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Electricity Generation and Greenhouse Gas Emissions

  • The Point Lepreau Generating Station accounts for 25-30% of New Brunswick's energy needs.

  • Since commercial operation in 1983, the Point Lepreau Generating Station has generated a cumulative total of over 114,000,000 MWh electricity, displacing the equivalent of about 162 million barrels of oil, averting the emissions of about 87.75 million tonnes of CO2.

  • As a comparison, without PLGS generation, annual CO2 emissions in New Brunswick would have been about 15% higher.

  • The operation of the Point Lepreau Generating Station contributes significantly towards the goal of limiting CO2 / greenhouse gas emissions in New Brunswick.

  • Point Lepreau is an extremely important component of NB Power's climate change and sulphur dioxide management initiatives because it does not contribute to these emissions. In 2007, with a capacity factor of 74.1%, generation from the station avoided approximately:
    • Sulphur Dioxide (SO2) 56,000 tonnes
    • Carbon Dioxide (CO2) 3,180,000 tonnes
    • Nitrogen Oxide (NOx) 12,700 tonnes
    These emissions would have resulted from fossil-fuelled generation. In terms of SO2, NB Power must stay below 86,100 tonnes annually, and the province has to stay below 122,500 tonnes.