For the first time, electricity has been exchanged between the Island of Newfoundland and Nova Scotia through the Maritime Link Project.

The first electrons across the Maritime Link system were exchanged between the provinces at 11:03 a.m. AST on Dec 8, said developer Emera Inc.

Commissioning teams from Emera NL and ABB worked together with Newfoundland and Labrador Hydro and Nova Scotia Power to achieve the first successful trial of the Maritime Link, which Halifax-based Emera called a historic milestone for the transformative interconnection. It brings the Link within weeks of entering commercial operation when it will significantly improve the way energy is transmitted in Atlantic Canada.

“This is a historic accomplishment and the culmination of almost seven years of work from a dedicated team of employees, workers and contractors that have spent countless hours bringing the project to life,” Rick Janega, chief executive officer of Emera Newfoundland & Labrador, said in a statement.

Commissioning will continue throughout December as the Maritime Link prepares to be ready for customers in early 2018. Once in service, it improves the electrical interconnections between Atlantic Canadian provinces, providing more access and improved reliability and connecting the Island of Newfoundland to the North American energy grid for the first time.

The Maritime Link Project is part of a broader strategy to address the growing demand for more renewable energy, the company said. It will enable the transmission of clean, renewable and reliable electricity from Newfoundland and Labrador to Nova Scotia.

“With the Maritime Link available, it will deliver clean hydroelectricity that will help us achieve 40 per cent renewable generation for our customers by 2020,” noted Karen Hutt, president and chief executive officer of Nova Scotia Power.

The Maritime Link is a 500 megawatt high voltage direct current transmission interconnection that includes two 170 kilometre subsea cables across the Cabot Strait, with almost 50 kilometres of overland transmission in Nova Scotia and more than 300 kilometres of overland transmission on the island of Newfoundland.

Ottawa backed the project with a federal loan guarantee that will save Nova Scotia electricity customers approximately $325 million over the life of the project.