Test power plant
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Alberta Sundance power station is an operating power station of at least 535-megawatts (MW) in Sundance, Parkland, Alberta, Canada with multiple units, some of which are not currently operating.
Location
Table 1: Project-level location details
| Plant name | Location | Coordinates (WGS 84) |
|---|---|---|
| Alberta Sundance power station | Sundance, Parkland, Alberta, Canada | 53.507405, -114.559003 (exact) |
The map below shows the exact location of the power station.
Unit-level coordinates (WGS 84):
- 7, CC5, Unit 1, Unit 2, Unit 3, Unit 4, Unit 5, Unit 6: 53.507405, -114.559003
Project Details
Table 2: Unit-level details
| Unit name | Status | Fuel(s) | Capacity (MW) | Technology | CHP | Start year | Retired year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7 | cancelled[1][2] | fossil gas: natural gas[1] | 856[1] | combined cycle[1] | not found | – | – |
| CC5 | shelved[3][4][5] | fossil gas: natural gas[6] | 730[7][8] | combined cycle[4] | – | – | – |
| Unit 1 | retired | coal: subbituminous | 280 | subcritical | – | 1970 | 2018 |
| Unit 2 | retired | coal: subbituminous | 280 | subcritical | – | 1973 | 2018 |
| Unit 3 | retired | coal: subbituminous | 380 | subcritical | – | 1976 | 2020 |
| Unit 4, timepoint 1 | retired | coal: subbituminous | 433 | subcritical | not found | 1976 | 2022 |
| Unit 4, timepoint 2 | operating[9][10][11] | fossil gas: natural gas[9] | 113[7][12][3][10] | steam turbine[13] | not found | 2022[10] | – |
| Unit 5, timepoint 1 | retired[14] | coal: subbituminous | 433 | subcritical | – | 1977 | 2021[14] |
| Unit 6, timepoint 1 | retired | coal: subbituminous | 422 | subcritical | not found | 1980 | 2021 |
| Unit 6, timepoint 2 | operating[9][10][11] | fossil gas: natural gas[9] | 422[7][3] | steam turbine[13] | not found | 2021[3] | – |
CHP is an abbreviation for Combined Heat and Power. It is a technology that produces electricity and thermal energy at high efficiencies. Coal units track this information in the Captive Use section when known.
Table 3: Unit-level ownership and operator details
| Unit name | Owner | Parent |
|---|---|---|
| 7 | TransAlta Corp [100%][8] | TransAlta Corp [100.0%] |
| CC5 | – | – |
| Unit 1 | TransAlta Generation Partnership [100%] | TransAlta Corp [100.0%] |
| Unit 2 | TransAlta Generation Partnership [100%] | TransAlta Corp [100.0%] |
| Unit 3 | TransAlta Generation Partnership [100%] | TransAlta Corp [100.0%] |
| Unit 4, timepoint 1 | TransAlta Generation Partnership [100%] | TransAlta Corp [100.0%] |
| Unit 4, timepoint 2 | TransAlta Generation Partnership [100%] | TransAlta Corp [100.0%] |
| Unit 5, timepoint 1 | TransAlta Generation Partnership [100%] | TransAlta Corp [100.0%] |
| Unit 6, timepoint 1 | TransAlta Generation Partnership [100%] | TransAlta Corp [100.0%] |
| Unit 6, timepoint 2 | TransAlta Generation Partnership [100%] | TransAlta Corp [100.0%] |
Unit-level fuel conversion details:
Unit 4: Converted from coal to fossil gas in 2022.
Unit 6: Converted from coal to fossil gas in 2021.
