The eastern Canada province Nova Scotia has released a 25-year electricity plan that foresees no need for new large-scale power generation before 2030.
The province expects to make decisions on new sources of electricity early in the next decade and will consider emerging and anticipated environmental rules and new technologies. Future large-scale generation will be open to competition.
This year, Nova Scotia reached its target of generating 25% of its electricity from renewable sources from wind, hydro and biomass. With more regional and local renewable projects planned, including the Maritime Link to wheel hydroelectricity from Labrador, the province is expected to reach 40% around 2018.
In the meantime, the government is developing draft rules that will allow renewable electricity providers to sell directly to businesses and consumers starting in 2016.
“We’re bringing more competition into the electricity marketplace,” said energy minister Michel Samson. “Moving forward, we will ensure new generation provides the most competitive rates for consumers.”
The province also aims to have 16MW to 22MW of in-stream tidal in production or under active development at the Bay of Fundy FORCE site near Parrsboro.
Progress toward large-scale tidal development will follow the passage of the new Marine Renewable Energy Act and the establishment of a new area for commercial development – the Marine Renewable Electricity Area.
The plan also commits C$1.5m over the next three years to support pilot projects to research technologies related to electricity use and management, storage, solar electricity and tidal energy.
Image: Bay of Fundy (Province of Nova Scotia)
