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Researched by Industrial Info Resources (Sugar Land, Texas)--The Alberta government last week announced it had directed the Alberta Utilities Commission (AUC) to pause approvals for new renewable energy-generation projects with a capacity greater than 1 megawatt (MW) until at least February 29, 2024, starting August 3, to review policies and procedures for the development of new renewable generation.
In a related press release, Nathan Neudorf, Minister of Affordability and Utilities, said, "This approach will provide future renewable investments with the certainty and clarity required for long-term development."
The direction to pause approvals, the government said, was in direct response to a letter from the AUC that noted concerns from municipalities and landowners regarding land use and the growing pace of renewables development.
In the letter, Carolyn Dahl Reis, chair of the AUC, wrote, "The Alberta Utilities Commission is currently processing a historically high volume of new renewable (wind and solar) and thermal power plant applications. Because of the geographically dispersed nature of new generation development, two important issues have come to the forefront of the Commission's public interest considerations: the development of power plants on high value agricultural lands and the lack of mandatory reclamation security requirements for power plants." The Alberta Electric System Operator (AESO) also submitted a letter in support of the decision to pause approvals.
According to the press release, the government also has directed the AUC to perform a broad inquiry into renewable development in Alberta, which, among other considerations, includes looking at "the impact of the growth of renewable energy on Alberta's generation mix and electricity system reliability."
The release also noted that all utility-scale renewable-generation projects in Alberta are commercially developed on private land only and can only advance with the permission of private landowners.
The government requested AUC provide a report on its findings by March 29, 2024.
The AUC is currently reviewing 15 unnamed renewable, thermal and energy-storage projects, according to the press release, although it did not say how, or if, the halt on approvals will impact those projects.
Industrial Info is tracking US$20.8 billion worth of active renewable-generation projects in Alberta, including US$5.6 billion worth that fall within Industrial Info's assessment of having a high or medium probability (70% or more) of moving forward as planned. Of the high- to-medium-probability projects, US$3.4 billion worth is under development.
Subscribers to Industrial Info's Global Market Intelligence (GMI) Power Project Database can click here for a full list of detailed project reports.
Multinational renewable-energy developer Renewable Energy Systems (RES) (U.K.) is developing the two phases of its 398.4-MW Forty Mile Wind Power Project in Bow Island. Phase 1 would utilize 49 wind turbines to generate 279 MW of power, and a unit addition would generate an additional 119 MW. The wind turbine power plant projects are planned to kick off in April and December of next year, respectively. Subscribers can read detailed projects reports on Phase 1 and the unit addition.
Also under development is Greengate Power Corporation's (Calgary) Jurassic solar-plus-storage project in southern Alberta. The solar-power plant would utilize photovoltaic (PV) panels for 220 MW of solar generation, and the battery energy storage system (BESS) would hold up to 80 MW. The project is expected to kick off in March 2024. Click here to read the project report.
In terms of projects under construction, a joint venture between Teralight (Ramat Gan, Israel) (75% stake) and Greencells Group (Saarbrucken, Germany) (25% stake) is at work on the US$260 million Dunmore Solar Plant. The project, which is expected to wrap up by the end of 2024, will utilize photovoltaic (PV) panels from Canadian Solar Incorporated (NASDAQ:CSIQ) (Guelph, Ontario) to provide 216 MW of solar generation. Click here for more information.
In late July, Industrial Info reported that US$1.7 billion worth of Canadian wind projects were under construction. For more information, see Industrial Info's July 24, 2023, article - Canada Sees $1.7 Billion in Windfarms Under Construction.
Canada has set a target to cut greenhouse gas emissions 40% to 45% from 2005 levels by 2030, and has committed to reach net-zero emissions by 2050.
According to the Canadian Centre for Energy Information, as of May, renewable electricity accounted for almost 70% of Canada's total generation; hydropower accounted for the majority of that amount. However, Industrial Info is not tracking any hydropower projects that have a high-to-medium probability of moving forward as planned.
Subscribers to Industrial Info's GMI project and plant databases can click here for a full list of detailed reports for projects mentioned in this article, and click here for a full list of related plant profiles.
Industrial Info Resources (IIR) is the leading provider of industrial market intelligence. Since 1983, IIR has provided comprehensive research, news and analysis on the industrial process, manufacturing and energy related industries. IIR's Global Market Intelligence (GMI) helps companies identify and pursue trends across multiple markets with access to real, qualified and validated plant and project opportunities. Across the world, IIR is tracking over 200,000 current and future projects worth $17.8 Trillion (USD).
