May 9, 2024 – Niagara, Ontario – Today, the Ontario Waterpower Association (OWA) formally kicked off the 2024 Power of Water Canada Conference and Tradeshow – the largest gathering of the hydroelectric industry in the country. In his opening keynote, the Honourable Todd Smith, Ontario’s Minister of Energy re-affirmed the government’s strong support for sustaining existing waterpower facilities and expanding waterpower’s contribution to the province’s energy needs.
“This government continues to be a strong supporter of Made in Ontario waterpower”, said Paul Norris, President of the Ontario Waterpower Association. “I am particularly pleased with the Minister’s announcement of a ‘Northern Hydro Program’ to recontract existing facilities and his encouragement of new waterpower development in the upcoming IESO procurement.”
On May 8, 2024, the Minister issued a letter asking the IESO to engage with stakeholders on the development of a Northern Hydro Program (NHP), recontracting existing large hydroelectric generation facilities whose installed capacity is greater than 10 megawatts. The Program design is to leverage lessons learned and best practices identified in the development of the Small Hydro Program (SHP) and consider the benefits and/or social value that may be provided, in addition to the electricity system benefits (e.g., water management) and capital investments needed to maintain and operate large hydroelectric facilities, while delivering ratepayer value. More than two dozen facilities are expected to be eligible for the NHP.
The Minister also referenced the upcoming Long Term 2 Requests for Proposals (LT2) for new non-emitting generation and the separate stream for 500-1000 MW of long lead time assets, including hydroelectricity. The RFP is scheduled to be issued in 2024 with contracts for successful projects executed in 2025. LT2 is the first in a series of three (3) planned cadenced procurements over the next five (5) years with a total target of 5,000 MW.
“Securing our existing facilities through the SHP and NHP will create investment confidence in our industry”, added Norris. “We are gearing up for growth and I am confident that we have the talent and expertise in the companies right here at this event to realize Ontario’s significant untapped waterpower potential.”
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For more information on OWA, visit www.owa.ca.
Contact:
Paul Norris, President
Ontario Waterpower Association
Phone 705-741-9686 Email: pnorris@owa.ca