A rendering of what a wind turbine will look like in the Mersey River Wind array.Supplied/Renewall Energy Inc.
A tall tower topped with a weather station has proved the consistency of the winds over a Nova Scotia forest. It’s about to be joined by an array of 33 windmills to power the province’s first direct-to-consumer energy program.
The Vestas wind turbines of the Mersey River Wind Project are 180 metres tall and can generate a total of 148.5 megawatts of zero-emission electricity, capable of powering more than 50,000 homes. That will eliminate 220,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions, nearly 2 per cent of the province’s total from burning fossil fuels each year.
Mersey River is a prime example of how wind is destined to play a growing role in the effort to double Canada’s electricity supply by 2050 that was announced by Ottawa in May 2026, says Evan Pivnick, associate director of public affairs at Vancouver-based advocacy group Clean Energy Canada.
“From this point forward, wind is destined to be the star player in Canada’s buildup of electricity generation. It fits second only to hydro generation in Canada’s clean energy mix,” he says.
“It’s not subject to global fluctuations in fossil fuel prices. It can be built at different scales and built quickly relative to other power projects. Paired with batteries, you end up with incredibly reliable carbon-free electrical generation.”
Wind will play a much bigger role in Atlantic Canada than in other parts of the country that have hydro and nuclear resources, Mr. Pivnick adds. Nova Scotia, which is one of the windiest provinces in the country, is still heavily reliant on coal for power generation and has a commitment to phase out coal and generate 80 per cent of power via renewable energy by 2030.
The important thing is affordability. Wind technology has improved greatly in recent years and that makes it more economical to build large-scale projects. And it’s also more secure, because the source of power is local and reliable, Mr. Pivnick says.
The Mersey River Wind Project is being financed under the Canadian Infrastructure Bank’s Clean Power program, which uses low-cost loans and loan guarantees to attract private and institutional investment in low-carbon emissions projects such as renewables, district energy systems and energy storage.
Aerial view of the Nova Scotia forest with the Big Guzzle Bridge crossing the Mersey River.Supplied/Roswall Development
“We can provide a portion of the capital to get the project started and help it move faster,” says Mike Schoen, senior director public infrastructure of CIB. The Crown corporation has a $35-billion mandate to provide stable financing that attracts private and institutional capital to infrastructure project in Canada.
Initial financial commitment was important at Mersey River Wind because it is the first test of the province’s new Renewable to Retail Program, which allows private entities to sell electricity directly to consumers. Mr. Schoen says.
A $206.4-million loan from CIB adds to construction financing from a partnership between Toronto-based Slate Asset management and U.S. private equity firm Hamilton Lane. The total cost is approximately $532.6 million.
The project is also eligible for the Clean Technology Investment Tax Credit for up to 30 per cent of capital costs.
Installation of the 33 windmills has begun at the Mersey River site on a rolling plateau in Queen’s County, about 150 km southwest of Halifax. The Crown land, that was previously logged by the now defunct Bowater Mersey Paper Co., has a network of good access roads, which simplifies construction, says Daniel Roscoe, chief executive officer of project developer Roswall Development Inc. and president of Renewall Energy Inc. that markets the power to consumers. (Both are based in Halifax.)
Power will be generated from the first phase of the project by the end of 2026 and the array of windmills will be fully commissioned in 2028. Power will be fed into the grid of Nova Scotia Power, with Renewall paying the utility for transmission and related services.
Aerial view of Mersey River site with access road cutting through it.Supplied/Roswall Development
“We are using proven technologies to show renewable energy can be competitive with other sources of energy. The advantage is we have a different clean renewable source of fuel that allows people to have long-term fixed-price energy contracts and helps beat fluctuations in the cost of power,” Mr. Roscoe says
The majority of customers currently signed up for the wind power are in the commercial, industrial or institutional public sector, but anyone connected to Nova Scotia Power is eligible to buy power from Renewall, he says.
Residents are being encouraged to sign up on a first-come, first-served basis. Roswall is planning other wind developments in the province to continue to expand the customer base. “As we grow our generating capacity of clean energy, it will also help reduce the overall cost of energy for people across Nova Scotia,” Mr. Roscoe says.
“We believe this will attract businesses to Nova Scotia. Most business that are looking to build new facilities internationally are looking for locations that comply with their climate obligations and renewable energy is on top of those companies lists.”