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Energy Development |
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Manitoba Hydro Overview Energy production and distribution in Manitoba is inextricably linked to its sole Crown-owned utility. Manitoba Hydro serves 510 000 electric customers throughout Manitoba and 258 000 natural gas customers in various communities throughout southern Manitoba.Source: Manitoba Hydro
The utility has several roles:
Electricity Production
Close to 98% of the electricity Manitoba Hydro generates is produced by the 14 hydroelectric generating stations on the Nelson, Winnipeg, Saskatchewan and Laurie Rivers. Approximately 2% of Manitoba Hydro's electricity is produced by two thermal generating stations and four remote diesel generating stations.Source: Manitoba Hydro
In total, Manitoba Hydro's electric power generating capacity is 5,481MW, and of this 4,998MW comes from hydroelectric generating stations. Manitoba Hydro purchases electricity generated by wind turbines - as of February 2007, Manitoba is generating 103.95MW of electricity from Phase 1 and Phase 2 of the St. Leon project. Source: Canadian Wind Energy Association
Wind power therefore constitutes just under 2% of Manitoba's total electricity generation capacity. In 2005, and again in 2006 the Manitoba Government committed to the development of 1,000MW of wind power over the next decade. Source: Government of Manitoba
Other proposed wind projects are being reviewed under the Environment Act (see New Renewable Energy - Wind Energy below). Agreements must also be in place between independent power producers and Manitoba Hydro in order to facilitate the integration of this power into Manitoba Hydro's transmission system. To date there are no public environmental statement standards for wind developers to fulfill for their Manitoba environmental license. Manitoba Hydro has extensive infrastructure to support the delivery of power in the province. There is roughly 11,000km of transmission corridors throughout the province, outside towns and cities. The transmission system transports electricity at high voltages from the generating stations to other parts of Manitoba Hydro's provincial power system, as well as to other utilities' power systems. The distribution system transforms the higher voltages to useable levels for delivery to customers, and maintains steady voltage levels in spite of continuously changing demands for power during the course of a day or a season.
Source: Manitoba Hydro
There are 12 points or interconnections between Manitoba Hydro's transmission infrastructure and the electricity grids of other Canadian provinces and the US. They provide the capacity for Manitoba to import approximately 850MW and export 2,600MW of power. Manitoba Hydro claims that their ability to export surplus power is a major factor in keeping Manitobans' electricity costs at low rates. Natural Gas Purchasing and Distribution
Manitoba Hydro-owned Centra Gas purchases natural gas from suppliers and delivers the gas to Manitoba consumers. In order to move the gas to where it is needed, Centra maintains 1674 km of transmission pipeline and 6496 km of distribution pipeline.Source: Manitoba Hydro
Manitoba Hydro has an energy conservation strategy (also known as 'demand-side management') called 'Power Smart' (please also see section below on New Renewable Energy - Energy Conservation). The objective of Power Smart is to meet energy needs through efficiency improvements rather than new sources of generation. Through Power Smart, Manitoba Hydro promotes energy efficient products, services and programs for residential, commercial and industrial customers.Source: Manitoba Hydro
Manitoba Hydro's Earth Power Loan Program is designed to provide assistance to Manitobans wishing to install geothermal heat pumps. Geothermal heat pumps, often referred to as GeoExchange or Earth Energy, use a system of pipes buried below the frost line, where the ground is warmer in winter and cooler in summer to provide heating and cooling for homes and businesses. They emit 66% less greenhouse gases than conventional heating and cooling systems that use fossil fuels and use up to 75% less electricity, reducing annual heating and cooling costs by 50% - 70%. Installations have tripled over four years and Manitoba has become a leader in earth energy systems. 
