PEI Begins Substantial Interconnection Upgrade Project

PEI Interconnection Upgrade

June 31 2016

Prince Edward Island has begun on one of the largest construction projects in its history — replacing and upgrading undersea electrical connections between PEI and New Brunswick.
The Interconnection Upgrade Project, a joint effort with the federal government, will allow PEI to import electricity from New Brunswick through two new 180 MW submarine cables, overhead transmission lines, substation upgrades and more. The submarine cables will be owned by the province and leased to and operated by Maritime Electric. Project costs have been estimated at between $120 million and $140 million.

When the existing submarine cables were installed nearly 40 years ago, the electricity load was 95 MW. In 2015, it peaked at 262 MW. PEI has no natural energy supply sources and relies on off island sources for cost-effective and reliable energy supply. While the province has developed significant wind energy supply, this supply requires back up for times when there is no wind.

The project offers at least five benefits:
• enabling future electrical growth on PEI
• improving reliability for customers
• reducing reliance on fossil-fueled generation
• creating a secure, reliable connection to the mainland
• providing access to a more economic energy supply

What’s involved

The project requires
• installation of two 180 MW submarine cables between Borden, PEI and Cape Tormentine, NB, (16.5 km) in the Northumberland Strait
• construction of 60 km of new overhead transmission line between Cape Tormentine and Memramcook
• construction of a substation extension at Borden, PEI

The project also includes:
• two landfall sites (where the submarine cable trench is brought ashore)
• two termination sites (for converting submarine cables to overhead transmission lines or substation)
• upgrading of the New Brunswick Power Corporation (NB Power) substation in Memramcook, NB

The first construction phase involves pre-trenching. This process involves a marine excavator called a Starfish and two mechanical marine dredges: one at PEI’s Borden-Carleton site and the other at New Brunswick’s Cape Tormentine site.

On the Cape Tormentine side the Starfish will be used excavate approximately 600 metres from shore into the Northumberland Strait. Once that distance is reached the Starfish will be shipped to the PEI side and the mechanical marine dredge will continue to excavate to the 1.8 km mark offshore.

The Starfish will be in operation for 12 hours daily for excavation. The two mechanical marine dredges will be working 24 hours per day on excavation. This process, expected to take 6-8 weeks, will ensure there are no rock obstructions along the route when the cable is laid in mid October.

The two cables will be installed under the seabed in separate trenches, up to 200 m apart. In water depths of greater than 12 m the cables will be buried at 0.6 m, while in areas of less than 12 m of water the cable will be buried at approximately 2 m. Excavating within the marine environment will involve trenching with excavators in water depths up to 2 m and a trenching remotely operated vehicle (TROV) with a saw cutter for the remaining sections. Exclusion zones around the cables are not planned. There will be no fishing restrictions. Once the cables have been installed, navigation charts will be updated.

The entire project is scheduled for completion in late spring or early summer 2017.

 

 

Related Articles


Latest Articles

  • How ABB’s Hi-Tech Valiant™ Current Limiting Fuse for Fire Mitigation Impacts Safety & Reliability, Protecting the Environment & Critical Infrastructure

    How ABB’s Hi-Tech Valiant™ Current Limiting Fuse for Fire Mitigation Impacts Safety & Reliability, Protecting the Environment & Critical Infrastructure

    March 13, 2025 By Blake Marchand Discussing the Hi-Tech Valiant™ Fuse for Fire Mitigation with ABB’s Dominique Tardif There has been increased awareness on the impact of forest fires in recent years, as wildfire seasons have intensified in North America. We recently saw devastating fires in California, and in Canada, statistics show that each year wildfire seasons… Read More…

  • EFC Tariff Update Hub

    EFC Tariff Update Hub

    March 13, 2025 EFC’s Tarrif Update Hub provides a centralized location for EFC actions, government advocacy, and key industry resources regarding the ongoing tariff situation between Canada and the United States. Designed to keep EFC members aligned and ahead of developments, check back for updates and insights to help you navigate the evolving landscape. EFC… Read More…

  • International Women’s Day 2025: Advancing Equity in the Skilled Trades

    International Women’s Day 2025: Advancing Equity in the Skilled Trades

    March 13, 2025 On March 8, 2025, CAF-FCA celebrates International Women’s Day (IWD) by reaffirming our commitment to breaking barriers and advancing opportunities for women and equity-priority groups in the skilled trades. This year’s theme, “For ALL Women and Girls: Rights. Equality. Empowerment,” is a powerful call to action—one that aligns with our efforts to… Read More…

  • EFC is Proud to Recognize March 8 as International Women’s Day

    EFC is Proud to Recognize March 8 as International Women’s Day

    March 13, 2025 By Electro-Federation Canada Imagine a gender equal world. A world free of bias, stereotypes, and discrimination. A world that’s diverse, equitable, and inclusive. A world where difference is valued and celebrated. Together we can forge women’s equality. Collectively for #IWD2025 we can all #AccelerateAction. Focusing on the need to Accelerate Action emphasizes the importance of taking swift… Read More…


Changing Scene

  • Canada Invests in Deep Energy Retrofits for Affordable Housing in Hamilton

    Canada Invests in Deep Energy Retrofits for Affordable Housing in Hamilton

    March 13, 2025 There is a need and an opportunity for Canada to strengthen energy security and affordability for all Canadians. Canada’s buildings sector is the third-largest contributor to greenhouse gas emissions across the country. By increasing the scale and pace of building retrofits, we can make homes and buildings more energy-efficient and improve reliability in units.  The federal… Read More…

  • Tesla Products Excluded from BC Hydro Incentive Program

    Tesla Products Excluded from BC Hydro Incentive Program

    March 13, 2025 CBC has reported that BC Hydro is excluding Tesla products from their EV charger incentive program. However, products purchased prior to March 12 will still be eligible. “As of March 12, Tesla chargers, energy storage batteries and inverters are not eligible for rebates, according to B.C. Hydro. Those who have purchased or… Read More…

  • Acuity Rebrands and Introduces New Corporate Identity

    Acuity Rebrands and Introduces New Corporate Identity

    March 13, 2025 Acuity Brands, Inc.’s corporate name is changing from Acuity Brands, Inc. to Acuity Inc. effective March 26, 2025. Acuity will continue to operate through two business segments, Acuity Brands Lighting (ABL) and Acuity Intelligent Spaces (AIS), formerly Intelligent Spaces Group (ISG). They will continue trading on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol “AYI”. “Acuity is positioned for long term growth…. Read More…

  • IDEAL Electrical™ Unveils Fresh, Modern Brand Identity

    IDEAL Electrical™ Unveils Fresh, Modern Brand Identity

    March 7, 2025 IDEAL Electrical was the first company to obtain a patent to make and sell wire connectors in the United States 96 years ago this month – and today IDEAL® announces a modern look for the brand, which captures the company’s spirit of relentless innovation and the optimistic future of the electrical trade. … Read More…