Manitoba Hydro’s proposal to expand its gas-fired power plant in Brandon faced criticism last week after the utility disclosed that it had to lower the plant’s power output during cold weather peaks. The plan involves investing $3 billion to add three new natural gas turbines to the existing ones in Brandon, aiming to boost the province’s power generation by 750 megawatts by 2030 to prevent winter power shortages.
As part of a larger initiative to make 1,760 megawatts of electricity available in the next decade, Manitoba Hydro is under review by the Public Utilities Board through public hearings. During a recent hearing, it was revealed that the Brandon plant’s maximum output had to be reduced during several winter peak usage periods in the last decade, including instances in January and December 2022 and January 2023.
Critics, including James Wilt from the Manitoba Climate Action Team, raised concerns over the reliability of natural gas turbines during extreme cold snaps. Wilt highlighted the organization’s preference for investing in renewable energy sources like wind farms, solar power, and battery storage rather than relying more on fossil fuels.
In response, Manitoba Hydro defended the gas turbines’ performance, noting that occasional outages are common and citing the age of the Brandon turbines as a factor. The utility also emphasized the need to maintain reliability and operational efficiency at the plant, acknowledging past challenges in running the units due to maintenance issues and staffing constraints.
The ongoing Public Utilities Board hearings on Hydro’s energy plan are scheduled to continue until early September, allowing stakeholders to further scrutinize the utility’s strategies and investments.