Toqlukuti’k Wind and Hydrogen Project

Due to unforeseen circumstances ABO Energy Canada’s Toqlukuti’k Wind and Hydrogen team has had to postpone the monthly mobile community office scheduled for Wednesday evening, September 18^th at the Bull Arm Visitors Centre (6pm – 8pm). The session had been previously advertised to the public, and our team apologizes for any inconvenience.

While this session is not going ahead as planned, we look forward to continuing our monthly mobile offices in communities for Thursday, September 19th:

• 9:30am – 12:30pm at the Sunnyside Recreation Centre
• 2pm – 5pm at the CNA Clarenville Campus (Room 107)

We were pleased to host several mobile community offices as publicly advertised this week already on September 17th and 18th in Chance Cove, Southern Harbour, Come By Chance, and Arnold’s Cove. We also have our upcoming week of October dates advertised on this website and in our e-newsletter.

ABO Energy’s aim is to inform and hear from communities at this early stage in the Toqlukuti’k Wind and Hydrogen Project. We are pleased to continue our monthly mobile office program, which has already provided the opportunity for 2-3 members of our team to engage regularly with residents in 7 accessible locations monthly since Spring 2024.

We look forward to seeing you!

The Project Toqlukuti’k team remains committed to be present in community as much as possible. Please see the schedule below. We hope you’ll stop in for a conversation.

The Toqlukuti’k Wind and Hydrogen Project team was thrilled with the attendance and outcomes of our first round of 7 open houses we hosted in communities during March 2024. We appreciate each person who asked a question, provided comments, expressed a concern, or simply joined us to learn more about Toqlukuti’k Wind and Hydrogen and meet our team. Following these information sessions, our team compiled a “What We Heard” report to summarize just that – what we heard from community members.

As the Project is still in the early stages of its planning cycle, many of the questions posed at the information sessions could not be answered yet, however, we captured your questions with a commitment to have questions answered in this What We Heard document.

You can now access the document here.

Printed copies will also be available for members of the public to read at our monthly community office hours (advertised above). Otherwise, please contact us at info_toqlukutik(at)aboenergy.com if you require other accommodations to access the document.

We look forward to hosting additional Open Houses in the Project region during Fall 2024. These community meetings are vital to help our team learn about what matters most to you, and what questions you may have as the Project develops. This helps inform our own planning as we advance this Project. 

With our third-party environmental consultant, ABO Energy is continuing environmental baseline studies throughout the spring and summer. Baseline studies help us determine and understand the characteristics of an area prior to any development, and to establish the existing environmental status.

By continuing these studies, we will be able to assess, verify and compile valuable environmental and ecological data to support the development of the environmental assessment registration document (EAR). The requirements for baseline assessment studies have been identified per the guidelines provided by the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador’s Department of Environment and Climate Change.

What to expect:

• 1 to 4 persons are doing field studies in designated areas of the region during this timeframe.
• They conduct observations of wildlife including bird, bat and mammal species.
• Additional baseline study activity will include vegetation classification (both land and aquatic), freshwater fish and fish habitat classification, sediment and soil collection, water shed and wetland identification. 

Timeframe:
April to September 2024

Through discussion at the 7 open houses held in March 2024, our GIS team developed a map to capture local input that residents shared with our team. 

We’re continuing conversations through our local mobile office program and Project Information e-mail, and we look forward to holding more information sessions in the fall. Your ongoing feedback and local knowledge sharing will continue to help inform our Project development. 

We are currently working on updating our Frequently Asked Questions and will soon share a document with you on our website and through our newsletter to summarize key themes, questions and concerns that were brought up during the March 2024 open house sessions. Meanwhile, environmental baseline studies are continuing through the spring and summer with our third-party environmental consultant. This information, along with your feedback and other existing data will be continuously incorporated into our Project mapping and planning. 

As mentioned in the recent information session presentations, ABO Energy will be installing a MET tower to measure wind. A third-party contractor (TEP) and their subcontractor (Westower Communications) will conduct the first installation of a MET tower.

What is a MET? A MET tower, short for “meteorological evaluation tower” is a wind measurement tower to verify wind speeds in certain locations. It looks like many cellphone towers that are already installed throughout the region.

