At Northland, we’re powering not only communities, but limitless possibilities. In this report, learn about our commitment to building a greener planet. Uncover the stories behind our sustainability initiatives and learn more about our dedication to minimizing environmental impact, demonstrating social responsibility and driving economic resilience. Our sustainability achievements, are a testament to our unwavering quest to build a better world for generations to come – where renewable energy unlocks a future of boundless possibilities.
Read our 2023 report to learn more about the progress made across the business, and the goals and commitments Northland has set to progress our sustainability efforts.
Download the Sustainability Report
This metric has been assured to a limited level by EY. Refer to our Performance Index for further detail.
Northland’s environmental, social, and governance (ESG) commitments are at the core of our business, reflected in Northland’s values, and in everything that we do. Our ESG principles help solidify our commitments to implementing and integrating practices across the entire value chain of our business, thinking thoughtfully about how our actions impact our people, our planet, and the communities in which we operate.
At Northland, our 2023 ESG efforts have four key focus areas:
Prior to 2023, Northland was organized around functions such as construction and operations. Today, our company’s business units, Onshore Renewables, Offshore Wind and Efficient Natural Gas, are grounded in different modes of energy generation and storage. This new structure enables each business unit to sharpen its strategic focus on the most relevant regional markets, business imperatives and policy contexts.
Northland began its offshore wind business in 2013 with an entry into the European market with a 60 per cent stake in the 600 MW Gemini offshore wind farm which began operations in 2017. This was quickly followed by the 332 MW Nordsee One which began operating in late 2017 and 252 MW Deutsche Bucht which began operating in early 2020. Today, our 1,184 MW of offshore assets in operation account for 35 per cent of our total gross capacity and 43 per cent of our total annual gross generation. Northland has established itself as a leader in the global offshore wind industry. This business unit is focused on the construction of our Baltic Power and Hai Long (see next page) projects, as well as advancing developments in South Korea and Scotland. Developing and executing offshore wind facilities are central to our medium- and longterm growth strategy.
Our onshore renewables portfolio began with investments in Canadian solar and wind projects in the 2000s. It has since expanded to include projects in New York and Spain. In all, Northland has 1,499 MW or 1.4 GW of operating onshore energy capacity. Scaling our onshore business in the near term is important to our business strategy, as onshore projects generally progress relatively quickly from development to operations, increasing our renewable generating capacity and cashflows.
Northland’s history in thermal generation extends back to 1990, when Canada’s provincial utilities looked to independent power producers to support the transition from coal to natural gas. Since then, we have owned and operated a total of seven facilities over time and now operate a current portfolio of four. We have maintained assets with strategic value in Ontario and Saskatchewan, while divesting from others with less certain opportunities and in order to support growth in renewables. Our North Battleford facility in Saskatchewan is one of the most efficient natural gas generators in the province. Northland is a market leader in Canada: an owner-operator with an entrepreneurial culture and a consistent focus on upgrades, optimization and innovation. This business unit also comprises our regulated power utility in Colombia: Empresa de Energía de Boyacá S.A E.S.P (EBSA).
Northland is accelerating Ontario’s energy transition by leading the development of the largest battery storage project in Canada.
In the Taiwan Strait, Northland is meeting ambitious local and international sustainability standards as we develop one of the largest offshore wind farms in Asia.
Equipment upgrades and a revised contract at a efficient natural gas plant in Southern Ontario will reduce emissions intensity while ensuring energy reliability and affordability for the surrounding area.
Our approach to making real, sustainable impacts is phased over the short, medium, and long term.
Learn more about our Pathways to Emission Reductions
In 2023 we updated our Green Financing Framework to enable us to issue green bonds, loans (corporate and project level) and other financing instruments to support the growth of our renewable energy projects, including onshore and offshore wind, solar, and battery storage.
Investor Presentation September 2024
Read our 2023 Sustainability Report
Investor Day Presentation - March 2024
Read our 2023 Annual Report