Hydro releases ‘roadmap’ on eco-friendly power

Manitoba Hydro’s new “efficiency-first roadmap” reveals the steps it is proposing to add 1,760 megawatts of accredited capacity to the grid and become net-zero within a decade.

The Crown corporation released recommendations Thursday to power the province in the most reliable and eco-friendly way possible.

“We just want people to know that we’re thinking ahead — we’re thinking far ahead,” utility spokesman Scott Powell said in an interview.

“As we move towards decarbonizing the economy, we’re seeing more electrificiation of different things. That increases the demand on our system.”

Many customers spend little time thinking about the utility outside of its rate-related announcements, but they should know there’s a ton of work that must happen on the back end to ensure they have electricity, Powell said.

Hydro’s 10-year roadmap endorses six resource options, including Indigenous majority-owned wind generation, to meet growing electricity demands and support a transition to a net-zero economy.

CEO Allan Danroth said in a press release Thursday that the utility plans to prioritize “opportunities for economic reconciliation” in the coming years.

Manitobans can weigh-in on the multi-pronged proposal via hydro.mb.ca/future.

Roughly 97 per cent of Manitoba’s energy is generated via hydroelectricity during a typical year.

Wind farms meet about two per cent of energy needs. The remainder is generated from other sources, such as geothermal and imported energy.

Powell said the utility is eyeing upgrades to generate 600 more megawatts of wind power and 750 megawatts from new natural gas-fuelled combustion turbines.

Hydro has sought input from than 130 internal and external experts, ranging from engineers to environmentalists, to draft a integrated resource plan.

Known as an IRP, this tool is used by utilities to prepare for future energy needs.

Hydro’s last IRP, which was published in August 2023, determined the province needed to develop new and dependable sources of electricity by 2030.

An updated plan — only an IRP roadmap was released Thursday — is anticipated to be published in the new year.

Thousands of customers have already provided feedback on it through public consultations on daily energy-use needs, habits and long-term priorities.

“Our objective is to make sure that Manitobans have the energy they need to live their lives, power their businesses and that we can grow our economy,” Powell said. “How do we do that? We’ve got to start planning.”

Hydro’s “efficiency-first roadmap” is aligned with key green energy targets, such as a provincial target to become a net-zero economy by 2050, he said.

The IRP will be submitted to the province for review and approval in early 2026.

maggie.macintosh@freepress.mb.ca