Manitoba Hydro’s plan to expand its gas-burning generating station in Brandon faced criticism last week after the Crown corporation disclosed a need to decrease power output at the plant during severe winter cold spells. The proposed $3 billion project aims to install three new natural gas turbines alongside the existing pair in Brandon, with the goal of boosting the province’s generating capacity by 750 megawatts by 2030 to mitigate midwinter power shortages.
This initiative is part of a broader strategy by Manitoba Hydro to make 1,760 megawatts of electricity, representing over a quarter of its current generating capacity, available within the next decade. The Public Utilities Board, the province’s energy regulator, is currently examining this plan through a series of public hearings.
During a recent hearing, Cheryl Sanclemente, the Hydro energy markets director, testified that the utility had to lower the maximum power output at its 280-megawatt Brandon fuel-burning generating station in three out of the past 10 winter peak usage periods. These reductions occurred on Jan. 7 and Dec. 20 in 2022, as well as on Jan. 22 and 23 this year.
James Wilt, a policy director for the Manitoba Climate Action Team, characterized this testimony as a rare acknowledgment by Manitoba Hydro that natural gas turbines may not be as dependable during winter cold snaps as previously asserted. His organization, along with others, has criticized Hydro’s focus on increasing fossil fuel usage instead of investing more in renewable energy sources like wind farms, solar energy, and battery storage.
In addition to the new gas turbines, Hydro’s 10-year plan includes the construction of five megawatts of battery storage by 2034, new wind farms capable of generating 600 megawatts by 2035, and energy efficiency measures totaling 860 megawatts. The debate centers on the perceived reliability of gas-fired power compared to other resources, with concerns raised about Hydro’s emphasis on gas plant reliability while questioning the reliability of wind power during winter.
Hydro’s spokesperson, Peter Chura, explained that occasional outages are common across all forms of power generation, noting that the Brandon gas turbines are over two decades old. During the Public Utilities Board hearing, Hydro’s vice-president, Dave Bowen, defended the reliability of the existing Brandon station, emphasizing past challenges in maintaining and operating the units due to underinvestment in critical infrastructure.
The Public Utilities Board hearings on Hydro’s energy plan are scheduled to run until Sept. 4.