Manitoba does not have any programs in place to promote residential or commercial installations of solar energy, nor does it have an electricity feed law that would permit individuals to connect their solar power systems to the grid and pay them a fair price to 'feed' electricity back into the grid when not being used by the household. |
Manitoba Energy Plan |
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| The Province of Manitoba does not have an energy plan, or specific public policy regarding domestic energy needs, and conservation targets. Nor is there a new renewable portfolio standard or mandated objective for new sources of renewable energy production in the province. During the absence of these public policy tools, various Manitoba Hydro development intentions/proposals continue to be actively discussed, planned, and/or proposed. These projects, if approved, have the potential to alter significant tracts of our northern boreal forest ecosystems. They are being planned without completed networks of protected areas in these forest regions. The government's development intentions are geared towards serving out-of-province/ export energy markets. Manitoba currently has sufficient energy for domestic purposes. In 2002, a new provincial Department of Energy, Science and Technology (EST) was created. Visit Manitoba Department of Energy, Science and Technology website Visit Manitoba Hydro website View Manitoba government press releases about Manitoba Hydro Manitoba's need for an energy plan was recognized by the Manitoba Chambers of Commerce (MCC), which called, in 2006, for a public dialogue to arrive at an energy plan for Manitoba. The MCC passed a resolution - An Energy Plan for Manitoba at its 75th Annual General Meeting (AGM) March 2006. One of the primary objectives of the MCC resolution would be to "define environmental protection and conservation of our natural ecosystems as primary considerations in terms of energy use in Manitoba." As Manitoba's largest business lobby, the MCC represents 74 communities and over 10,000 businesses across Manitoba through direct corporate membership and local chambers.  Download the March 2006 Manitoba Chambers of Commerce resolution An Energy Plan for Manitoba (PDF)Visit the Manitoba Chambers of Commerce web site |
New Renewable Energy |
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| In spring 2002, the Manitoba government established a new agency responsible for the development of alternative energy options. This agency will be responsible for both renewable energy like hydro, and the new renewables such as wind, solar, ethanol, geothermal, etc. Visit the Manitoba Government's Energy Development Initiative web site The Manitoba Government has taken some initial steps to promote the development of alternative and new renewable sources of energy. In this section we are providing information on government programs and initiatives related to this commitment to energy alternatives as well as energy development project that have been proposed or are in the process of being licensed. Energy Conservation
Conservation is an often overlooked but very important source of alternative energy. The modest Manitoba Hydro Power Smart Program, has not realized the full potential of demand side management (DSM) opportunities. The Manitoba government and Manitoba Hydro have not yet invested sufficiently in energy conservation.
Visit Manitoba Hydro's PowerSmart pages Visit the following sites for energy efficiency and DSM best practices: Best Practices Benchmarking for Energy Efficiency Programs Canadian Energy Efficiency Centre Hydrogen
Manitoba Wildlands reviewed the Manitoba Energy Science and Technology Hydrogen Discussion paper.Download An
Evaluation of Preliminary Hydrogen Opportunities Report (PDF)View the Preliminary Hydrogen Opportunities Report As of February 2008, eleven wind energy projects have been proposed or licensed under Manitoba's Environment Act.