Where is it being installed? The MET will be installed in the hills North of Southern Harbour and Southern Harbour Station, on the East side of the TCH. This location is indicated by the green dot on the map below.

Why is it being installed? This measurement activity will help inform the Toqlukuti’k Wind and Hydrogen Project as it comes to expected wind speeds for planning wind turbine installations. It will also support the wind feasibility scope of the Project’s Environmental Assessment Registration. There will be additional MET installations as the Project planning progresses.

What to expect for this installation activity?   

• Expected duration of work: Site activity over the next 12-14 weeks, starting in early April 2024, depending on weather and other potential delays.
• What is involved? 2 to 6 individuals will be working with the contractor at a given time over this period, dependant on activities required for the work. This will include mulching, surveying, completing geotechnical core samples, installing anchors, rigging, and stacking the tower, or completing instrumentation.

Questions?

Contact Joe Bennett, Communications and Engagement Lead, Toqlukuti’k Wind and Hydrogen
joe.bennett@aboenergy.com
709-219-8707

MET Location Map:

Upcoming information sessions are scheduled for the fall. Dates will be announced soon. For updates, visit our website or subsribe to our newsletter.

Public information Sessions March 2024

The Toqlukuti’k Wind and Hydrogen Project team would like to thank everyone who attended our recent information sessions in March 2024. Community input and knowledge sharing are very important to inform our Project planning. We look forward to continuing to work together with you.

You can access the March 2024 Community Information Session Materials here:

• Toqlukuti’k Wind and Hydrogen Project Posterboards
• Open House Presentation
• Chamber of Commerce Luncheon Presentation

Posters from Public Information Sessions

Please click on an image to see a larger version.

ABO Wind – Globally Connected, Locally Focused

Overview

Timeline and Environmental Considerations

Map

Green Hydrogen produced from Wind

Community Engagement – A Local Focus

A Major Project with Significant Opportunities

ABO Wind eager to commence Toqlukuti’k Wind and Hydrogen Project in NL (pdf)

ABO Wind awarded the exclusive right to pursue development of its Toqlukuti’k Wind and Hydrogen Project in Newfoundland and Labrador

The Toqlukuti’k Wind and Hydrogen Project, (The Project), is a major renewable energy project in Newfoundland and Labrador, powered by the province’s world-class wind.

Located in the vicinity of the Isthmus of Avalon, ABO Energy is working with our partners Miawpukek First Nation (MFN) and Braya Renewable Fuels (Braya) to develop this multi-phased, integrated project that will harness wind energy, using wind turbines, to produce renewable energy.

The Project is being developed in a phased approach, with the first phase involving the development of up to 700-megawatts of power to further decarbonize the production of Braya’s refinery in Come By Chance. Later phases beginning in 2028 are anticipated to scale up production to a total of 5000-megawatts (MW) / 5-gigawatts) to also produce green ammonia for export to the global market.

The name Toqlukuti’k Wind and Hydrogen was determined together with Miawpukek First Nation and originates from the traditional Mi’kmaq language of the Miawpukek First Nation, meaning “working together” (pronounced ‘dok-loo-gu-tik’), a reference to our partnerships with MFN and Braya.

• In March 2023, ABO Energy received an exclusive letter of support from Braya for the joint development of green hydrogen production at the refinery.
• In August 2023,  ABO Energy was awarded the exclusive right to pursue development of The Project through the Province’s Crown Land Call for Bids for Wind Energy Projects.

There is a variety of key components that the Project infrastructure could include, broken down into the Wind and Hydrogen facilities. Infrastructure associated with the Hydrogen Facility would be located on-site or within close proximity to the existing Come By Chance refinery. Infrastructure associated with the Wind Farm would be located on Crown Lands in the Isthmus region.

Hydrogen Facilities

• Hydrogen Production Facilities including Electrolyzers
• Hydrogen storage facilities
• (Future Expansions) Ammonia Production facilities
• Ammonia storage facilities
• Ammonia export facilities

Wind Facilities

• Wind turbines
• Measurement Equipment
• Access roads
• Electrical transmission lines
• Collector lines
• Substations
• Operations and Maintenance Facilities

ABO Energy bid on selected areas of Crown land included in the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador’s Crown Lands Call for Bids for Wind Energy Projects.

