Top 100 Projects » Energy

Veresen Inc. Announces Start of Operations at York Energy Centre

Douglas McCallum — Tue, 15 May 2012 19:18:16 +0000

Veresen Inc. announced on May 9th the official commencement of operations at the York Energy Centre in the Township of King in Ontario. The $337 million facility ranked 81 on the 2012 Top 100 Projects list and consists of a 456 megawatt gas turbine energy facility. The plant is designed to provide peak power in the event of above normal energy demand and is expected to run approximately 10 per cent of the time.

Darlington Retube and Feeder Replacement Project

Douglas McCallum — Thu, 01 Mar 2012 21:15:54 +0000

A joint venture of Aecon and SNC-Lavalin has been awarded a major contract for the refurbishment of all four reactors at the Darlington Nuclear site. The project itself has two distinct phases. In the first phase, known as the Definition Phase, the companies will undertake four key actions that will start in 2012 and run until 2016. The $600 million contract is for the first phase of the refurbishment project.

This phase includes the construction of a full scale mock nuclear reactor, the development of special tools needed for the refurbishment, procurement of components for the first refurbishment, and the development of the project schedule and budget for the second phase.

The second phase, known as the Execution Phase, will involve the physical refurbishment of all four reactors over a period of seven years, beginning in 2016 through to 2023. While the price for the refurbishment of the Darlington reactors has yet to be determined, the recent refurbishment of the single reactor at Point Lepreau Nuclear in New Brunswick has so far cost $2.4 billion.

Windstream Energy Selects Firms to Build Offshore Wind Farm

Douglas McCallum — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 19:42:27 +0000

Despite an ongoing moratorium imposed by the Ontario government, Windstream Energy is moving forward on it’s plans to build North America’s first fresh water offshore wind farm. The company holds the only Feed In Tariff contract for generating offshore wind energy in Ontario. The company has selected four Hamilton area companies to develop the project, which it believes will sustain 1,900 jobs for five years. The Walters Group will fabricate the structural steel, Hamilton Port Authority will provide the facilities for assembling the parts, McKeil Marine will use its tugs and barges to transport and erect the components and Bermingham Foundation Solutions will secure the wind towers to the lake bed. In a separate announcement, Siemens Canada was selected to provide 130 turbines for the 300 megawatt project.

Erieau Wind Project

admin — Sat, 31 Dec 2011 18:28:00 +0000

$300 million

2012 Rank: 85

2011 Rank: New

Sector: Wind

Location: Chatham-Kent, Ontario

Owner: GDF Suez and International Power (70% owned by GDF)

Funding: Private

Status: Under construction, with expected completion in 2013.

Description:

A 99 MW wind farm located in southern Ontario. GDF-Suez has 70 per cent ownership in the project and has received a 20-year PPA from the OPA. Construction is set to begin in 2012 with completion expected in 2013.

Northwest Transmission Line Project

admin — Sat, 31 Dec 2011 17:41:46 +0000

$525 million

2012 Rank: 57

2011 Rank: New

Sector: Transmission

Location: North of Prince Rupert, near Bob Quinn Lake, BC

Owner: BC Hydro

Key Players:

Contractor: Burns & McDonnell, Valaard Construction (design, procurement, construction)

Funding: Public

Status: Under construction, with expected completion in 2013.

Description:

The Northwest Transmission Line will run 344 kilometres from Skeena Substation, near Terrace, to Bob Quinn Lake. The project will bring the British Columbia electrical grip to an area that is currently not connected. This will allow for the development of future energy and industrial resource projects. Construction is set to begin shortly, with completion scheduled for 2013.

Blackspring Ridge 1 Wind Project

admin — Sat, 31 Dec 2011 17:32:54 +0000

$550 million

2012 Rank: 55

2011 Rank: New

Sector: Wind

Location: Vulcan County, near the Village of Carmangay, Alberta

Owner:

Key Players: Supplier: Vestas Canada (turbines); Other: Stantec (EA)

Funding: Private

Status: Under construction, with expected completion in 2013.

