Manitoba Hydro has outlined a new plan to enhance its power generation capabilities to meet consumer demands. The plan entails a nine-year timeline for the development of new wind farms, while gas-burning turbines in Brandon are set to be operational by 2030 to address concerns about peak winter power demands.
Published as the 2025 integrated resource plan in early 2026, Manitoba Hydro aims to make an additional 1,760 megawatts of electricity available within a decade through a mix of energy-saving initiatives and new infrastructure. This represents over a quarter of its current generating capacity, which is around 6,400 megawatts under optimal conditions.
Scott Powell, the communications director at Manitoba Hydro, expressed confidence in the plan, especially regarding the gas turbines in Brandon. These turbines are expected to prevent mid-winter power shortages, ensuring a reliable and affordable energy supply for Manitobans.
The integrated resource plan also includes strategies to generate an extra 25 megawatts by 2029 through hydroelectric plant enhancements, construct three new natural gas turbines in Brandon with a capacity of 750 megawatts by 2030, and implement a five-megawatt battery storage project by 2034. Additionally, new wind farms, projected to generate 600 megawatts, are slated for completion by Indigenous-led private companies by 2035.
Furthermore, the plan highlights 860 megawatts in energy-saving measures to reduce peak electricity demand during extreme weather conditions. An assessment by the North American Electric Reliability Corporation underscored Manitoba’s resilience to mid-winter power shortages in the next four years due to power-sharing agreements with neighboring states, although these contracts are set to expire in 2030.
The Public Utilities Board has been tasked with reviewing the integrated resource plan, with concerns raised by the Consumers Coalition regarding its relevance amidst changing climate conditions and technological advancements. The coalition aims to scrutinize the plan to ensure realistic modeling inputs and explore potential energy efficiency opportunities.