Newfoundland and Labrador itself is competing in a global marketplace to secure a share of the green hydrogen market and has several strategic advantages to lead the way including, but not limited to:

• world class wind resources,
• deep water ports,
• skilled labour, 
• strategic location to Europe on the eastern seaboard of North America and
• existing infrastructure, knowledge, and experience at the Braya Come By Chance refinery.

Beginning in the first phase of the Project, wind energy will be harnessed to provide green hydrogen to meet the needs of the Come By Chance Refinery, and as such, is being developed in the region near the refinery.

In March 2023, ABO Energy received an exclusive letter of support from Braya Renewable Fuels for the joint development of green hydrogen production at the refinery, helping to ensure job security for the approximately 300 permanent refinery workers.

Potential turbine sites are selected based on a variety of criteria including wind speed and pattern; access to transmission infrastructure; access and constructability of turbine components; setbacks from environmentally sensitive areas, homes, and other features such as local trails. The Project will incorporate setbacks (turbine distances to residences, roads, etc.). Local feedback will be incorporated into our planning where feasible.

The lifecycle of a wind turbine is typically 20-30 years with the possibility of an extension through repowering. The expected life of a hydrogen electrolyzer’s stack components is 6-10 years before requiring replacement. These stacks would be replaced consistently throughout the life of the rest of the project.

At this time transmission routes have yet to be determined. As we gain more information about the area from technical studies and local consultation, our technical team adjusts the proposed Project layout and route of transmission lines. ABO Energy is committed to keeping the local communities up to date on developments with respect to the Project layout and location of transmission lines.

Pending regulatory approval, the current schedule has construction slated to begin in late 2025 for the Phase 1 portion of the Project. The first commercial operation date (COD) of Phase 1 is early 2027. The current schedule considers project specific permitting requirements and construction conditions, equipment lead times and represents a realistic development and construction timeline. As with any major development, the schedule may be modified to accommodate unexpected circumstances. 

If you are a vendor interested in providing your goods and/or services to ABO Energy Canada Ltd. we ask that you submit your company information via our ‘Supplier Registration Form’ located here (portal link is also accessible by scrolling to the bottom of this webpage). Additional questions related to supplier opportunities with Project Toqlukuti’k can be directed to info_toqlukutik@abo-wind.com.

Inquiries related to employment opportunities on Project Toqlukuti’k or resumes can be directed to info_toqlukutik@abo-wind.com. Specific employment opportunities with ABO Energy, including those related to the Project will be posted on Career Beacon as opportunities arise. 

ABO Energy Canada believes that communities in proximity to our Project should receive preferential attention and access to business and employment opportunities. We have already begun work with local service providers.

We are guided by our Local Economic Development Policy to provide full and fair opportunity to the local labour force and vendors and suppliers. It is our intent to maximize economic benefits for communities and their residents and promote long-term commercial growth through access to goods and service contracts, capacity training, and employment.

Local experience and knowledge are also a key component of our supplier selection criteria, and this criteria will be employed in all future Requests for Proposals related to this Project. 

In 2023, ABO Energy decided to open an office in St. John’s to act as a home base for the ABO Energy team’s operations in the province and to support the development activity.

ABO Energy has initiated a system of rotating offices throughout the region. Each month during the spring and summer (and anticipated going forward), the Project team has designated office locations in communities in the region. Area residents who have questions are welcome to drop in to discuss. Dates and locations are advertised through municipalities and their social media, posters (when possible), the Project e-newsletter, and posted on the Project website.

Based on the initial calculations, we anticipate the Project to create approximately 5500 jobs including construction (large percentage of work and for approximately 8-10 years) and Operations & Maintenance (long-term). We anticipate 400-500 long-term permanent jobs for the Project, including maintenance and technicians involved with the hydrogen/ammonia plant and port operations. The Project will also help to ensure job security for the approximately 230 permanent refinery workers.

To date ABO Energy team members have visited the area on many occasions to connect with and developed relationships with area residents, various stakeholders including local municipal councils, organizations such as local Chambers of Commerce, industry organizations such as econext and Energy NL, local tourism operators, and local not-for-profits.

