Ottawa – Jonathan Wilkinson, Canada’s Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, announced funding for 12 projects across Alberta that will create good jobs while producing and storing clean electricity. These clean electricity projects are a critical part of Canada’s energy future and offer great economic opportunities for the province.
As highlighted in the Government of Canada’s vision for transforming Canada’s electricity sector, the decarbonization of Canada’s electricity systems is of critical importance as a step toward achieving net-zero emissions across the economy by 2050 and ensuring a prosperous future for Canadians. By investing in today’s clean electricity projects, the Government of Canada is continuing to collaboratively deliver affordable and reliable power to Albertans while advancing toward a sustainable and prosperous future.
Funding for these projects was provided through the Smart Renewables and Electrification Pathways Program (SREPs). This program is investing up to $4.5 billion by 2035 for smart renewable energy and electrical grid modernization projects. This investment will significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions by encouraging the replacement of fossil-fuel generated electricity with smart renewable energy and storage projects that also provide essential grid services while supporting Canada’s equitable transition to an electrified economy.
Lanfine Wind 1
Recipient: Pattern Energy
Project location: Oyen, Alberta
Funding from SREPs: $20,623,445
Project summary: The Lanfine Wind 1 LP is a 150-megawatt (MW) onshore wind project in eastern Alberta. The project will install 35 Vestas V150-4.3 MW turbines with a 105-metre hub height, reducing GHG emissions by approximately 220,000 tonnes of CO2e a year, equivalent to taking up to an estimated 67,400 gas-powered cars off the road. Lanfine Wind 1 LP will bring significant economic and social benefits, such as job creation and capacity building, while using local and regional contractors including Indigenous owned and operated businesses. It will create up to 1,300 jobs and generate enough emissions-free electricity for more than 45,000 Alberta homes annually.
Hilda Wind Power Project
Recipient: Innagreen
Project location: Hilda, Cypress County, Alberta
Funding from SREPs: $17,513,543
Project summary: The Hilda Wind Power is a 105.4-MW wind energy power project in Cypress County, Alberta. The project will deploy a 105.4-MW wind energy power, reducing GHG emissions by approximately 155,000 tonnes of CO2e a year, equivalent to taking 47,000 gas-powered cars off the road. Hilda Wind Power will bring significant economic and social benefits such as job creation and capacity building to Cypress County while boosting local supply chains in the community. It will create up to an estimated 900 jobs and generate enough emissions-free electricity for more than 32,000 Alberta homes annually.
Buffalo Atlee Wind Farm 1
Recipient: Capstone Infrastructure Corporation and Sawridge First Nation
Project location: Jenner, Alberta
Funding from SREPs: $16,292,771
Project summary: The Buffalo Atlee Wind 1 LP is a 20.8-MW wind farm near Jenner, Alberta. The project will contribute to GHG emissions reduction by approximately 27,000 tonnes of CO2e a year and increased renewable energy in Alberta while increasing overall electrical system reliability by reducing load on the bulk transmission system. Buffalo Atlee Wind 1 LP will create up to an estimated 180 jobs and generate enough emissions-free energy for more than 8,000 Alberta homes annually. It will contribute to the local economy, generating employment and increasing equity, diversity and inclusion in the energy sector.
Buffalo Atlee Wind Farm 2
Recipient: Capstone Infrastructure Corporation and Sawridge First Nation
Project location: Jenner, Alberta
Funding from SREPs: $16,292,771
Project summary: The Buffalo Atlee Wind 2 LP is a 15.6-MW wind farm near Jenner, Alberta. The project will contribute to GHG emissions by approximately 20,000 tonnes of CO2e a year and increased renewable energy in Alberta while increasing overall electrical system reliability by reducing load on the bulk transmission system. Buffalo Atlee Wind 2 LP will create up to an estimated 135 jobs and generate enough emissions-free energy for more than 6,200 Alberta homes annually. It will contribute to the local economy, generating employment and increasing equity, diversity and inclusion in the energy sector.
Buffalo Atlee Wind Farm 3
Recipient: Capstone Infrastructure Corporation and Sawridge First Nation
Project location: Jenner, Alberta
Funding from SREPs: $16,292,771
Project summary: The Buffalo Atlee Wind 3 LP is a 20.8-MW wind farm near Jenner, Alberta. The project will contribute to GHG emissions by approximately 27,000 tonnes of CO2e a year and increased renewable energy in Alberta while increasing overall electrical system reliability by reducing load on the bulk transmission system. Buffalo Atlee Wind 3 LP will create up to an estimated 180 jobs and generate enough emissions-free energy for more than 8,000 Alberta homes annually. It will contribute to the local economy, generating employment and increasing equity, diversity and inclusion in the energy sector.