Description:

This 300 MW, 166 turbine, wind energy project is expected to be the largest wind farm in Canada. It’s construction ready, with completion expected in 2013. Greengate Power received approval from the Alberta Utilities Commission in March 2011. A companion project, the 300 MW Blackspring Ridge II Wind Project, is in an earlier stage of development. Greengate Power also has a contract with Pacific Gas & Electric in California to supply it with renewable energy credits. Each MW of energy produced is the equivalent of a renewable energy credit and allows Pacific Gas & Electric to fulfill its regulatory obligation to purchase 20 per cent of its power from renewable energy sources.

K2 Wind Project

admin — Sat, 31 Dec 2011 16:41:56 +0000

$900 million

2012 Rank: 33

2011 Rank: New

Sector: Wind

Location: Township of Ashfield-Colborne-Wawanosh, Ontario

Owner: Capital Power LP, and Samsung Renewable Energy Inc. and Pattern Renewable Holdings Canada ULC

Key Players:

Contractor: Samsung (engineering, procurement, construction)

Funding: Private

Status: Commercial operation is expected to begin in 2014

Description:

The project, formerly known as the Kingsbridge II Wind Power Project, has a 20-year Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) from Ontario Power Authority under the Feed-in Tariff program. Commercial operation is expected to begin in 2014 on the 270 MW wind energy facility. The three partners share equal stakes in the project and Capital Power will manage the project lease agreements and development work completed prior to the partnership agreement. Samsung and Pattern are responsible for contributing the PPA and transmission access rights. This is presumably being undertaken through Samsung’s Green Energy Investment Agreement with the government of Ontario. Capital Power will remain in charge of managing the Renewable Energy Approval process for the remainder of the project.

Deep Geological Repository

admin — Sat, 31 Dec 2011 16:37:56 +0000

$1 billion

2012 Rank: 29

2011 Rank: New

Sector: Nuclear

Location: Kincardine, Ontario

Owner: Ontario Power Generation

Other: Golder Associates

Funding: Public

Status: Seeking a license to construct in 2012.

Description:

OPG is building this underground storage facility to house low and intermediate level waste. Low-level waste consists of material that may be contaminated through the normal course of operations at a nuclear facility and includes paper towels, mops, and used tools. While low-level waste does not require specialized shielding for workers, the intermediate was will require special handling and it can consist of items such as irradiated core components, ion exchange resins and various filters. The Environmental Impact Statement has been completed, and OPG will be seeking a license to construct in 2012.

Boundary Dam Integrated CCS demonstration project

admin — Sat, 31 Dec 2011 16:31:47 +0000

$1.24 billion

2012 Rank: 28

2011 Rank: New

Sector: CCS

Location: Estevan, Saskachewan

Owner: SaskPower

Key Players:

Engineer: SNC-Lavalin (engineering, procurement, construction);

Contractor: Stantec (design, construction);

Supplier: Cansolv, wholly owned subsidiary of Shell Global Solutions (carbon capture process); Hitachi (steam turbine)

Funding: Public/Private

Status: Under construction, with expected completion in 2015.

Description:

The Boundary Dam Integrated CCS Demonstration Project will refurbish Unit 3 at the Boundary Dam coal power station. The refurbishment includes the world’s largest CCS project that will utilize carbon capture for enhanced oil recovery. The project has the potential to capture an estimated 3 million tonnes of CO2 annually.

HR Milner Coal Plant Expansion

admin — Sat, 31 Dec 2011 16:29:32 +0000

$1,5 billion

2012 Rank: 19

2011 Rank: New

Sector: Coal

Location: Grande Cache, Alberta

Owner: Maxim Power

Funding: Private

Status: Under construction, with expected completion in 2015.

Description:

In August 2011 Maxim Power received approval from the Alberta Utilities Commission to expand the existing 150 MW Milner Power plant to a 500 MW power plant. Construction is expected to start in the summer of 2012 and continue until 2015. According to Maxim, the facility will include an advanced emissions control system designed to meet provincial air quality guidelines. However, environmental organizations have criticized this project, as well as the Alberta Utilities Commission for allowing this project to proceed. New federal coal plant regulations that make either CCS or emissions limits no higher than a high-efficiency natural gas plant mandatory come into effect in 2015. The approval of this project has raised questions about whether it has been fast tracked to avoid compliance with the incoming regulations.