Concerns have been raised because ten of the eleven projects licensed or in the process of obtaining an environmental licence in Manitoba are 99 MW projects. This avoids classification as a Class 3 development (projects under 100 MW are Class 2 developments) under the Environment Act, resulting in lower licensing fees, less public involvement, no public hearings, and no EIS Guidelines.Changes proposed to the Environment Act would remove the 100 MW threshold for wind projects regarding class of development and classify all wind project greater than 2 MW as Class 2 developments. This step would cancel having any standard of environmental assessment for wind projects, no matter the total footprint or size of these projects. The role of the public in contributing to the environmental review and assessment process would also be cancelled. Currently, despite political commitments to avoid staged environmental licenses in Manitoba, these 99 MW project developers assume they can add to their projects without having to be assessed, etc. Also there are no public EIS standards in Manitoba for wind energy projects. An example of what this means is that there are no set back standards. Manitoba Wildlands has provided comments on some of the wind energy projects that have or are been assessed under Manitoba's Environment Act. Download Manitoba Wildlands/CNF October 17, 2003 comments: Sequoia Energy Inc. - St. Leon Wind-Energy Project (PDF)Download Manitoba Wildlands/CNF December 12, 2003 appeal of the November 14, 2003 environmental license for Sequoia Energy Inc. - St. Leon Wind-Energy Project (PDF)Download Manitoba Wildlands' March 8, 2006 comments: Killarney Wind Energy Project (PDF)Download Manitoba Wildlands' April 12, 2006 comments: Dacotah Wind Energy Project (PDF)Other individuals and groups, including landowners/farmers in Manitoba have also raised concerns and provided comments on wind energy projects that have are being licensed under Manitoba's Environment Act. Some of the concerns raised by farmers and landowners about effects from the 99 MW Swan Lake Wind Energy Project (Greenwing Energy Development L.P.) include:
View the November 21, 2005 Government of Manitoba press release 
The invitation for expressions of interest in wind power projects resulted in 36 responses from 43 proponents including wind developers, First Nations, communities, turbine manufacturers and consultants.View the March 10, 2006 Government of Manitoba press release In September 2006, the Manitoba Government took the next step towards its goal of 1,000 MW of wind power, announcing another request for proposals for 300 MW to take place in winter 2006-07. View the September 7, 2006 Government of Manitoba press release The Canadian Wind Energy Association (CanWEA) maintains up to date information regarding installed wind project and wind projects that have been contracted or are under construction. View a chart of installed wind capacity by province Download a chart of Canadian Wind Energy Projects with a Signed Power Purchase Agreement and/or Already Under Construction (PDF) |
Manitoba Hydro – Development Intentions |
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| Manitoba Hydro is signatory to a number of agreements or treaties with First
Nation and other Aboriginal communities in northern and central Manitoba, where generation stations have been established on rivers, and where lakes have become reservoirs. One such agreement
is the 1977 Northern Flood Agreement signed between Canada, Manitoba, Manitoba
Hydro, and five northern First Nations communities affected by generation stations,
flooding, and environmental impacts.
See our Consultations/Licenses page, and links regarding environmental licenses above for information about the Manitoba Hydro license application for Wuskwatim generation station and transmission line projects. See Manitoba Hydro for maps of the hydroelectric system in Manitoba and information regarding the corporation's development intentions. |
Current major development intentions include:
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Manitoba Hydro - Current & Potential Interconnections Larger Image |
| Manitoba Wildlands has mapped both existing and potential transmission lines/corridors for Manitoba. See the inset map (right) regarding unknown transmission lines for new dams on the Nelson River. Citations and sources are listed on the main map (above right). | Potential Hydro Transmission - East Side of Lake Winnipeg Larger Image |
Wuskwatim Projects |
For information click here |
Future Projects - Manitoba Hydro |
For information click here |
Historic Hydro Gallery Manitoba Wildlands has designed a photo gallery that shows communities and rivers across northern Manitoba, starting as early as 1880, to show before, during, and after images of hydro generation development in our province.For information click here |
Hydro Research |
For information click here |
Hydro Map Gallery |
For information click here |
Comment |
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Manitoba Hydro: 10 things Manitobans need to know Manitoba Hydro's development plans are a constant feature of media coverage, in particular because of a growing preoccupation with climate change and messaging that portrays hydroelectric power as climate-friendly. Some content implies that new dams in Manitoba will deliver on Kyoto obligations by exporting energy. Manitoba Hydro is actively planning new hydroelectric dams and transmission lines. The licensing process for the first of a 'new generation' of hydro projects - the Wuskwatim Generating Station and Transmission projects began in November 2001. Federal approvals and provincial environment licences were issued summer 2006.Manitoba Hydro is a public utility owned by all Manitoba residents. The utility also owns natural gas distribution for the province. Every Manitoban is affected by Manitoba Hydro's investment decisions and debt load. 10 facts each Manitoban should know:
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2002-2008