Topic:"Capacity Market Participation" in M12247

Planning Environment Updates Clean Electricity Regulations – Alignment to Provincial Policy - Roadmap Item 5 Emitting generation is required to balance wind and ensure grid reliability and to meet customer demand - o Level of use of emitti...

AI summary The document outlines Nova Scotia Power's (NSP) alignment of the Clean Electricity Regulations (CER) with provincial policy, emphasizing the need for emitting generation to balance wind energy and ensure grid reliability. It highlights the 80% renewable energy target by 2030, the role of combustion turbines as fast-acting generation, and the CER's support for thermal fleet flexibility.

NON-CONFIDENTIAL 1 Response IR-5: 2 3 (a-c) Please refer to Section 3.2.7 in the 2025 10-Year System Outlook for an update on the 4 generation capacity.1 status and timing of the fast-acting 5 6 (d) NS Power has not pursued updates since t...

AI summary NS Power has not updated its generation capacity plans since the project was transferred in September 2024, as outlined in M12012. They are not currently re-evaluating investment between resources for 2030 targets but will do so as part of the next Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) conducted by the NSIESO. Fast-acting generation is highlighted for its firm capacity value in enabling coal unit retirement.

Peak Load Hour 2035-01-09 18:00 Installed Capacity (MW) 2035 Coal Gas - Existing Gas - New CTs & Recips Gas - Conversion Diesel CTs Domestic Hydro Tidal Biomass Wind Solar Maritime Link Blocks HFO - Conversion Hydrogen Battery Market Impor...

AI summary The document presents a table showing installed capacity and generation data for various energy sources in Nova Scotia during a peak load hour on January 9, 2035. It includes data on coal, gas, hydro, wind, solar, and other sources, along with generation output and curtailed energy.

NON-CONFIDENTIAL 1 Request IR-5: 2 3 What factors, related to the technical capabilities of an energy resource, affect its selection 4 by the model? For example, does a resource's ramp-rate, or capability to provide inertia 5 support affec...

AI summary The response to Request IR-5 outlines that factors affecting the selection of an energy resource in a model include technical capabilities such as ramp rate, inertia, and storage capacity, as well as economic factors like capital cost, fuel price, and emissions cost. These factors vary by resource type and influence dispatch order.

13 Request IR-5: - 17 (a) Please provide an update on the status of the fast-acting generation capacity. - 19 (b) What is the role of the NSIESO in planning and procuring the fast-acting generation 20 resources? - 22 (c) Is the fast-acting...

AI summary Request IR-5 seeks updates on fast-acting generation capacity status, NSIESO's role in planning/procuring resources, delays in timelines, gas turbine contract delivery periods, market assessments, and NS Power's evaluation of BESS vs fast-acting generation investments. Questions focus on scheduling, procurement processes, market dynamics, and infrastructure planning.

Request IR-7: - Refer to Exhibit N-1, 2025 Evergreen IRP, page 16 of 42, referring to the "proxy used in the Evergreen IRP." - a) Please provide a comparison of the constraint parameters used in the proxy with the final CER rules. - b) Wou...

AI summary Request IR-7 seeks a comparison of constraint parameters in the proxy used for the 2025 Evergreen IRP with the final Clean Electricity Regulations (CER) rules. It also asks whether differences between the proxy and CER rules would alter capacity expansion portfolios, requesting supporting analysis.

- 5. Please provide the amount of renewable curtailment that occurred in 2022, 2023, and 2024 (annual MWh, and capacity factor of fleet curtailed), and that is expected by the IRP model (e.g., hourly curtailment profile for highest curtail...

AI summary The request seeks data on renewable curtailment (2022–2024 and 2030–2035 projections), including annual MWh, capacity factors, and geographic/temporal prevalence. It also inquires about ongoing work post-Decision M10905. The query is submitted by Energy Storage Canada (ESC) to the regulatory proceeding.

Nova Scotia should conduct an updated Evergreen IRP as soon as possible Given that NSPI has not conducted new modeling in the IRP matter since the 2022/2023 Evergreen IRP study,[2](#page-2-1) it will be important not to delay the process o...

AI summary The document argues for an immediate update to the Evergreen IRP due to NSPI's lack of recent modeling and the transition of IRP responsibilities to NSIESO under Bill 404. Six key factors, including load forecasts and battery storage, need updating for the 2030 resource plan.

bmitted its Evergreen IRP, which reflected a comprehensive modeling update of the 2020 IRP. NSPI determined that it should prioritize execution of the following five Action Plan items: [12](#page-5-0) - 1. Regional Integration Strategy : N...

