Project Experience

Midgard was retained by NU-E Corp to act as the Study Consultant for several proposed solar projects located in Alberta, including a 17 MW, 40 MW, 9 MW (Behind the Fence), 140 MW, and 300 MW connection projects. Midgard's role has involved conducting connection studies in collaboration with AESO, including power flow and short-circuit analyses in PSS/E. Power flow analysis was performed for high solar generation during summer peak and light loading scenarios, both pre- and post-project, with sensitivity analysis for summer peak loading. Short-circuit analysis covered pre- and post-project scenarios to assess short-circuit levels in the project's vicinity.Midgard is actively supporting these projects through AESO's new Connection Process "Cluster Assessments," preparing System Access Service Requests, Project Data Update Packages, and reviewing study scopes and project plans. The projects are currently in Stage 2 of the AESO connection process, with Midgard continuing to provide ongoing support as they progress through further stages. Additionally, for the 9 MW BTF solar project, Midgard conducted an anti-islanding screening study to meet AESO's Distributed Energy Resources ("DER") requirements.

Midgard was retained by YEC to conduct a variety of System Impact Studies ("SIS") for a variety of Independent Power Producer ("IPP") and photovoltaic ("PV") additions to the Yukon electrical grid. SIS are powerflow and short circuit analysis studies of the Yukon electrical grid to evaluate the addition of new energy sources, such as solar panels or generation units. SIS included:

1. Diesel Rental Support – Midgard evaluated the addition of seven (7) 1.8 MW diesel rental units.

2. Haines Junction IPP – Midgard evaluated the addition of a 1 MW AC Solar IPP onto the 25 kV transmission line to Haines Junction.

3. Partridge PV PP – Midgard evaluated the addition of a 2 MW solar PV generator, northeast of the Klondike Highway at the Partridge Farm.

4. Northern Bluebird PV IPP – Midgard evaluated the addition of a 2 MW solar PV generator at kilometer #63 of the Silver Trail Highway.

5. Carcross PV IPP – Midgard evaluated the addition of a 2 MW (with potential expansion to 4 MW) solar PV generator near the community of Carcross, into the ATCO-owned 34.5 kV electrical system.

6. ArcticPharm PV IPP – Midgard evaluated the addition of a 2 MW (with potential expansion to 4 MW) solar PV generator, approximately 20km away from the Laberge Substation (#21) on the Yukon Interconnected Grid.

Midgard Consulting Inc. has been commissioned by the Ontario Finance Authority (agency of the province of Ontario, Canada) to complete due diligence reviews of various renewable energy and transmission projects.  The purpose of the program is to assess the suitability of equity loan guarantees needed to facilitate equity participation by local Aboriginal communities in renewable generation projects.  The financial, business, and technical review and due diligence effort consists of reviewing contractual, financial and development documentation, Aboriginal participation agreements (e.g., partnerships/corporate structuring), energy forecasts and modelling, operating and maintenance forecasts, robustness and reliability of design, construction works, and other commercial conditions.  The list of projects evaluated under this program are:

• Alderville Solar Project (5 MW)
• Rainy River Solar Project (25 MW)
• Bow Lake Wind Project (60 MW)
• Goulais Bay Wind Project (25 MW)
• Grand Bend Wind Project (100 MW)
• Bruce to Milton Transmission Line (500 kV)
• Cochrane Solar Projects (4 projects)
• MNO Solar Projects (50 projects)
• Peter Sutherland Senior Generating Station Project (28 MW)
• Henvey Inlet Wind Project (300 MW)
• Belle River Wind Project (100 MW)
• East-West Tie Line Project
• Niagra Wind Project (230 MW)

Midgard was retained by the IESO to perform a series of investigative tasks on procurement issues to assist the system operator with ongoing issues related to their medium-term procurement program. Work conducted to date has provided in depth research and analysis on a variety of procurement issues as detailed here:

• Battery and EPC Supply Chain Analysis. Midgard investigated the procurement challenges faced during the Covid 19 pandemic, including increased commodity pricing and delayed shipments due to worldwide shipping constraints.
• Commodity Indexation.  This report included an investigated analysis of the main commodities in solar, wind, natural gas and battery facilities and how the increased cost for these commodities could impact generation facilities procurement, along with input on how long these commodities will stay at higher prices.
• RFP Terms Comparison. This memo reviewed recent RFP terms in other jurisdictions, to provide insight into RFP selection criteria, tender fees, and language to deal with outlier bids that are outside the average bid submission pricing thresholds.
• Jurisdictional Scan for Temporal Hybridization. Midgard investigated the co-location of battery storage with renewable energy sources to identify industry best practices for contracting, financing and the impact of government incentives.
• Renewable Energy Agriculture Land Rules. This report provided insight into the tension between wind and solar projects and landowners/municipalities on the best use of land and benefits for local communities. The report investigated the changes being made to legislation, the importance of relationship building and the co-location of  agriculture and solar farms, known as agrivoltaics, as a promising way to bridge this concern between landowners and developers.
• Development Cost Comparison Between Northern and Southern Ontario. Midgard investigated the costs associated with land, permitting, equipment, delivery, labour and transmission lines to provide valuable insight between the development costs between northern and southern Ontario.

