Overview

NorthernLights
Power transmission connecting Alberta & the Pacific Northwest.

Building delivery channels to enable environmentally attractive power generation.

NorthernLights is envisioned as a $1.7 billion, 500 kilovolt, 1,550 kilometre (970 mile) high voltage direct current electric transmission line running from central Alberta to a terminal in southern Alberta and interconnecting with the Pacific Northwest. Designed at 3,000 megawatts, NorthernLights has the potential to deliver the electricity needs of three million homes.

As a bidirectional intertie, Albertans could access power from, or generate and sell power to, the Pacific Northwest. With connections to these diverse power markets, and access to multiple supply sources, power for consumers becomes more reliable and resource diverse, which can contribute to more stable power prices. Additionally, NorthernLights provides the critical infrastructure that will enable large-scale development of environmentally attractive power generation projects, including wind, hydro and low emission cogeneration.

The basis for a project like NorthernLights has been growing for some time. Power shortfalls have resulted in brown- and black-outs in various places across North America. Regulatory policies continue to emerge about resource adequacy and reliability, creating the need for regional generation, infrastructure and market integration. Meanwhile, consumer demand has increased, and will continue to increase, not only for all energy products, but for clean energy at a stable price. Intra- and inter-government policies are literally evolving every day regarding environmental regulations and practices.

The Northwest Transmission Assessment Committee (comprised of western U.S. and Canadian industry participants) issued a study confirming NorthernLights as highly attractive from a technical and economic perspective.

Why NorthernLights?

• Rapid Growth – The demand for power in Alberta is expected to grow by 3,000 megawatts by 2016, while the demand in the Pacific Northwest and California is expected to grow by 13,000 megawatts in the same period. Current generation and transmission cannot meet this demand.
• Alberta North-South Transmission Reinforcement – As a bidirectional line with a terminal in central and southern Alberta, NorthernLights can support Alberta's future transmission requirements.
• Generation Enabler – Environmentally attractive energy generators need a link to the marketplace. NorthernLights provides access to multiple markets.
• Consumer Backed Legislation – Reflecting the desire of consumers, emerging renewable portfolio standards and greenhouse gas legislation in the United States and Canada has spurred the development of renewable resources.
• Wind Sharing – Large-scale wind developments need access to large-scale markets, and diverse wind regimes between Alberta and the Pacific Northwest could be integrated to improve wind economics.
• Resource adequacy and reliability standards – New regulatory rules regarding power adequacy and reliability create the need for new generation and transmission.
• Healthy market – With interjurisdictional cooperation, system reliability improves. With adequate and reliable electricity, prices are less volatile.  

To minimize the environmental impact for the transmission line, NorthernLights will:

• Maximize the use of existing and emerging energy infrastructure corridors and rights-of-way, where practical;
• Tie in current and proposed transmission lines, including those required to enable generators to meet emission reduction targets; and
• Connect up to 5,000 megawatts of proposed, wind resources in Southern Alberta, and 3,500 megawatts of cogeneration in Alberta.

What is and Why High Voltage Direct Current?

High Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) transmission enables large quantities of high voltage electricity to be carried over long distances, and complements abundant alternating current (AC) technology which delivers most of North America’s electricity to businesses and homes by being more environmentally friendly and cost efficient.

As distribution on HVDC transmission lines can be controlled, NorthernLights has bidirectional capability. This means marketplaces served by NorthernLights can reliably export electricity generation not required regionally, or import electricity from other marketplaces if it is required.  

Contacts

If you would like more information on NorthernLights, please contact:

Project General Inquiries (toll free in U.S. and Canada)
1.866.604.1888

Project e-mail
northernlights@transcanada.com

Media inquiries
1.800.608.7859

Mailing address
TransCanada
450 1 Street SW
Calgary, Alberta, Canada T2P 5H1
Attention: NorthernLights