Gas turbine peaker plants are a mistake
Technology respecting electricity generation, storage and grid management is rapidly advancing and displacing gas-fired peaker plants. New battery storage systems are more efficient and less costly, smooth grid flow and […]
Gas turbine peaker plants are inefficient and costly, quickly being replaced by advanced storage batteries. New battery storage systems are more efficient, less expensive, and environmentally friendly. Countries like Texas, California, and Australia are replacing gas turbine peaker plants with storage batteries. Technology advancements are enabling solar and wind energy combined with battery storage to efficiently meet peak demand.
Building outdated, polluting gas turbines, as proposed by Manitoba Hydro, is not in the province's best interest. Premier Wab Kinew hopes Manitoba Hydro will reconsider before entering financial commitments. In 2025/26, Nova Scotia Power installed 3 x 50 MW Lithium-ion grid batteries, reducing costs significantly compared to building a gas peaker plant.
China and Australia are world leaders in solar and wind combined with battery solutions, offering reliable, economic, and efficient energy. Manitoba Hydro has overlooked the potential for businesses and individuals to contribute to the solution. Australia offers incentives for solar and battery installations, with 500,000 applications and 111,000 small-scale home batteries in 2026.
BC Hydro has similar programs, with 4.9 GWh of grid batteries installed in 2025. American utilities have installed 30.8 GWh of battery storage in the past six months. Comparatively, Manitoba Hydro's proposed storage is minimal. Solar and wind power combined with storage batteries offer numerous advantages for Manitoba, including cost, reliability, longevity, and quick response times.
With droughts and long summer days, they can also manage reservoir storage. Distributed batteries in homes and businesses will improve grid current flow management. Both solar and wind have potential in Manitoba, with sunny days in summer and consistent winds in winter. Sodium-ion batteries, a more reliable option, are available and cost-effective.
Australia's electricity costs have fallen due to increased solar and battery usage, unlike Manitoba's historically higher costs.
Written by urgent.news from Winnipeg Free Press's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