ABO Energy is continuing to build relationships, listen to feedback and remain transparent through further meetings, information sessions, and through a Community Liaison Committee. ABO Energy is committed to ongoing engagement and sharing up-to-date information with stakeholders and local communities through the life of the Project.

ABO Energy is committed to transparent, meaningful, and ongoing Indigenous engagement and has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Miawpukek First Nation.

ABO Energy welcomes all feedback on the Project. These communications should be directed to info_toqlukutik@abo-wind.com.

ABO Energy is guided by our Local Economic Development Policy to provide full and fair opportunity to the local labour force and vendors and suppliers. It is ABO Energy’s intent to maximize economic benefits for communities and their residents and promote long-term commercial growth through access to goods and service contracts, capacity training, and employment.

ABO Energy has already engaged with and provided a donation to a local not-for-profit and looks forward to further community investment opportunities in the region. 

Like any infrastructure project in Newfoundland and Labrador, Project Toqlukuti’k will be subject to an environmental assessment registration. ABO Energy has retained a local environmental consultant and completed desktop studies of environmental features in the areas of interest prior to beginning field work. We are also working closely with the Department of Environment and Climate Change to mitigate the project’s impact on the environment.

Desktop studies were already conducted for all areas of interest, but field studies began within the Phase 1 areas of interest in June 2023. These studies will mainly focus on wildlife populations, with the remaining prescribed studies including wetlands and botany being carried out throughout the rest of the year and 2024. Together with ABO Energy’s Project partner, Miawpukek First Nation, a Traditional Land Use Study is also being conducted.

Currently, environmental field studies are in progress within the Phase 1 areas of interest and consultation within the local communities is ongoing. This is in anticipation of the Environmental Assessment Registration for the first phase being submitted in Q3 of 2025.

ABO Energy has worked through a diligent environmental constraints analysis during the site selection process to mitigate risk of any impacts to local wildlife. Robust environmental studies will be completed during the Environmental Assessment process to develop an understanding of habitat conditions as well as the birds and wildlife utilizing the site. Results of the studies will be used to develop innovative and effective mitigation strategies specific for the local area and wildlife. We will work closely with our environmental consultants and regulators throughout the Environmental Assessment process to reduce impact on the local environment.

The primary regulatory requirements are dependent on the Project's jurisdiction including federal, provincial, and municipal permits and approvals. Each permit or approval will have their own regulatory requirements that may range from public consultation, environmental field studies, noise and shadow assessments to help demonstrate the Project is planned in a manner with the least potential impacts and can be built and operated in a sustainable manner. The most significant permit for this Project is the provincial Environmental Assessment Registration. ABO Energy is working with a local environmental consultant to complete the registration documents and associated fieldwork for this project. We have also regularly consulted with the Province’s Department of Environment and Climate Change on field work plans and document drafts, which will continue throughout the permitting process.

ABO Energy will decide on a wind turbine model later in the development stages. However, the average hub height of the machines being assessed is 120m with a blade length of 80m, resulting in a tip height of approximately 200m.

In the absence of existing provincial regulations, we will follow best practices for noise regulations from other regions in Canada. We will strive to remain below 40dB as required in other provinces. Wind turbines generate noise at a level between 35-45 dB or as noted above equivalent to a quiet whisper. Modern wind turbines are much quieter than 1st generation turbines of 20 years ago.

Several studies have confirmed that wind turbines will offset the CO2 emitted during their manufacture and installation, typically during the first 7 to 9 months of operation. Taking into account the energy required for manufacture, installation, and eventual decommissioning, wind turbines produce significantly less CO2 per megawatt of electricity than fossil fuel-based generation.

Although offshore wind turbines are being developed in many parts of the world, ABO Energy's expertise is in the development of onshore wind. There is currently a Regional Assessment for Offshore Wind Development ongoing within the Atlantic Canadian region, but at this time development of offshore wind in the Atlantic provinces is not regulated. ABO Energy does not plan to build offshore turbines for this Project. 

An approximately 5-meter-wide access road is maintained for the life of the project. An approximately 12-meter-wide access road would be used for the construction phase and restored to a 5-meter-wide access road for the life of the Project.