Background
The facility was the largest coal-fired electrical generating facility in western Canada, with a total of six generating units.[15]
Retirement and Conversion
In February 2011, TransAlta said it will be closing operations at two of the Sundance coal-fired units because repairs would be too costly. The Sundance 1 and 2 units have been down since December 2010. The units comprise 560 MW of the 2,126 MW Sundance power plant, which operates as a baseload facility for the Alberta electricity system.[16]
The closing of the units could cost consumers more than $200 million in unrealized refunds through Alberta’s Balancing Pool. The agency that oversees power purchase agreements would have to pay that amount to TransAlta as net book value of the plants and to TC Energy as partial payment on the remainder of its contract. TC Energy holds the Sundance units' power purchase agreement and expects reimbursement.[16]
In 2011 TransAlta brought units 1-2 back online because it was demanded under the company’s PPA agreement with TC Energy.[17]
In April 2017 TransAlta said it plans to retire Sundance Units 1-2 effective January 1, 2018, but the utility is seeking approval to have unit 2 on reserve between 2019 and 2021. Additionally, TransAlta plans conversion of Sundance Units 3 to 6 from coal-fired generation to gas-fired generation in the 2021 to 2023 timeframe, for use until the mid-2030s.[18]
In December 2017 TransAlta announced that Unit 3 and Unit 6 would be mothballed until 2020 due to low demand for electricity. The two units then mothballed were actually Unit 3 and Unit 5.[19]
TransAlta retired Sundance Unit 1 effective January 1, 2018, and mothballed Sundance Unit 2 effective January 1, 2018, for a period of up to 2 years.[20]
An October 31, 2018 TransAlta press release states that in the third quarter of 2018 the company "Retired the previously mothballed Sundance Unit 2 due to its relatively short useful life, small size relative to other units, and the capital required to return the unit to service."[21]
In March 2019 TransAlta received approval from the Alberta Electric System Operator to continue mothballing Unit 3 and Unit 5 until November 2021, an extension of 18 months.[22]
In May 2020 TransAlta's CEO Dawn Farrell stated on a quarterly earnings call with investors that Unit 6 would be converted to gas in 2020.[23] The conversion of Unit 6 to gas was completed in February of 2021.[24]
In July 2020 TransAlta officially retired the plant's mothballed Unit 3.[25]
In November 2020, jwnenergy.com reported that TransAlta will stop using coal before January 1, 2022, converting Unit 4 to burn only natural gas before the announced date. It will also end operation at the Highvale coal mine before the end of 2021.[26] When Unit 4 stops burning coal, its maximum output will fall from 406 MW to 113 MW.[27]
The mothballed Sundance Unit 5 was undergoing conversion to run solely on gas and was expected to have a maximum output of 730 MW once the conversion was complete. The conversion was expected to cost approximately $760 million and be operational by 2023.[28] On TransAlta's Q3 2021 earnings call the company's Chief Financial Officer stated that the repowering of Unit 5 had been suspended and that Unit 4 would be retired in early 2022.[29] Unit 5 was retired in 2021.[30] According to TransAlta President John Kousinioris, Unit 4 was retired in early 2022.[31]
Capacity upgrades
A 53-megawatt uprate to Sundance 5 was completed in 2009 at a cost of $75 million. Additionally, a 44-megawatt upgrade was completed on Sundance 6 in 2001 and a 53-megawatt uprate on Sundance 4 in 2007. In May 2015, TransAlta completed a 15-megawatt uprate on Sundance 3.[32]
Coal supply
TransAlta's Highvale coal mine supplies Sundance with coal.[33] Transalta will end operation at the Highvale Coal Mine at the end of 2021.[26]
Articles and Resources
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 https://web.archive.org/web/20210917170338/https://majorprojects.alberta.ca/details/Sundance-7-Gas-Fired-Power-Plant/642. Archived from the original on 17 September 2021.
{{cite web}}: Missing or empty|title=(help) - ↑ https://web.archive.org/web/20221101215740/https://calgaryherald.com/business/energy/transalta-postpones-sundance-7-gas-fired-power-plant-into-next-decade. Archived from the original on 01 November 2022.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|archive-date=(help); Missing or empty|title=(help) - ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 https://web.archive.org/web/20220527115753/https://transalta.com/plants-operation/sundance/. Archived from the original on 27 May 2022.
{{cite web}}: Missing or empty|title=(help) - ↑ 4.0 4.1 (PDF) https://web.archive.org/web/20211012134257/https://www.auc.ab.ca/regulatory_documents/ProceedingDocuments/2020/25239-D01-2020.pdf. Archived from the original (PDF) on 12 October 2021.
{{cite web}}: Missing or empty|title=(help) - ↑ https://web.archive.org/web/20220522225420/https://www.canadianminingjournal.com/news/transaltas-plan-to-shut-down-coal-natural-gas-generation/. Archived from the original on 22 May 2022.
{{cite web}}: Missing or empty|title=(help) - ↑ (PDF) https://web.archive.org/web/20210603221626/https://www.transalta.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Repowering_Newsletter_March_2020_Final.pdf. Archived from the original (PDF) on 03 June 2021.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|archive-date=(help); Missing or empty|title=(help) - ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 (PDF) https://web.archive.org/web/20210917203951/https://www.auc.ab.ca/regulatory_documents/ProceedingDocuments/2020/25239-D02-2020.pdf. Archived from the original (PDF) on 17 September 2021.
