he Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) was developed during 2006 and 2007 through collaboration with the UARB and consultation with stakeholders.
The IRP is a resource plan which utilizes supply-side and demand-side options, to enable NSPI to meet future emissions and other requirements in a cost-effective and reliable manner. The planning horizon considered was 2007-2029. The IRP plan forms the foundation for the Company's future investment decisions.
The Final IRP Report with Recommendation was filed with the UARB in July 2007. Links to the 3 volumes that formed the IRP Final Report are provided below.
The report includes:
- Background and the process overview
- criteria for the various plans developed
- the load forecast of future supply requirements
- sets of alternative supply-side and DSM alternatives to meet future emissions and other requirements
- Screening analysis to determine which alternatives are to be evaluated further as Plans in the IRP process.
- Evaluation of alternative plans in order to determine the least cost plan.
- Sensitivity analysis on the least cost plan and other selected plans to determine the robustness of the plans to variations in input assumptions.
- Selection of recommended plan to meet future emission requirements.
- Actions required over the next 3 to 5 years to meet load projections and other regulatory and environmental requirements.
The IRP analysis provides support that the Reference Plan, 5 percent DSM Plan with
Renewables beyond the Nova Scotia Government's Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) should be the Preferred Plan.
The steps of the IRP Action Plan are:
- NSPI will initiate the development of a comprehensive DSM program, aimed at realizing the potential indicated in the IRP analysis.
- NSPI will continue to work with the stakeholders to complete the Wind Integration Study.
- NSPI will apply to the UARB for approval to commence with economic capital programs necessary to optimize the capacity and environmental performance of its existing generation fleet.
- NSPI will continue to actively monitor technology developments both with respect to low impact generation technologies and environmental retrofit technologies.
- NSPI will continue to explore opportunities to obtain additional clean power sources from within and outside the province.
- NSPI will continue to participate in the development of the Federal Emissions framework.
NSPI plans to update the IRP analysis once information from DSM implementation and the wind integration study is available and further clarity on the emissions framework is obtained. A report to the UARB on the status of the items included in the Action Plan will be filed in approximately two years.