Approximately 100 square meters of land will be required for each turbine and associated infrastructure.

A Norwegian study has shown that painting one turbine blade black can reduce collisions with birds, however we must abide by colouring and lighting specifications from Transport Canada.

We respect that some individuals may have concerns regarding health. The Project will be designed to meet or exceed all provincial regulations and guidelines currently in place to protect human health.

Health Canada with Statistics Canada and other external experts conducted a Community Noise and Health Study. The results released in 2014 indicated that wind turbine noise was not linked to self-reported medical illnesses and health conditions. 

When it comes to the end of life for a wind project there are two options: decommissioning and repowering. 

Repowering: The ability to repower a site hinges on a few key considerations, such as the health of the foundations and other components on the site, the economics of the power being generated at the site, and the new technology available. Repowering a site prolongs the life of the project and helps to postpone the need for new project development (Canadian Renewable Energy Association, 2023).

Decommissioning: Due to economics, regular wear and tear or other factors, it may be necessary to remove the project and return the land to its equivalent original state. Decommissioning consists of dismantling the site by extracting the recyclable materials like steel, concrete and glass, and properly disposing of any other components in compliance with local requirements (Canadian Renewable Energy Association, 2023).

Wind Turbines: The main components of a wind turbine that can be recycled, repurposed, or salvaged include: Steel tower sections, steel reinforcement, electrical equipment and cables, precious metals, and concrete. Other materials or pieces of equipment that cannot be recycled, repurposed or salvaged will be disposed of according to local/provincial regulations. 

Different colours of hydrogen are defined depending on how the hydrogen is produced, though the colour of the actual hydrogen molecule does not change. There are several common production methods and corresponding colour designations of hydrogen. The colour designations are based on the different effects on the environment that result from the various processes.

Green hydrogen is hydrogen that is produced by splitting water using an electrolyzer. The electricity for the electrolyzer must be generated from renewable sources, such as wind, PV power, or hydropower, if the resulting hydrogen is to be labeled green. This ensures that no CO2, or other environmentally harmful by-products, are released during hydrogen production.

Green hydrogen is one of the key elements for Europe to reach its climate target and to ensure energy security. Green hydrogen can be a solution to Europe’s energy problems for several reasons, including its carbon-free nature, ability to be stored for a longer time and distributed, and its versatility in uses. After being transformed into its derivatives such as ammonia, it can be easily exported all over the world for use in industrial processes, heating, electricity, and automotive or other transportation use.

It is possible to transport hydrogen as a compressed gas or liquid. However, compared to hydrogen, ammonia has several decisive advantages in terms of long-distance transport. Characteristics including high energy density and ease of liquefaction allow it to be used in existing plants, transportation, and terminal facilities. Furthermore, if needed, ammonia can be converted to pure hydrogen on demand on the import side, without carbon emissions. Moreover, it has already been produced on a large-scale industrial application; therefore, handling and transport of ammonia is well known.

Together, ABO Energy KGaA and ABO Energy Canada have extensive experience and dedication to hydrogen and renewable energy projects.

• 26+ years’ experience
• 5 GW developed and sold
• 5 billion € investment volume
• 4 million MWh power generation
• 20 GW Wind/Solar/Battery pipeline + 15 GW hydrogen projects
• +1000 employees globally
• A growing team of professionals in Canada supported by ABO Energy's global team of technical and financial experts in Germany
• Active Project Development in Atlantic Canada since 2021

ABO Energy Canada currently has offices in St. John's, Halifax and Calgary. We also have a local presence through scheduled mobile community offices in the Project region on a monthly basis (upcoming dates and locations are provided under the "News" section of our website).

A device that uses electricity to split water molecules into seperate hydrogen and oxygen molecules through a process called electrolysis. 

Hydrogen that is produced through the use of carbon-based energy sources such as natural gas through a process called steam methane reforming, without carbon capture and storage. 

Hydrogen that is produced through the use of carbon-based energy sources such as natural gas through a process called steam methane reforming, with carbon capture and storage. 

The identified Crown Land Areas of Interest that would include the first wind developments of the Project in the Come By Chance and Chance Cove regions.