Additional transmission capacity into New Brunswick and Nova Scotia will help those two Canadian provinces replace fossil-fueled power generation resources by 2030 and achieve longer-term emissions-reduction goals, a new report recommended.
The "Clean Power Roadmap for Atlantic Canada" final report, released March 11, puts some specifics behind the "Atlantic Loop" concept, outlined in an interim report released in October 2020, that would more closely tie Quebec and the four Atlantic provinces — New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island — with additional transmission capacity.
Nova Scotia is the most dependent on coal, with the fuel providing about half of the province's electricity, according to the report. New Brunswick gets about 17% of its electricity from coal as well. Federal government policy requires the retirement of conventional coal-fired generation by 2030.
Demand for electricity in Atlantic Canada is also expected to increase as electrification of sectors such as transportation and space heating expands, the report said.
"Our government has set clear objectives that will see Canada end its reliance on coal for electricity generation by 2030 and reach net-zero by 2050. The key to achieving these targets is enhanced collaboration between all levels of governments," Dominic LeBlanc, Canada's minister of intergovernmental affairs, infrastructure and communities, said in a statement accompanying the release of the report. "There are clear opportunities for such collaboration between Atlantic provinces, whether it be on the Atlantic Loop or other clean energy initiatives. Our government will continue to be a partner in advancing those projects, which will bring jobs and prosperity to the region."
Transmission links between and among the provinces already exist, but their capacity is limited. The final report highlighted what it called "the most promising near-term projects that could move power across the region and better integrate markets," outlined below:
* 1,150 MW from Quebec to New Brunswick. Further studies would examine both transmission from the Hydro-Québec system into New Brunswick and NB Power's ability to receive the additional power.
* 800 MW from New Brunswick to Nova Scotia. Studies would examine both NB Power's ability to transmit the additional capacity and Emera Inc. subsidiary Nova Scotia Power Inc.'s ability to receive it. NB Power also supplies power to Prince Edward Island.
* 250 MW to 500 MW from Newfoundland and Labrador to Nova Scotia. The two provinces are already linked by a subsea high-voltage direct-current line called the Maritime Link, which allows Nova Scotia Power to receive electricity from the newly operational Muskrat Falls hydroelectric project in Labrador. The report indicates the Maritime Link could be "enhanced."
Infrastructure investments come with costs, and recent experience, such as with the Muskrat Falls plant and its related transmission lines, has shown that projects can run over budget. For any projects that might arise from the roadmap, the report suggested shared investments between utilities and governments, with an eye to controlling costs and keeping consumer rates in check.
The roadmap was developed by a committee co-chaired by Natural Resources Canada and the Nova Scotia Department of Intergovernmental Affairs. Utilities and governments from the four Atlantic provinces were represented on the committee. Hydro-Québec and the Quebec government participated as observers.
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