Canada Announces CAD 269 Million Investment in Hydropower and Transmission Facilities

en.Wedoany.com Reported - Natural Resources Canada announced a total of CAD 269 million in funding for two electricity infrastructure projects in New Brunswick, involving the long-term refurbishment of the Mactaquac Hydroelectric Generating Station and the upgrade of the Salisbury Substation. Of this, the Canada Infrastructure Bank is providing a CAD 219 million pre-development loan to NB Power, and Natural Resources Canada is contributing an additional CAD 50 million for the construction of static synchronous compensator facilities on the grid.

The Mactaquac Hydroelectric Generating Station is located on the Saint John River in New Brunswick. Commissioned in 1968, it has a total installed capacity of 672 MW and is the largest hydroelectric facility in the province. The station supplies approximately 30% of the province's renewable energy needs and 20% of peak electricity load. Due to premature deterioration of concrete structures, related issues have affected key equipment such as turbines and spillway gates. NB Power is advancing a phased facility refurbishment plan to extend the station's operating life to 100 years.

The CAD 219 million loan primarily supports engineering and technical studies, regulatory review, Indigenous community consultation, and preliminary planning for the Mactaquac Hydroelectric Generating Station refurbishment project, providing project development funding for subsequent phased implementation.

The Salisbury Substation is located in southern New Brunswick and is an important hub of the province's high-voltage transmission network. The CAD 50 million in funding is for the deployment of static synchronous compensators to improve voltage stability and grid operating capability of the transmission system and to support the future integration of additional renewable energy sources. The related works are being advanced by NB Power.