AI summary NSPI submitted its Evergreen IRP, updating the 2020 plan with five action items: advancing the Reliability Tie by 2028, publishing an electrification strategy in 2023, retiring thermal plants (e.g., Trenton 5 by 2027/2028), developing 300–900 MW of new CT generation by 2030, and procuring 1000 MW of renewables by 2030. These reflect priorities for regional integration, electrification, and resource planning.

3.2025 ACTION PLAN UPDATE NSPI recently filed an update to its 2023 Evergreen IRP Action Plan.[16](#page-7-0) This is the fourth annual Action Plan Update. It contains information on changes to the electricity planning environment, as well...

AI summary NSPI updated its 2023 Evergreen IRP Action Plan in 2025, relying on the 2025 10-Year System Outlook and Path to 2030 reports but omitting recent load forecasts and capacity modeling. Critics note it failed to justify increased CT usage in resource plans or compare updates to the 2023 IRP. The plan aligns with the Nova Scotia Clean Power Plan’s 600 MW fast-acting generation target by 2030.

4.1. No justification for 600 MW of new CTs by 2030 Synapse finds that NS Power seems to minimize its own IRP modeling implications in the Evergreen IRP case when it comes to near-term projected CT builds. Namely, NSPI presents new CT addi...

AI summary Synapse argues that NS Power's 600 MW CT build projection by 2030 lacks justification, contradicting its own Evergreen IRP model (which shows 450 MW) and the CPP (which supports only 300 MW pre-2030). NS Power cites load forecast changes but ignores other studies and factors.

4.2. A new Evergreen IRP – as soon as possible Given the uncertainty around projected firm capacity resource needs by and beyond 2030, a new Evergreen IRP is necessary to appropriately include all the factors that will impact such an estim...

AI summary A new Evergreen Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) is urgently needed to address uncertainties in Nova Scotia's capacity needs beyond 2030. The transition of IRP responsibilities from NSPI to the IESO under Bill 404 requires a robust NSPI IRP Update to guide the IESO until its first IRP is completed. Key studies like ELCC and Net Zero Atlantic must inform the IRP, along with updated assumptions on resource costs and load projections.

4.3. Reliability Tie Completion of the Reliability Tie goes a long way towards ensuring Nova Scotia can reliably comply with 2030 coal retirements without necessarily going above 300 MW of new CTs by that year. New Brunswick is completing...

AI summary The Reliability Tie project enhances Nova Scotia's ability to meet 2030 coal retirement targets without exceeding 300 MW of new CTs. New Brunswick's transmission work allows 100 MW of firm imports, supported by battery storage, ELCC updates, and demand response. The 2025 10-Year System Outlook shows a 25% reserve margin, suggesting current 450 MW CT levels suffice for resource adequacy.

Upcoming capacity needs require action in near term The 2023 Evergreen IRP calls for near-term dispatchable capacity additions, with a need for new capacity resources by 2030. NS Power has indicated that it stopped activities related to co...

AI summary The 2023 Evergreen IRP highlights urgent near-term capacity needs by 2030, with NS Power halting CT development due to NSIESO's procurement responsibility. Concerns include no entity addressing capacity planning, discrepancies in required capacity numbers, and CER regulations' 2035 emissions limits impacting resource classification timelines.

1. Update to Evergreen IRP The NSIESO expects to assume responsibility for system planning, transmission interconnection, and energy and capacity procurement functions in Q4 2025. 1 Synapse Recommendation 1 appropriately points to the need...

AI summary The document outlines updates to the Evergreen Integrated Resource Plan (IRP), emphasizing NSIESO's upcoming role in system planning by Q4 2025. It highlights the need to evaluate Mersey's economic prudence, complete ELCC studies, and align the IRP with the Reliability Tie project. The Board is urged to expedite IRP modeling to avoid delays, even as NS Power transitions responsibilities to NSIESO.

es online or planned for 2030 (compared to the preferred plan of the 2023 Evergreen IRP), and the ability of obtaining additional firm import capacity through New Brunswick by the 2029/2030 period. … NSPI did not update any production cost...

AI summary NSPI's Action Plan Update lacks updated production cost modeling, recent load forecasts, and DSM assumptions. It relies on the 2024 Path to 2030 report without comparing its resource plan to the 2023 IRP. Critics, including Synapse and the Small Business Advocate, highlight these omissions as significant flaws.