{{cite web}}: Missing or empty|title=(help) - ↑ 8.0 8.1 https://web.archive.org/web/20220629034515/https://www.newswire.ca/news-releases/transalta-advances-its-clean-energy-investment-plan-858553389.html. Archived from the original on 29 June 2022.
{{cite web}}: Missing or empty|title=(help) - ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3 (PDF) https://web.archive.org/web/20210603213251/https://www.auc.ab.ca/regulatory_documents/ProceedingDocuments/2018/23807-D01-2018.pdf. Archived from the original (PDF) on 03 June 2021.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|archive-date=(help); Missing or empty|title=(help) - ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 10.3 https://web.archive.org/web/20221003060605/https://transalta.com/about-us/our-operations/facilities/sundance/. Archived from the original on 03 October 2022.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|archive-date=(help); Missing or empty|title=(help) - ↑ 11.0 11.1 https://web.archive.org/web/20220816221701/https://transalta.com/newsroom/transalta-completes-first-off-coal-conversion-and-achieves-major-milestone-in-phase-out-of-coal/. Archived from the original on 16 August 2022.
{{cite web}}: Missing or empty|title=(help) - ↑ (PDF) https://web.archive.org/web/20211229100103/https://transalta.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/2020.09.30-TAC-Combined-MDA-and-FS-FINAL.pdf. Archived from the original (PDF) on 29 December 2021.
{{cite web}}: Missing or empty|title=(help) - ↑ 13.0 13.1 (PDF) https://web.archive.org/web/20211229100103/https://transalta.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/2020.09.30-TAC-Combined-MDA-and-FS-FINAL.pdf. Archived from the original (PDF) on 29 December 2021.
{{cite web}}: Missing or empty|title=(help) - ↑ 14.0 14.1 (PDF) https://web.archive.org/web/20240125123913/https://transalta.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/2022.12.31-TAC-Annual-Report-Final.pdf. Archived from the original (PDF) on 25 January 2024.
{{cite web}}: Missing or empty|title=(help) - ↑ "Sundance" TransAlta Company Website, accessed April 30, 2010.
- ↑ 16.0 16.1 "TransAlta issues notice of termination for Sundance units" Power-Gen, Feb. 10, 2011.
- ↑ "Economics lead to early coal shutdowns, improved possibilities for health and jobs," Pembina Institute, April 20, 2017
- ↑ "TransAlta Board Approves Plan for Accelerating Transition to Clean Power in Alberta," TransAlta, Apr 19, 2017
- ↑ TransAlta Announces Accelerated Transition to Clean Energy, TransAlta, Dec. 6, 2017
- ↑ "Status of Sundance Unit 1 (SD1) and Sundance Unit 2 (SD2) effective January 1, 2018," AESO, Jan 1, 2018
- ↑ "TransAlta Reports Third Quarter 2018 Results," PR Newswire, Oct 31, 2018
- ↑ TransAlta to extend mothballing of Sundance coal-fired units, S&P Platts Global, Mar. 11, 2019
- ↑ TransAlta Corp (TAC) Q1 2020 Earnings Call Transcript, Motley Fool, May 12, 2020
- ↑ Amanda Stevenson, TransAlta completes first of three coal-to-gas conversions; company aims to be off coal entirely by 2022, Calgary Herald, Feb. 02, 2021
- ↑ Maryam Adeeb, TransAlta to retire mothballed Sundance coal unit in Alberta, S&P Platts Global, Jul. 23, 2020
- ↑ 26.0 26.1 "TransAlta announces plan to stop mining coal at Highvale, stop using coal in Canada" jwnenergy.com, November 4, 2020
- ↑ TRANSALTA CORPORATION Third Quarter Report for 2020, TransAlta, 2020
- ↑ TransAlta Advances its Clean Energy Investment Plan, TransAlta, Oct. 30, 2019
- ↑ Q3 2021 Earnings Call, TransAlta Corporation, Nov. 9, 2021
- ↑ "2022 Integrated Report," TransAlta Corporation, March 2023
- ↑ TransAlta Corporation (TAC) CEO John Kousinioris on Q1 2022 Earnings Call Transcript, Seeking Alpha, May 6, 2022
- ↑ Sundance, Transalta, accessed June 2020
- ↑ "Highvale" TransAlta Mine Page, accessed May 5, 2010.
Additional data
To access additional data, including interactive maps of the power stations, downloadable datasets, and summary data, please visit the Global Coal Plant Tracker and the Global Oil and Gas Plant Tracker on the Global Energy Monitor website.
