Toronto: On September 21 the government of Ontario announced that Hydro One would soon be starting an ambitious program to expand and upgrade the province’s transmission and distribution networks. In a letter from the Hon. George Smitherman, Deputy Premier and Minister of Energy and Infrastructure to the Chair of Hydro One, the province set out its vision of future transmission enhancements and the approach it proposes to take for implementation.
These initiatives, step four of the McGuinty government’s ten key steps in implementing the Green Energy Act, are expected to allow the province to significantly increase its use of renewable energy. The projects represent an estimated investment of about $2.3 billion over the next three years, and are expected to result in about 20,000 positions over that timeframe. The timeline for completing all thirty projects identified, including twenty major new transmission lines, is likely to be significantly longer than three years, and costs are expected to be more than $2.3 billion when all the projects are completed.
The Minister’s letter to Hydro One contained a number of special provisions. For example, the Minister instructed Hydro One to provide opportunities for participation in the projects by potentially affected Aboriginal peoples, and asked it to identify commercially reasonable opportunities for “entering into partnership with qualified third parties/partners for the execution of the Projects.” The Minister’s letter was careful to point out that it was specifying what the government wants Hydro One to achieve, but not how it is to go about executing the projects. The projects will have to go through the normal consultation and approval processes. The Minister also requested semi-annual progress reports.
On October 21, Hydro One announced that it was beginning public meetings as part of the planning and approvals process required for the first of these projects – the Northwest Transmission Expansion – a new 230 kilovolt (kV) transmission line in northwestern Ontario. The proposed line would travel approximately 430-kilometres from the Nipigon area to the Pickle Lake area on a new 40-metre wide transmission corridor. New stations would also be required in the Nipigon and Pickle Lake areas and at a midpoint on the line for electrical transformation and switching.
In its announcement, Hydro One said, “The project will not only help bring renewable generation online (e.g., 100 MW at Ontario Power Generation’s proposed Little Jackfish hydroelectric development and 280 MW of potential wind on east side of Lake Nipigon) but improve reliability and capacity in the northwest by providing an alternative supply to the transmission line that runs between Ear Falls and Pickle Lake. In addition, the project will provide opportunities to connect off-grid First Nations and other remote communities to the provincial transmission system in the future, and provide direct and indirect jobs and business opportunities.”
The initiatives include core lines, enabler lines, longer term transmission upgrades, and improvements to enable more distribution connected renewable generation. They include:
Core Transmission Projects
East-West Tie: Nipigon by Wawa
There is significant interest in renewable generation in the Northwest and the existing transmission system provides limited capability to transfer power from such new sources to load in southern Ontario. This new line would help alleviate this bottleneck issue.
North-South Tie/Barrie by GTA
There is significant renewable generation potential in northern Ontario but there is limited ability to transfer it to the load centres. The North-South Tie and the Barrie to GTA lines will provide a significant increase in the ability to transfer generation to the large GTA market.
Sudbury Area by Algoma Area
There is a high potential for developing wind and hydro generation between Wawa and Sudbury. The existing system can only accommodate a modest amount of development in the area and this line will increase the existing capacity as well as work with other transmission projects to transmit any renewable generation developed in the Northwest.
London Area by Sarnia
There is significant interest in wind generation development in the area West of London. This line along with other transmission projects will support the high level of interest shown by developers to build projects in the area.
Bowmanville by GTA
This new transmission line is required to provide additional capability for the incorporation of renewable generation in eastern Ontario and will serve other sources of generation.
Pickle Lake by Nipigon
New transmission is required to incorporate hydro and wind projects in the North. There is also a need to improve supply capability to mines north of Pickle Lake. This has created an opportunity to build a new line that can meet these two needs and facilitate the connection of wind generation in the area. This line is also crucial to helping First Nations develop energy projects and phase out the use of diesel fuel by connecting to the provincial grid.
Cornwall by Ottawa
There has been interest in solar and other renewable generation development in the area between Ottawa and Cornwall. There is limited capability to add generation to the existing transmission system. A new transmission line in the area will allow for the connection of new renewable generation. This new transmission line could also be used to supply the growing local area load in the southern part of the City of Ottawa.
Belleville by Napanee (Selby Junction)
To enable renewable generation near Belleville, a new 230 kV line between Belleville and Selby Junction (near Napanee) will be required. This line will also provide additional capability to Belleville TS which is nearing capacity.
Chenaux by Arnprior Area (Galetta Junction)
There is good potential for wind generation development near the Pembroke/Chenaux area in eastern Ontario. There is limited capability for generation incorporation on the existing system. A new 230 kV line between Chenaux and Galetta Junction, which would connect the system to Ottawa, is required to incorporate higher levels of renewable generation.
Enabling Transmission Projects
In addition, a series of seven enabling transmission lines are planned for areas throughout the province. These lines will be constructed to connect areas where there is high interest in renewable generation development to the province’s transmission system. These local transmission enablers are planned for the Goderich, Manitoulin, Huron South, Pembroke, Parry Sound, North Bay and Thunder Bay areas.
Long Term Transmission Projects
Sudbury North
Significant potential for hydro generation has been identified in the area north of Sudbury. Following the development of the currently proposed hydroelectric generation in the area, there will be very limited capability to incorporate new generation north of Sudbury. A new transmission line is required to enabler further renewable generation and hydro development.
London by Hamilton Area
As higher levels of renewable generation development occur in the area west of London, the transfer of power from London towards the GTA will increase. When this transfer reaches the capability of the existing transmission system between London and Hamilton, renewable generation development will be limited. New transmission between London and Hamilton would alleviate this restriction and allow for further renewable generation development in London and western Ontario.
Kenora by Thunder Bay
The existing transmission system between Kenora and Thunder Bay has limited capability. Large renewable development over the longer-term that may occur west of Thunder Bay will require the reinforcement of this system.
Projects to enable distribution system connected generation
Transmission facilities
• Install 3 static Var Compensators in areas of high FIT uptake
• Install up to 7 enabling transformer stations in areas of high FIT uptake
• Upgrade Short Circuit Capability of Toronto Area Stations (Hearn TS, Manby TS, Leaside TS)
• Install In-line circuit breakers at up to 7 locations to enable generation connection
Distribution
Targeted Distribution enhancements to support distributed generation
• 10 new distribution feeders in areas of high FIT uptake
• Other minor investments
Protection, Control and Telecom enabling distributed generation
Investments required to establish an infrastructure that enables the safe and reliable connection, protection, and operation of distributed generation:
• Installation and/or upgrades to protection and control systems on Hydro One’s distribution network
• Expansion of Hydro One’s Control Centre to monitor and operate its rural distribution network and connected generation
• Establishment of a telecom network needed to support enhanced protection, control, and operating capability