Grid planning
What Wind West means for Atlantic Canada’s transmission system
Preliminary offshore wind analysis highlights the scale of transmission upgrades and the complementary role of solar and storage.
Originally published on LinkedIn. This article reflects the information and perspective at the time of the original post.
How much transmission will Wind West actually require?
This preliminary analysis, presented today by Stantec, Energy and Environmental Economics, Inc. and Net Zero Atlantic as part of the Atlantic Canada Offshore Wind Grid Integration and Transmission Study points to thousands of kilometres of new or upgraded 138, 230, and 345 kV lines across NS, NB, PEI, and NL, plus transformer upgrades and stability measures.
Even the lowest wind scenario requires 1,200 to 2,000 km of work.
Offshore wind presents a generational opportunity for the region.
As planning advances, complementary resources such as solar and storage should also be part of the conversation. Not as replacements for offshore wind, but as tools that may help improve transmission utilization, and strengthen overall project economics.
Encouraging to see this progress on Wind West.
