N.B.’s largest solar farm must first find a market for the power it wants to produce
BNRG Renewables is working to secure power purchase agreements for a proposed 150-megawatt solar farm in Cookville, New Brunswick. The project's viability depends on finding a cost-effective business case that satisfies N.B. Power and regulatory boards.
Why it matters
Large-scale renewable energy projects face significant economic hurdles in securing market demand before they can proceed to construction.
Executives from BNRG Renewables were in Sackville this month to fill in Tantramar councillors about the 150-megawatt solar farm they've proposed for a 400-hectare site in the farming community of Cookville, about 15 kilometres north of Sackville.
“Selling the power is hurdle number one,” said Kenny Wheeler, the project manager for Cookville Solar, a partnership between BNRG and the North Shore Mi'kmaq Tribal Council.
“The returns have to meet a threshold that supports our involvement."
N.B. Power is one possible customer, but the electricity could also be sold to neighbouring jurisdictions through the region’s open access transmission tariff system.
Brad Coady, the N.B. Power chief commercial officer, said the utility has had a number of meetings with Cookville Solar, “as well as other proponents across New Brunswick in the renewable energy field.”
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