New Brunswick: Clean electricity snapshot

2022-2024

In New Brunswick, a mix of nuclear, wind, solar, hydropower, natural gas, coal, oil and diesel generation powers the province's grid. While New Brunswick currently relies on some fossil fuels for electricity generation, the province is taking steps to phase-out coal by 2030 and move towards a non-emitting grid.

In December 2024, the Government of Canada and the Government of New Brunswick reached an understanding on the Clean Electricity Regulations (CER). Both governments acknowledged that the forthcoming Regulations will provide the flexibilities needed for New Brunswick's electricity system to grow and decarbonize all while ensuring it remains affordable, reliable and non-emitting.

Powering Canada's Future is the Government of Canada's strategy for clean electricity. It combines historic investments and balanced, fair regulations to lay out the path forward to build grids that will provide power that is reliable, affordable and clean and serve as the backbone of our economy.

Federal investments

As of November 2024, the Smart Renewables and Electrification Pathways Program (SREPs) has supported 11 projects with $112 million in New Brunswick.

In 2024, the Government of Canada announced multiple investments in New Brunswick clean energy projects:

• Up to $25 million through SREPs to support the Neweg Wind Project.
• Up to $1 billion through Canada Infrastructure Bank to support Indigenous-led wind projects.

As part of the October 2023 joint Canada-Nova Scotia-New Brunswick announcement, the Government of Canada is providing:

• $7 million to support predevelopment of ARC Clean Technology Canada's small modular reactor at Point Lepreau.
• $2 million in funding to help explore converting the Belledune coal-fired Generating Station in New Brunswick from coal to sustainably sourced biomass, through a fuel testing program.

Emissions and electricity generation

According to the National Inventory Report, in 2022, around 36% of New Brunswick's electricity was generated from coal, natural gas, and other fuels, such as diesel. Around 34% was generated from renewable resources including hydro, wind, tidal, and solar, and around 30% was generated from nuclear energy.

Wind power

By 2035, New Brunswick plans to increase wind capacity by almost five times. This will be done by adding 1400 megawatts (MW) of new wind power.

The Burchill Wind Project was commissioned in June 2023 and began delivering power to Saint John in 2023, producing up to 15% of the city's energy needs.

In March 2024, New Brunswick's largest battery energy storage system began operating as part of the Burchill Wind Project. This will help store extra electricity when the demand is low and address peak energy demands during the coldest winter months.

Solar power

By 2035, New Brunswick plans to increase solar capacity by almost five times. This will be done by adding 200 MW of grid scale solar power.

As part of the Shediac Smart Energy Community Project, New Brunswick's first grid-connected solar farm—the 1.63 MW Shediac's Community Solar Farm—was commissioned in February 2023. It provides clean electricity to the Shediac Multipurpose Centre and the Government of Canada Pension Centre, which were also converted to be clean electricity buildings as part of the project. In addition, this project has partnered with over 400 homeowners in Shediac, New Brunswick, to test energy technologies like solar panels, battery storage, and smart thermostats.

Nuclear energy

New Brunswick's Point Lepreau Nuclear Generating Station is the only operating Canadian nuclear power station located outside of Ontario. The Generating Station was commissioned in 1983 and has an installed capacity of 705 MW. It can produce enough electricity to power more than 333,000 homes.

Small Modular Reactors (SMRs)

New Brunswick plans to advance SMRs in the province with the goal of adding 600 MW of SMRs at Point Lepreau generating Station by 2035.

In 2019, New Brunswick signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Saskatchewan and Ontario to advance SMRs in Canada, which Alberta joined in 2021. The Interprovincial Strategic Plan for the Development of SMRs, developed by the four provinces, was released in March 2022.

Economic opportunities

In addition to cleaner air and lower greenhouse gas emissions, a clean electricity grid can stimulate investment in innovation, provide economic opportunities, and create good jobs.

New jobs

Electrification and the transition to cleaner forms of electricity generation is expected to create good jobs across Canada. For instance, independent experts from Clean Energy Canada (PDF) forecast that the Atlantic provinces will see thousands of clean energy jobs added in the Atlantic region between 2025 and 2050.

Siemens Canada is a leading electronics and electrical engineering firm in New Brunswick. In 2019, the company received funding from the government of Canada which helped create and maintain up to 241 highly skilled jobs in Atlantic Canada.