Project overview
We have begun the procurement process for Indigenous majority-owned wind projects that help us meet a 600 megawatt target.
Enlarge image: Two large wind towers in the middle of a Manitoba canola field.
As part of The Manitoba Affordable Energy Plan, we’re planning the procurement process for Indigenous majority-owned wind projects that will help us meet the increasing needs of Manitobans. Our 2023 Integrated Resource Plan highlights an urgent need for new generation in the province, as demand in Manitoba could more than double in the next 20 years. These new wind generating resources will increase our supply of energy, support economic development, and further the efforts outlined in our Indigenous Relations Commitment Statement.
We are planning to procure up to 600 megawatts of new wind energy in southern Manitoba through one or more power purchase agreements and as part of this initiative, each individual wind farm could generate up to 200 megawatts.
Each new wind farm must be majority owned by an Indigenous Nation (or multiple Nations) in Manitoba, and we will purchase the electricity from each facility.
To be eligible, a wind farm will need to connect to our grid by establishing a point of interconnection within a 20km radius to one of the 14 existing substations identified on the map below:
There are 14 possible substations that wind farms can establish a point of interconnection to.
Timeline
These dates are subject to change:
- notice of intended procurement*: February 17, 2025
- wind symposium: March 19, 2025
- expression of interest (EOI) issued on MERX: spring 2025
- request for proposals (RFP) issued on MERX: summer 2025
- RFP closing: fall 2025
- announcement of successful bids: spring 2026
We are pursuing an expedited schedule for at least one wind farm with commercial operation as early as 2029. Construction schedules would be expected to begin as early as spring 2027.
* Details of this notice are available on MERX.
Stay updated on this project
All procurement updates, documents, and project activities will be posted on MERX to be consistent with our procurement practices.
We'll also post some project updates on this page.
See our presentation from the March 19 wind symposium** (PDF, 6.3 MB).
Manitoba Hydro Wind Symposium - March 19, 2025
Hosted at the RBC Convention Centre, the Wind Symposium was an event designed to kickstart the next phase of procurement for Indigenous majority-owned wind projects. It brought together potential wind developers and Indigenous communities to hear presentations from Manitoba Hydro, the provincial government, and the Canada Infrastructure Bank about how the procurement process will work.
** This document does not meet our minimum requirements for accessibility. You may request accessible formats online.
Independent power process
Energy from generation stations capable of generating more than ten megawatts are only being considered through this Wind Call for Power Project.
Proposals from independent power producers capable of generating ten megawatts or less may be submitted to us at independentpower@hydro.mb.ca.
Successful wind generation projects will be subject to the Province of Manitoba’s environmental assessment and licensing process under The Environment Act. Read more about this process on the provincial government's website.
Our Open Access Interconnection Tariff (OAIT) specifies the terms and conditions for interconnecting new electricity generation. Read more about OAIT.