The Projects | Consultation

The Demand

Renewable energy, including wind-powered electricity, is an important part of Alberta’s electricity system. Wind energy is clean, inexhaustible and plentiful.

The Alberta Electric System Operator (AESO), an independent, not-for-profit entity responsible for the safe, reliable and economic planning and operation of the Alberta Interconnected Electric System, anticipates that of the 11,000 megawatts seeking connection to the electricity grid, up to 2,700 megawatts will be connected over the next 10 years.

The Challenges

The existing transmission lines and substations in the southern part of the province do not have the capacity to allow new wind-powered generation to connect to Alberta’s electricity grid. In much the same way highways get congested with more traffic, transmission lines get congested and cannot transport additional power.

The Solution

To connect this new wind generated power to the electric grid, new transmission projects are being proposed to move the wind power from where it’s generated to the communities where you live and work.

The AESO conducted technical, economic and land impact studies on alternatives to determine a preferred option to address the transmission challenges in southern Alberta. The AESO also gathered feedback from a broad range of stakeholders, including local landowners, as part of its investigation. The AESO concluded that a 240 kV loop system is the best way to integrate new wind generation anticipated for southern Alberta.