The government of the Canadian province of Alberta has issued a roadmap for the renewable electricity programme (REP) laying out plans to help the province reach its target of sourcing 30% of its electricity from renewable energy sources by 2030. Intermediate targets have been set at 15% by 2022, 20% by 2025 and 26% by 2028. The programme supports the development of an additional 5,000 MW of renewable power generation capacity by 2030 and forecasts that about CAD10bn (US$7.5bn) of new private investments should be set aside to reach this objective.
Meanwhile, the Alberta Electric System Operator (AESO) is preparing the state's fourth renewable electricity auction, which will be referred to as REP Round 4 and will add up to 400 MW of renewable capacity.
In 2018, only 10% of Alberta's electricity generation came from renewable sources. The results of the previous rounds, referred to as REP Round 2 and 3, were unveiled in December 2018. REP Round 2 attributed 363 MW of wind power generation capacity (above the 300 MW initially available) at a weighted average bid price of CAD$38.69/MWh (US$28.63/MWh) to 4 companies. REP Round 3 awarded three projects totalling 400 MW at a weighted average bid price of CAD$40.14/MWh (US$29.7/MWh) to 2 companies. Both tender rounds were oversubscribed and the selected projects signed 20-year power purchase agreements (PPAs) with the AESO. Their construction is set to start in 2020, with commercial operation slated for 2021.