The Clover Bar Energy Centre is located on the east side of the North Saskatchewan River, north of the Beverly Bridge, the facility can provide 243.4 megawatts (MW) of electricity using three natural-gas fired turbines. The power generated by these units will be
sold on the open Alberta market.

The energy centre is at the same location as the former Clover Bar Generating Station, which was originally built in response to the growing demand for electricity during the 1960s and 1970s. The original plant had four units, each with the capacity to
generate 165 MW for a total capacity of 660 MW. These four units were decommissioned in 2005.

In 2007, decommissioning of the old plant was completed, and construction on the first unit of the new Clover Bar Energy Centre was started. The new units offer greater flexibility and response times in reacting to meet Alberta’s growing demand for electricity, while at the same time reducing emissions.

Turbines (natural gas)

• General Electric LM6000, 43.4 MW, entered service in March 2008
• General Electric LMS100, 100 MW, entered service in September 2009
• General Electric LMS100, 100 MW, entered service in December 2009

Based on the General Electric CF6 jet engine, the core of the units is a jet engine coupled to a generator. The LM6000 was first introduced as a product in 1991, and as a fleet has logged over 18 million operating hours. The LMS100 is the next generation engine, which takes the LM6000 and supercharges it for increased output. Since its introduction as a product in 2006, the LMS100 fleet has logged around 25,000 operating hours.

Each unit can power up from standstill to full load in 10 minutes, giving Capital Power the flexibility to respond to sudden changes in supply and demand. An LMS100 at full capacity (producing 100 MW), will produce enough electricity to power 100,000 homes based on average consumption for Alberta.

The new natural gas, high-efficiency units use 85% less water per megawatt hour (MWh) than the four turbines in the old Clover Bar Generation Station. Combined, the new turbines will also produce about 70% less nitrogen oxides per MWh of electricity generated at full capacity, compared to the previous plant.