While Newfoundland and Labrador’s energy sector is transitioning to more renewable sources, Newfoundland Power says backup thermal generation will be needed into the future.
President Gary Murray spoke at the Energy NL Conference in St. John’s earlier today.
He says thermal generation will be essential for the reliability of the grid at times when renewable energy isn’t available. He cites power line damage after a major storm as one example.
Murray envisions a system of “quick start” combustion turbines that can be turned on when needed, noting that there may be winters where they are never turned on.
Murray says Newfoundland Power is also open to discussions with other organizations – like NL Hydro, about how to proceed, although they haven’t started moving in that direction just yet.
Ultimately, says Murray, the cost of building the turbines would fall on ratepayers and it would be built into customer rates. That said, customers will have savings in other areas, such as fuel for Holyrood, and ultimately the cost may be lower than what people would think.