In a related press release, Nathan Neudorf, Minister of Affordability and Utilities, said, "This approach will provide future renewable investments with the certainty and clarity required for long-term development."
The direction to pause approvals, the government said, was in direct response to a letter from the AUC that noted concerns from municipalities and landowners regarding land use and the growing pace of renewables development.
In the letter, Carolyn Dahl Reis, chair of the AUC, wrote, "The Alberta Utilities Commission is currently processing a historically high volume of new renewable (wind and solar) and thermal power plant applications. Because of the geographically dispersed nature of new generation development, two important issues have come to the forefront of the Commission's public interest considerations: the development of power plants on high value agricultural lands and the lack of mandatory reclamation security requirements for power plants." The Alberta Electric System Operator (AESO) also submitted a letter in support of the decision to pause approvals.
According to the press release, the government also has directed the AUC to perform a broad inquiry into renewable development in Alberta, which, among other considerations, includes looking at "the impact of the growth of renewable energy on Alberta's generation mix and electricity system reliability."
The release also noted that all utility-scale renewable-generation projects in Alberta are commercially developed on private land only and can only advance with the permission of private landowners.
The government requested AUC provide a report on its findings by March 29, 2024.
The AUC is currently reviewing 15 unnamed renewable, thermal and energy-storage projects, according to the press release, although it did not say how, or if, the halt on approvals will impact those projects.
Industrial Info is tracking US$20.8 billion worth of active renewable-generation projects in Alberta, including US$5.6 billion worth that fall within Industrial Info's assessment of having a high or medium probability (70% or more) of moving forward as planned. Of the high- to-medium-probability projects, US$3.4 billion worth is under development.
Subscribers to Industrial Info's Global Market Intelligence (GMI) Power Project Database can click here for a full list of detailed project reports.
Multinational renewable-energy developer Renewable Energy Systems (RES) (U.K.) is developing the two phases of its 398.4-MW Forty Mile Wind Power Project in Bow Island. Phase 1 would utilize 49 wind turbines to generate 279 MW of power, and a unit addition would generate an additional 119 MW. The wind turbine power plant projects are planned to kick off in April and December of next year, respectively. Subscribers can read detailed projects reports on Phase 1 and the unit addition.
Also under development is Greengate Power Corporation's (Calgary) Jurassic solar-plus-storage project in southern Alberta. The solar-power plant would utilize photovoltaic (PV) panels for 220 MW of solar generation, and the battery energy storage system (BESS) would hold up to 80 MW. The project is expected to kick off in March 2024. Click here to read the project report.
In terms of projects under construction, a joint venture between Teralight (Ramat Gan, Israel) (75% stake) and Greencells Group (Saarbrucken, Germany) (25% stake) is at work on the US$260 million Dunmore Solar Plant. The project, which is expected to wrap up by the end of 2024, will utilize photovoltaic (PV) panels from Canadian Solar Incorporated (NASDAQ:CSIQ) (Guelph, Ontario) to provide 216 MW of solar generation. Click here for more information.
In late July, Industrial Info reported that US$1.7 billion worth of Canadian wind projects were under construction. For more information, see Industrial Info's July 24, 2023, article - Canada Sees $1.7 Billion in Windfarms Under Construction.
Canada has set a target to cut greenhouse gas emissions 40% to 45% from 2005 levels by 2030, and has committed to reach net-zero emissions by 2050.
According to the Canadian Centre for Energy Information, as of May, renewable electricity accounted for almost 70% of Canada's total generation; hydropower accounted for the majority of that amount. However, Industrial Info is not tracking any hydropower projects that have a high-to-medium probability of moving forward as planned.
Subscribers to Industrial Info's GMI project and plant databases can click here for a full list of detailed reports for projects mentioned in this article, and click here for a full list of related plant profiles.
Industrial Info Resources (IIR) is the leading provider of industrial market intelligence. Since 1983, IIR has provided comprehensive research, news and analysis on the industrial process, manufacturing and energy related industries. IIR's Global Market Intelligence (GMI) helps companies identify and pursue trends across multiple markets with access to real, qualified and validated plant and project opportunities. Across the world, IIR is tracking over 200,000 current and future projects worth $17.8 Trillion (USD).