Midgard was retained by DBS Energy to assist with the following rehabilitation work:

• Midgard assisted with rehabilitation work required on FortisBC's 20L, a 63 kV circuit with mainly 13 kV Distribution under-build, that runs from Tadanac (Warfield) substation to Salmo substation. The 20L transmission line is approximately 44 km in length and consists of approximately 504 structures. Midgard identified rehab items during condition assessment patrols, conducted follow-up engineering reviews and created a structure list of items to be addressed. Midgard also completed modeling and rehab engineering work on the circuits to bring them up to current distributions standards and to ensure compatibility with future conductor upgrades.

• Midgard assisted with rehabilitation work required on FortisBC's 19L, a 63 kV circuit with mainly 13 kV Distribution under-build, that is a radial feed from the South Slocan Terminal to the Passmore Substation to the Valhalla Substation. The 19L transmission line is approximately 45 km in length and consists of approximately 437 structures. Midgard identified rehab items during condition assessment patrols, conducted follow-up engineering reviews and created a structure list of items to be addressed. Midgard also completed modeling and rehab engineering work on the circuits to bring them up to current distributions standards and to ensure compatibility with future conductor upgrades.

• Midgard assisted in the design of the electrical and structural characteristics of the 32L 63 kV transmission line in British Columbia. This transmission line is approximately 69.2 km in length, contains roughly 660 structures, and runs from the Crawford Bay Substation to the Lambert Terminal Substation. Midgard responsibilities included managing a preliminary engineering design review and ensuring accurate and prudent transmission line design in accordance with project contract and terms and creating construction packages.

• Midgard assisted in the design of the electrical and structural characteristics of the 71L 230 kV transmission line in British Columbia. This transmission line is approximately 25 km in length, contains 129 structures, and runs from the Waneta Hydro Station to the Bonneville Power Administration interconnection. Midgard responsibilities include managing a preliminary engineering design review and ensuring accurate and prudent transmission line design in accordance with project contract and terms and creating construction packages.

• Midgard assisted with rehabilitation work of a FortisBC circuit with 25 kV distribution under-build. Midgard completed modeling and rehab engineering work on the circuits to bring them up to current distributions standards. Engineering work covered many aspects of distribution service, including switching, line taps, secondary re-stringing, and secondary service connections.

Midgard was engaged by Newfoundland & Labrador Hydro ("NLH") to develop an Integrated Resource Plan ("IRP") for five remote communities in Southern Labrador, characterized by extreme climate conditions. The objective of the study was to assess various renewable and energy storage technologies, along with different interconnection and transmission options. Within this scope, Midgard conducted a comprehensive evaluation to provide NLH with recommendations that address the energy requirements of the remote communities. The recommendations aim to be both economically viable and consider renewable initiatives and funding opportunities in the evaluation process. The IRP is designed to align with the unique challenges posed by extreme climate conditions in Southern Labrador.The scope of work included:

• Preparing upfront capital cost estimates and cumulative net present value over 20 years study period
• Assessing the environmental impact of solar and wind power with energy storage, bio-fuel generation, transmission interconnection, and others supply alternatives.
• Assessing the potential role of renewable energy resources and demand-side management strategies in terms of reduced fuel consumption and provision of firm capacity.
• Exploring Indigenous participation models in electric utility infrastructure and funding opportunities, and its impact on the Integrated Resource Plan.
• Assessing the reliability of all proposed alternatives.
• Reviewing NLH's assumptions on the timing and costs of replacing or removing the existing diesel generating stations.
• Performing a high-level jurisdictional review of electrical supply approaches for isolated communities across Canada.
• Assessing the impact of advances in Technology Innovation and Climate Change Policies on proposed alternatives.
• Developing a transition plan for the seamless conversion from firm diesel generation to fully renewable supply solutions.
• Completing a cost benefit analysis to determine the least cost option of all technically viable alternatives considered.
• Performing sensitivity analysis by altering various factors that could influence the results of the cost benefit analysis. These factors include, Load Growth, Timing of Project Phases, Diesel Fuel Costs, Carbon Tax.

Midgard was retained by the Electric Utility of City of Lethbridge to serve as the Study Consultant for its 8.75 MW Solar project located in Alberta. In this role, Midgard collaborated with AESO on behalf of NU-E Corp to conduct various connection studies for the project. These studies encompassed power flow analysis, voltage stability analysis, and short-circuit analysis.Power flow analysis was conducted for both the Summer Peak (SP) and Winter Peak (WP) scenarios, both pre- and post-Project, to assess the impact of the project's connection on the Alberta Interconnected Electric System (AIES). Voltage stability analysis was specifically performed for the WP post-Project scenario to identify any potential violations of voltage stability criteria. Additionally, short-circuit analysis was carried out for the WP pre-Project scenario, as well as the WP and WP post-Project scenarios, to determine short-circuit levels in the project's vicinity.