. One of the sunniest places in Canada, Saskatchewan also has excellent wind power potential. Solar and wind generation potential play an important part in reducing the need for natural gas fired electricity in the years ahead. Emerging technologies, such as next generation small modular reactors (SMRs), carbon capture and storage, and geothermal, could also help Saskatchewan transition away from fossil fuel generated electricity.

A clean electricity grid can have several benefits

In addition to cleaner air and reduced greenhouse gas emissions, a clean electricity grid can provide several benefits:

• Saskatchewan is projected to see some of the greatest growth rates in clean energy jobs by 2050. Independent experts from Clean Energy Canada forecast that there will be 131,000 clean energy jobs added in Saskatchewan between 2025 and 2050^{ootnote 1} , providing new economic opportunities and job growth as the province moves towards a net-zero economy.
• DEEP Earth Energy will begin drilling for geothermal energy in Saskatchewan in 2023. The initial facility is 32 megawatts (MW), or enough to power 32,000 households, and employs highly skilled workers from the oil and gas sector to drill for clean energy.
• Money earned from community-owned, clean electricity projects in the province is being reinvested back into the community.
  • Meadow Lake Tribal Council Solar Energy is building an 816-kilowatt solar farm that is owned by all nine First Nations communities in the council. Revenue will be returned to members of the community to support community programs and services.
• The Boundary Dam Carbon Capture and Storage Project is the world’s first power station to successfully use carbon capture and storage (CCS) technology.
• Saskatchewan is home to the non-profit, bi-partisan International Carbon Capture and Storage Research Centre that encourages knowledge sharing so CCS can be deployed at home and around the world.

Electricity generated

Saskatchewan is increasing its solar and wind capacity and is projected to be one of Canada’s leaders in renewable energy growth.

As of 2022, Saskatchewan had 221 MW of wind and 64 MW of solar installed on its grid.

Economic opportunities and key projects

Following the historic investments made in Budget 2023, the Government of Canada has now committed over $40 billion to support the clean electricity sector, including with below-market financing through the Canada Infrastructure Bank, grants and contributions such as the Smart Renewables and Electrification Pathways Program, and a new Clean Electricity Investment Tax Credit. These investments being made alongside the Clean Electricity Regulations will help drive significant economic opportunities in the province through the construction of new power sources and retrofitting of existing plants.

Cowessess First Nation has closed a deal to build a 200 MW windfarm in west-central Saskatchewan. The Bekevar Wind Energy Project is expected to bring over 25 years of economic prosperity to the First Nation community while employing Indigenous contractors and workers.

The independent Conference Board of Canada projects that the manufacturing and construction of SMRs in Saskatchewan could add 7,042 jobs per year, and could generate $8.8 billion in gross domestic product, $5.6 billion in wages, and $2.9 billion in Saskatchewan tax revenue^{Footnote 2} .

Saskatchewan has selected two sites for as many as four SMR’s to be built between 2034 and 2042^{Footnote 3} . Together with the governments of Ontario and New Brunswick, Saskatchewan is strategically working to advance the deployment of SMRs in Canada^{Footnote 4} .

Keeping electricity affordable

The Government of Canada is supporting households with their energy switching, through home retrofit programs, zero-emission vehicles purchase incentives and more, to help Canadians save on their energy bills.

$40 billion in new Government of Canada measures to meet the growing demand for electricity can minimize future cost impacts being passed down to Saskatchewanians.

Saskatchewanians that make the switch to a heat pump or an electric/hybrid vehicle come out even further ahead since they will pay less in pollution pricing but still receive the full Climate Action Incentive Payment to help with their energy bills.

Recent announcements

In April 2022, $300 million of federal clean energy funding was directed to the Wah-ila-toos partnership for clean energy projects in Indigenous, rural and remote communities in Canada.

In July 2022, the Government of Canada invested almost $10 million in clean energy support for Indigenous communities in Saskatchewan.

In May 2023, through the Future Electricity Fund, the Government of Canada announce the return of $174 million in pollution pricing proceeds to Saskatchewan for non-emitting electricity projects including new residential smart meters, improvements to rural electricity transmission system and refurbishment of the E.B. Campbell Hydroelectric Station.

In June 2023, The Government of Canada announced a $50 million dollar investment to the Bekevar Wind Power Project in partnership with the Cowessess First Nation.

The Government of Canada also recently announced over $7 million in investments to Indigenous clean energy projects in Saskatchewan through the Smart Renewables and Electrification Pathways program.

The Government of Canada has announced $3.95 million in funding for Shell Canada to install 79 Electric Vehicle (EV) chargers across 37 Shell retail locations along critical corridors between Alberta, British Columbia, Ontario, Manitoba and Saskatchewan.

The Government of Canada invested $18.5 million in the Indigenous-led Awasis Solar Project, a 10 MW solar power generation project to be built on Cowessess First Nations land.

The Government of Canada has invested over $21.6 million in funding to 14 Indigenous communities to help implement clean energy projects with 1 community located in Saskatchewan.