Competitively-Sourced Commercial Renewables
Nova Scotia’s 2010 Renewable Electricity Plan had called for an incremental 600 gigawatt hours of larger-scale, renewable energy projects in order to meet the 2015 law that requires us to have 25 per cent of our energy mix coming from renewable energy sources; half to come from independent power producer projects and the remainder from Nova Scotia Power projects.
Many of the projects needed to achieve those results are either built, under construction, or awarded. The goal is for all projects to be cost-competitive (roughly equal to or less than the cost of thermal generation, i.e., from coal) and that the price will remain stable over time.
Current Commercial Renewable Projects
Wind:
- As of September 2013, there was 321 MW of installed capacity from wind generation in the province. These installations are owned by Independent Power Producers (IPPs), Nova Scotia Power, or through a joint partnership.
- Contracts for 115.8 MW of renewable electricity capacity have been awarded to three Nova Scotia-based wind projects by the Renewable Electricity Administrator:
- South Canoe Wind Project (Oxford) between Chester and Windsor led by Oxford Frozen Foods (78 megawatts);
- South Canoe Wind Project (Minas) located in Lunenburg County led by Minas Basin Pulp & Power (24 megawatts); and,
- Sable Wind Project led by the Municipality of the District of wind Guysborough located near Canso (13.8 megawatts).
- Nova Scotia Power has also awarded several contracts for small, community-based farms in the province.
Bioenergy:
Nova Scotia Power’s Port Hawkesbury Biomass Plant is expected to supply as much as 3 per cent of the province’s electricity from a locally sourced fuel that will displace imported coal. Learn more here.
Tidal Energy Barrage:
The Annapolis Tidal Station, a tidal barrage, has been generating clean power from our ocean resource since 1984. The plant generates up to 20 megawatts, enough to power up to 6,000 Nova Scotian homes.
Renewable to Retail:
Through the Electricity Reform Act (2013), the Province has opened the Nova Scotian electricity market to competitors for the first time. Individual electricity customers will be able to select an alternate retailer for electricity.
The first steps in opening the market to competition have already been taken: Nova Scotia Power has been ordered to prepare a tariff structure for competitors to use its existing infrastructure and to present these tariffs to the Utility and Review Board. The Board has heard evidence from stakeholders, including potential alternate retailers and consumer groups before making a decision, which is expected in 2016.
All retailers will be licensed, to ensure consumer protection, and all of the electricity sold will be 100% low-impact renewable, from sources including wind, solar, and tidal.
Further details may be found on Nova Scotia Power’s website.