Crown Land Call for Bids for Wind Energy Projects

August 31, 2023

Newfoundland and Labrador have a wealth of resources and supporting characteristics that well position it to competitively produce and export green hydrogen. These include abundant wind, water and land, a highly renewable grid, a skilled workforce, and a strategic location with numerous deep-sea ice-free ports along transcontinental shipping lanes and with proximity to Europe.

To ensure the development and use of the province’s Crown land for wind energy projects in a manner that ensures the greatest long-term benefit for residents of the Province, the Department of Industry, Energy and Technology (IET) launched a Crown Land Call for Bids for Wind Energy Projects (Call for Bids) for specific Crown lands on December 14, 2022, and closed at noon last March 23, 2023.

The department received 24 bids from 19 companies, which went through a stage one review including criteria such as the bidder’s experience and their financial capacity to plan, construct, and operate the proposed project. Nine bids from nine companies were approved to proceed to stage two.

The stage two review included a deeper examination of the bidder’s experience, the proposed project, and the project financing plan, as well as an examination of additional information on the electricity grid connection requirements, community and Indigenous engagement, and benefits to the province.

IET has announced that four bids from four companies have received wind application recommendation letters and have been granted the exclusive right to pursue the development of their project through the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador Crown land application and approval process, which includes a referral to Environmental Assessment (EA). Final project details such as wind turbine locations will be provided through the Crown lands and EA processes.

The Call for Bids does not award Crown land; however, successful bidders from this process have been issued a wind application recommendation letter from Industry, Energy and Technology insert a link to all letters. This letter grants a bidder the exclusive right to pursue the development of their project through the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador Crown land application and approval process.

Overview of Wind-Hydrogen Development Projects:

Toqlukuti’k Wind and Hydrogen (ABO)

ABO is proposing a three-phase wind energy project in the Isthmus region to produce and export hydrogen/ammonia with Braya Renewable Fuels through the joint development of green hydrogen production at the Come-By-Chance refinery. ABO has an approved bid area of approximately 108 thousand hectares of land for the wind farm, storage and production facility.

EverWind NL Company

EverWind is proposing a multi-phase wind energy project to produce and export hydrogen/ammonia from facilities on the Burin Peninsula. EverWind has an approved bid area of approximately 270 thousand hectares of land for the wind farm, storage and production facilities.

Exploits Valley Renewable Energy Corporation (EVREC)

EVREC is proposing a multi-phase wind energy project in central Newfoundland and a hydrogen/ammonia production facility in Botwood Newfoundland to produce and export green hydrogen/ammonia. EVREC has an approved bid area of approximately 30 thousand hectares for the wind farm, storage and production facilities.

World Energy GH2 Inc

World Energy GH2 is proposing a three-phase project including wind turbines and a hydrogen/ammonia production facility. World Energy GH2 has an approved bid area of approximately 107 thousand hectares for the wind farm, storage and production facilities.