Wiktor Wise
Newfoundland and Labrador's electricity primarily comes from renewable resources, with 91%-98% of its electricity generated from renewable resources as of 2022. The majority of this comes from hydroelectric power, with the Churchill Falls Generating Station being the largest hydroelectric plant in the province, producing 5,428 MW of electricity. Other sources of renewable energy in the province include wind power, biogas, and hydrogen. The region also has a history of attracting industrial development with the promise of cheap power, and oil is the second-largest contributor to the region's electricity capacity.
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What You'll Learn
Newfoundland's electricity suppliers
Newfoundland and Labrador Hydro (Hydro) and Newfoundland Power (NP) are the two utilities that provide electricity generation and distribution in Newfoundland. Together, they serve about 280,000 customers, with NP distributing power to nearly 240,000 of those customers.
The majority of customers are served by the island interconnected system, which had a net generating capacity of approximately 1,966 Megawatts (MW) as of June 2009. In Labrador, customers on the Labrador interconnected system are served by Hydro with power from the Churchill Falls Hydroelectric Generating Station, one of the largest power plants in Canada and the largest hydroelectric plant in the province.
Newfoundland and Labrador Hydro is the primary supplier of electricity for the province, with more than 91% of its electricity generated from renewable resources. They have major power generation assets in Churchill Falls, Muskrat Falls, Bay d'Espoir, and Holyrood. The company operates 13 hydroelectric plants that generate over 7,280 MW of renewable energy. Hydro also purchases electricity from biogas projects and wind projects, including two 27 MW wind projects consisting of nine three-MW wind turbines each.
Newfoundland Power, a subsidiary of Fortis Inc., is the primary distributor of electricity on the island portion of the province. They sell power to all remaining customers on the island.
In addition to Hydro and NP, the Newfoundland Power Commission was created in 1954 to extend electrification to rural areas. By 1972, almost every Newfoundlander on the island was receiving electricity. The commission undertook its first major publicly-owned hydro-electric project in the mid-1960s at Bay d'Espoir.
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Hydro-electric power
Newfoundland and Labrador Hydro, commonly known as Hydro, is a provincial Crown corporation that manages the generation, transmission, and distribution of electricity in Newfoundland and Labrador. Hydro is the primary supplier of electricity for the province, with more than 91% of its electricity generated from renewable resources.
Hydro has a vast provincial transmission system that spans thousands of kilometres across some of the most remote and geographically challenging areas of the province. The system includes dozens of high-voltage terminal stations and lower-voltage distribution stations, connecting power from Labrador to the island and its surrounding coastal towns and communities.
Hydro's major power generation assets are located in Churchill Falls, Muskrat Falls, Bay d'Espoir, and Holyrood. The Churchill Falls Generating Station is one of the largest underground hydroelectric powerhouses in the world, with 11 turbines and a rated capacity of 5,428 MW. In 2008, the plant produced more than 34 Terawatt hours (TWh) of clean electricity, with most of the energy sold to Hydro-Québec.
Hydro also exports electricity to various markets in North America and purchases energy from wind projects and wind developments in Newfoundland. In addition, Hydro supplies electricity to residential, commercial, and industrial customers in rural and coastal communities throughout Newfoundland and Labrador.
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Wind power
Newfoundland and Labrador Hydro (Hydro) is the primary supplier of electricity for the province. As of 2009, Hydro and Newfoundland Power (NP) together served about 280,000 customers. The majority of customers are served by the island interconnected system, which had a net generating capacity of approximately 1,966 Megawatts (MW) in 2009.
Hydro currently purchases energy produced by two 27 Megawatt (MW) wind projects, consisting of nine three-MW wind turbines each. In 2008, Hydro commenced purchasing power from the first commercial wind development in Newfoundland, located in St.
In 2023, the Department of Industry, Energy and Technology (IET) announced that four bids from four companies were selected to receive wind application recommendation letters and pursue development through the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador Crown land application and approval process. This includes a referral to Environmental Assessment (EA).
Companies with wind energy projects in the works include North Atlantic Refining Limited (NARL), which has received a wind hydrogen hub application recommendation reserve letter and has been granted exclusive development rights. TQK is proposing a wind energy project in the Isthmus region to produce and export ammonia and has an approved bid area of approximately 55,000 hectares of land.
EverWind is proposing a multi-phase wind energy project to produce and export hydrogen/ammonia from facilities on the Burin Peninsula. World Energy GH2 is also proposing a three-phase project, including wind turbines and a hydrogen/ammonia production facility, with an approved bid area of approximately 107,000 hectares.
Newfoundland and Labrador's abundant wind resources position it to competitively produce and export green hydrogen. The province's wind energy projects have the potential to bring economic benefits and jobs to the region. However, some residents have expressed concerns about the environmental impact of these projects and the lack of transparency in the development process.
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Oil
Newfoundland and Labrador has an abundance of oil, natural gas, and other energy resources. The province is the largest producer of crude oil in eastern Canada and the third-largest in the whole country. In 2023, Newfoundland and Labrador produced 200.1 thousand barrels of oil per day, accounting for 4% of Canada's total production and 12% of its conventional light oil production. The province's oil production comes from five offshore fields in the Jeanne d'Arc Basin: Hibernia, Terra Nova, White Rose, North Amethyst, and Hebron.
In addition to its oil production, Newfoundland and Labrador has a significant oil refining industry. The Braya Renewable Fuels refinery in Come By Chance is a repurposed petroleum refinery that began commercial operations in February 2024. The refinery plans to produce renewable diesel and sustainable aviation fuel to reduce emissions in the transport and aviation sectors.
The province also has a vibrant oil and gas exploration sector, with active exploration programs in the Jeanne d'Arc Basin and increasing exploration in deeper waters, such as the Flemish Pass Basin and Orphan Basin. The discovery and development of oil and gas resources have contributed significantly to the province's energy capacity and export potential.
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Diesel generators
Newfoundland and Labrador Hydro (Hydro) is the primary supplier of electricity for the province. It operates 13 hydroelectric plants, one oil-fired plant, four gas/combustion turbines, and 23 remote diesel plants.
The use of diesel generators ensures that these isolated communities have access to a reliable source of electricity, even in areas where extending the power grid may be difficult or impractical.
While diesel generation plays a crucial role in providing electricity to remote areas, Hydro is committed to generating clean, renewable energy. In recent years, Hydro has increasingly focused on hydroelectric power, with more than 91% of its electricity generated from renewable resources. This shift towards renewable energy sources helps reduce the environmental impact of electricity generation and contributes to a more sustainable future for the province.
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Frequently asked questions
Newfoundland Power (NP) and Newfoundland & Labrador Hydro (Hydro) are the two utilities that provide electricity in Newfoundland.
According to the National Inventory Report, in 2022, over 98% of Newfoundland and Labrador's electricity was generated from renewable resources.
The sources of electricity in Newfoundland include hydroelectric power, wind power, and oil.
The Churchill Falls Generating Station is the largest power plant in Newfoundland and one of the largest underground hydroelectric powerhouses in the world.
