BC Hydro issue large-scale call for 'clean' power

BC Hydro issue large-scale call for 'clean' power
Scott Simpson, Vancouver Sun, 24-Sep-2007

BC Hydro targets clean energy in next call for power
News Release, BC Hydro, 24-Sep-2007

BC Hydro's roster of clean, green electricity sources is about to get a lot bigger.

The Crown corporation announced on Monday that it is planning to issue what it describes as a "clean" call for 5,000 gigawatt hours of renewable energy.

That's enough to power 500,000 households, and it is roughly equivalent to about nine per cent of the total electricity consumed each year in the province.

Hydro communications director Steve Vanagas said in an interview that the call will be issued next month following discussions with independent power producers and other stakeholders.

The call is one of three that Hydro has announced in recent months.

The others are the creation of a "standing offer" program for projects under 10 megawatts, which are free to contract with Hydro at any time on the basis of a standard contract, and a bioenergy call that Hydro is developing with the B.C. forestry sector and the ministry of forests.

Hydro's most recent open call for power, in April 2006, allowed for non-renewable electricity sources including coal-fired generation that would have increased the province's overall emissions of greenhouse gas which is considered the primary contributor to global climate change.

But B.C. subsequently declared a moratorium on development of coal-fired electricity facilities.

B.C. says it will accept so-called zero-emission coal projects that do not emit greenhouse gasses - but so far, no commercial-scale zero-emission coal-fired generating facilities have been developed anywhere in the world.

"In the next month we will issue the draft terms and conditions," Vanagas said. "We will then sit down with stakeholders and proponents and get their feedback on whether or not they feel the terms and conditions fairly reflect the current market.

"We try to measure whether or not we will get enough response to the call." Steve Davis, president of the Independent Power Producers association of British Columbia, anticipates Hydro receiving "50 to 80" proposals.

"We've got 90-odd developer members in our association, and half of them will be bidding at any one time."

In last year's call, independents proposed enough projects to deliver 6,500 gigawatt hours annually - although that amount was substantially trimmed when the coal plants were subsequently rejected.

Davis said he expects the sector to keep up with Hydro's calls - which are driven by the B.C. Liberal government's plan to eliminated by 2015 B.C.'s reliance on imported power, and to transform the province into a net exporter of electricity.

"One thing that has improved over the past two or three years is that BC Hydro has sent signals to the industry that these calls are coming. They've formalized a specific update of the call today - but it was heralded in speeches given by the government and BC Hydro people 18 months ago.

"Companies based in B.C., in Western Canada, and a few from around the world, have been gearing up on this."

Energy Minister Richard Neufeld said in a news release that Hydro's focus on renewable energy shows that the crown corporation is playing "a leadership role in developing clean energy alternatives to make our province energy self-sufficient while taking responsibility for our environment and our climate."

ssimpson@png.canwest.com
© Vancouver Sun

VANCOUVER – BC Hydro today announced that its next call for power will be a "clean" call to help ensure the province can meet its growing electricity needs with power from clean sources. The call process will be launched next month.

"By issuing a clean call for power, BC Hydro is playing a leadership role in developing clean energy alternatives to make our province energy self-sufficient while taking responsibility for our environment and our climate," said Richard Neufeld, Minister of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources.

The "Clean Power Call" will seek to acquire up to 5,000 gigawatt hours of energy per year – enough to power 500,000 households in B.C. – through a competitive process involving independent power producers across the province. This process will enable BC Hydro to evaluate the competitiveness of clean resources and the ability of these projects to meet the province's future electricity needs.

"British Columbia has earned a reputation as one of North America's leading producers of clean electricity and this Clean Power Call will help ensure that we continue to meet the needs of our province in a sustainable way," said BC Hydro President and CEO Bob Elton.

The BC Energy Plan set out a goal that 90 per cent of all electricity generated in the province must continue to come from clean or renewable sources and all new electricity generation projects will have zero net greenhouse gas emissions.

Currently, BC Hydro is a net importer of electricity and demand for energy is expected to grow by up to 45 per cent over the next 20 years.

The Clean Power Call will target clean energy from larger projects using proven technologies – for example: hydro, wind, solar, and geothermal energy, among others. To achieve a clean distinction, a power facility would have to meet the province's guidelines for clean energy, which are currently being updated.

The Clean Call process begins with the issuance of draft terms and conditions next month. Independent power producers, First Nations and stakeholders are invited to provide input and comment on the draft terms prior to their finalization.

Earlier this year, BC Hydro released the draft terms and conditions for a Standing Offer Program for small clean electricity projects that generate up to 10 megawatts of power.

Contact:
Gillian Robinson
Media Relations
Phone: 604 623-4022
gillian.robinson@bchydro.com