About the RIGS Energy Atlantic Grid Support Facility
RIGS Energy Atlantic is a grid support facility that will help New Brunswick to meet growing energy demand during the transition toward net-zero. The facility will support the use of clean energy by balancing grid stability when wind and solar generation fluctuate, provide essential backup during peak demand and reduce reliance on imported energy sources.
Timeline
- 2025 to 2050: Engagement with rightsholders, stakeholders and the public
- 2025: Project development, Environmental Impact Assessment and Financing
- 2025 to 2026: Permitting and Detailed Engineering
- 2027 to 2028: Construction
- 2028: Commercial Operations
Why Now?
New Brunswick’s power demand is rising. Extreme weather, growing population and increasing renewables integration are creating new stresses on the electricity grid. The RIGS Energy Atlantic grid support facility will help meet these challenges by:
- Balancing the grid with advanced technologies that absorb sudden changes in wind power output
- Providing up to 500 MW of dispatchable backup power during peak demand or low renewable output
- Supporting New Brunswick’s journey to net-zero
- Enabling faster adoption of low-cost renewables
Location
- The RIGS Energy Atlantic grid support facility is planned for Centre Village, New Brunswick.
- This location will minimize impact on the surrounding environment due to its proximity to existing transmission and natural gas infrastructure.
- Impact will be further minimized by reducing provincial reliance on oil, coal and imported electricity.