Category: 🧱 Foundations
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Electricity is produced by power plants, also known as generation facilities. These facilities convert different forms of energy into electricity that can be delivered through the power grid.
Ontario uses a diverse mix of generation technologies to supply electricity. This mix helps ensure that the electricity system remains reliable, affordable, and environmentally sustainable.
Each generation type has different characteristics, including:
Understanding generation types is important because these characteristics influence how the electricity system operates.
⚡ Different types of generators play different roles in the electricity system.
Some generators provide steady, continuous electricity, while others can quickly adjust output to respond to changes in demand.
Electricity Generation
Electricity generation is the process of converting energy from various sources into electrical power that can be delivered to the electricity grid.
Ontario’s electricity supply comes from several main types of generation.
Nuclear power plants produce electricity using heat generated from nuclear reactions.
Nuclear plants provide large amounts of steady, continuous electricity and are a major source of power in Ontario.
Characteristics:
Hydroelectric stations produce electricity by using flowing water to spin turbines.
Ontario has many hydroelectric facilities located along rivers and waterways.
Characteristics:
Natural gas power plants burn natural gas to produce electricity.
These facilities can start and adjust output relatively quickly, making them useful for responding to changes in electricity demand.
Characteristics:
Wind turbines generate electricity using the energy of moving air.
Wind power is a renewable energy source but depends on wind conditions.
Characteristics:
Solar panels convert sunlight into electricity using photovoltaic technology.
Solar generation is typically smaller in scale than other generation types and is often connected to distribution systems.
Characteristics:
Consider a typical day in Ontario’s electricity system.
Together, these generation types provide the electricity needed to meet demand across the province.
➡ Next Topic:
Transmission System
This topic explains how high-voltage transmission networks transport electricity from power plants to major population centers.
Last Updated: 2026-03-26