SaskPower wants to expand the provincial power grid by creating more wind power in the future.
Minister responsible for SaskPower Dustin Duncan announced on Thursday they will open an Request for Qualification phase later this month for companies interested in building one or multiple utility-scale power facilities in the province.
Joel Cherry, a spokesperson with SaskPower, explained how this phase will allow the Crown corporation to receive and review submissions from interested proponents over the next several months. A limited number of companies will then move to a Request for Proposals phase before they make their final decision.
He believes the entire process will take place over the next few years.
“Once we’ve selected a preferred proponent, we will inform them and award the project, that should be expected sometime late next year,” he said. “Shortly after we’ll break ground, they’ll build the facility, and it’s expected to be in service by the end of 2023.”
Saskatchewan has 241 megawatts of wind power capacity from six existing wind power projects. 387 megawatts of wind power projects are currently being added at locations near Herbert, Riverhurst and Assiniboia.
The completion of this project will add up to 300 megawatts to the provincial grid once it’s online.
Cherry said the facility will help reach their goal of reducing the province’s greenhouse gas emissions by 40 per cent below 2005 levels by 2030. “The most cost-effective and efficient way to do that is through large scale utility projects like this.”
According to SaskPower, 300 megawatts of wind power is enough for around 120,000 homes.
