Southern Alberta
Why do you need to build more transmission in southern Alberta?
In the South region, we have received applications for 7,500 MW of wind power to connect to the transmission system in southern Alberta. This transmission system was originally built to serve the largely rural communities in the region and cannot handle the higher volume of wind power in development. When these new wind power projects are built and ready to connect to the grid, new transmission lines are required to move the electricity to where it is needed in southern and central Alberta and the Calgary area.
What option are you proposing to connect more wind power on the system?
In December 2008, after comprehensive study and consultation, we announced our preferred option is to build new transmission lines in the shape of a loop to connect new wind farms to the grid. The loop will also connect to points in the existing system to improve overall reliability and meet other pockets of load growth in the region. Flexibility was key to this system reinforcement because there is uncertainty about when, where or if all this new generation will be built. The transmission improvements have been planned so they can be built in stages. This means we can adjust the plans to match wind power developments and manage the costs of new transmission as it is needed. The first stage will connect as much as 1,200 MW of new wind power. There are currently 497 MW of wind power connected to Alberta’s transmission system. The plan includes two additional stages that will be triggered by the pace of wind development. Our studies show that it is realistic to expect about 2,700 MW of new wind development in the South region during the next 10 years. How much will this project cost? The estimate for the first stage is $750 million, while the additional stages could cost $800 million and $280 million respectively.
What are the next steps?
In December 2008, we filed our need application with the Alberta Utilities Commission (AUC) for approval. In the next stage, the AUC will announce details about the regulatory process and timeline. The expected date for these facilities to be in service is between 2011 and 2016. With an approved application, we would assign the system reinforcement project to AltaLink, which is the transmission facility owner (TFO) in the area. AltaLink would complete detailed technical studies and carry out public consultation to identify a specific route they would recommend in a facilities application they would file with the AUC for approval.