Buffalo Atlee Wind Farm 4
Recipient: Capstone Infrastructure Corporation and Sawridge First Nation
Project location: Jenner, Alberta
Funding from SREPs: $11,487,543
Project summary: The Buffalo Atlee Wind 4 LP is a 10.4-MW wind farm near Jenner, Alberta. The project will contribute to GHG emissions reduction by approximately 13,000 tonnes of CO2e a year and increased renewable energy in Alberta while increasing overall electrical system reliability by reducing load on the bulk transmission system. Buffalo Atlee Wind 4 LP will create up to an estimated 90 jobs and generate enough emissions-free energy for more than 4,000 Alberta homes annually. It will contribute to the local economy, generating employment and increasing equity, diversity and inclusion in the energy sector.
Advanced Distribution Management System (ADMS)
Recipient: ATCO
Project location: Vegreville, Alberta
Funding from SREPs: $12,350,000
Project summary: ATCO will deploy hardware and software systems in Vegreville, Alberta, to upgrade their control systems, distribution systems and improve their ability to manage electricity outages. The project will contribute to GHG emissions reduction by approximately 2,350 tonnes of CO2e a year, modernize Alberta’s electricity grid, increase stability and energy security, ensuring customers benefit from improved hazard reduction, while creating new employment opportunities during construction.
Asset Modernization
Recipient: ATCO
Project location: 27 communities, Alberta
Funding from SREPs: $25,000,000
Project summary: ATCO will deploy hardware and software systems in 27 communities in Alberta to upgrade their control systems, distribution systems and improve their ability to manage electricity outages. The project will contribute to GHG emissions reduction by approximately 16 tonnes of CO2e a year, modernize Alberta’s electricity grid, increase stability and energy security, ensuring customers benefit from improved hazard reduction, while creating new employment opportunities during construction.
Advanced metering Infrastructure
Recipient: ATCO
Project location: 190 communities, Alberta (number of communities may overlap with SREPS-GM-170)
Funding from SREPs: $25,000,000
Project summary: ATCO will deploy 230,000 advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) and the supporting communications equipment across 190 communities (rural, remote and urban centres), providing customers with time-of-use pricing to allow them to respond to price signals. The project will contribute to GHG emissions reduction by approximately 22 tonnes of CO2e a year, while creating new employment opportunities during construction. It will also modernize Alberta’s electricity grid while increasing stability and energy security.
Barlow Solar Park
Recipient: ATCO and Chiniki First Nation and Goodstoney First Nation
Project location: Calgary, Alberta
Funding from SREPs: $4,033,231
Project summary: The Barlow Solar Park, owned in part by Chiniki First Nation and Goodstoney First Nation, is a 27-MW solar farm located in Calgary, Alberta. The project will deploy renewable energy and grid modernization technologies to support the supply of clean energy to the Alberta electricity grid, reducing GHG emissions by approximately 22,000 tonnes of CO2e a year, equivalent to taking 6,800 gas-powered cars off the road. With its construction, Barlow Solar will have created up to an estimated 470 jobs and will generate enough emissions-free energy for more than 7,000 Alberta homes annually.
Deerfoot Solar Park
Recipient: ATCO and Chiniki First Nation and Goodstoney First Nation
Project location: Calgary, Alberta
Funding from SREPs: $9,214,092
Project summary: The Deerfoot Solar Park, owned in part by Chiniki First Nation and Goodstoney First Nation, is a 37-MW solar farm located in Calgary, Alberta. The project will deploy renewable energy and grid modernization technologies to support the supply of clean energy to the Alberta electricity grid, reducing GHG emissions by approximately 29,000 tonnes of CO2e a year, equivalent to taking 8,900 gas-powered cars off the road. Deerfoot Solar is expected to have created an estimate of up to 660 jobs with construction and to generate enough emissions-free energy for more than 9,500 Alberta homes annually.
Montana First Nation Microgrid Project
Recipient: Akamihk Energy
Project location: Montana First Nation, Alberta
Funding from SREPs: $1,000,000
Project summary: Akamihk Energy, owned by Montana First Nation, will investigate the potential to integrate all electricity distribution infrastructure and service on Montana First Nation’s lands into a consolidated microgrid; manage energy flows within that grid; and meter exchange to the Alberta Interconnected Electric System (AIES). This project furthers Canada’s Reconciliation goals by supporting Montana First Nation in exploring options to be owners of its own energy supply.
The programs and initiatives announced today build on previous investments that support clean electricity in Alberta.
These include:
· Nine Alberta-based solar projects, for which Minister Wilkinson announced over $160 million to generate significant clean solar power and deploy 163 MW of new solar generation and 48 MW of battery storage capacity in the province.
· Smoky Lake County, at Métis Crossing, where Minister Wilkinson announced a nearly $9-million investment for the Métis Nation of Alberta (MNA) to deploy a 4.86-MW solar power generation project.
· Strathmore, where Minister Wilkinson announced nearly $3.4 million in support for Elemental Energy’s East Strathmore Solar Project. This project will increase renewable energy capacity and grid services while also delivering progress on emissions reductions in Alberta.
Funding under the Smart Renewables and Electrification Pathways Program (SREPs) will increase renewable energy capacity and grid services and support equity diversity and inclusiveness in electricity projects while also delivering progress on emissions reductions in Canada.