Canada - Canwea applauds Manitoba’s announcement of 300 mw wind RFP

Energy, Science and Technology Minister Dave Chomiak announced that Manitoba Hydro will issue a request for proposals this winter for new wind projects totaling 300 megawatts. This announcement is part of the province’s commitment to develop 1,000 megawatts (MW) of wind power over the next decade. Manitoba’s 1,000-megawatt wind strategy is expected to generate $2 billion in investment, $100 million in wind-rights payments to landowners and $150 million in property taxes to local municipalities.

With the addition of 300 MW, the province’s total installed wind capacity will rise to 399 MW, representing 3.2 percent of Manitoba Hydro’s total annual electricity generation. This is expected to rise to 8 percent when the Province reaches 1,000 MW of installed wind capacity in 2018. “CanWEA is very pleased that the Government of Manitoba and Manitoba Hydro have taken this concrete step towards development of 1,000 MW of wind in the Province” says Sean Whittaker, Director of Policy and Technical Affairs for the Canadian Wind Energy Association. “Wind energy is a clean, competitively-priced resource that is poised to make a substantial contribution to Manitoba’s future energy needs. Manitoba possesses a remarkable wind energy potential, and development of this resource coupled with existing hydro assets will allow Manitoba to satisfy its own future energy demands and increase its exports.”

CanWEA recognizes that Manitoba Hydro is intent on embarking on a staged introduction of wind energy into its grid, a process that started with the recent commissioning of the 99 MW St. Leon’s wind farm. This 300 MW RFP will allow the utility to gain further experience with wind technology, and become familiar with the integration of higher wind penetrations on the Manitoba grid.

“CanWEA and its members are looking forward to working with Manitoba Hydro to facilitate the integration of this new wind capacity on the Manitoba grid”, says Whittaker. “We believe that the technical and economic challenges can be quickly overcome through collaboration, and it is our hope that Manitoba will then be able to accelerate its timeline for development of 1,000 MW or more of wind energy.”
Additional steps such as the creation of an east-west transmission system would add further strength to this development. CanWEA has committed to do its part to collaborate with Manitoba authorities to facilitate such initiatives with the intention of developing a strong and globally competitive wind energy industry.