Genesee Station Overview
Located west of Edmonton near Warburg, AB, the Genesee Generating Station consists of 3 power generation units which provide over 1,300 MW of baseload generation. Genesee 1 & 2 and Genesee 3 are undergoing repowering and coal-to-gas transformations respectively to move off-coal in 2023.
Commissioned in 1989 (Genesee 2) and 1994 (Genesee 1), can produce 860 MW (gross) of power generation for Albertans, 400 MW net each that Capital Power sells on Alberta’s wholesale electricity market.
Quick Facts
- Excellent operating history and high availability
- Units regularly run at or near full production capacity
Repowering of Genesee 1 & 2
We’re repowering Genesee 1 & 2 to natural gas combined cycle (NGCC) generation units, subject to regulatory approval. Located entirely within the footprint of the existing Genesee Generating Station, the repowering project involves installing new gas-fired combustion turbines and heat recovery steam generators, while utilizing the existing steam turbine generators. The two repowered units will provide an additional 538 megawatts of net capacity totalling 1,338 MW. The repowered assets will utilize best-in-class, hydrogen-ready NGCC technology and are expected to set a new standard for gas generation efficiency in Canada.
There are significant environmental benefits expected from the project, including reduction in emissions associated with coal-fired power generation such as carbon dioxide (CO2), sulfur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen oxide (NOx), particulate and mercury emissions. For example, the carbon emissions intensity of using natural gas as a fuel source will decrease CO2 by approximately 60% when compared to emissions when the units are running on coal. In addition, overall water usage for the repowered units will be reduced with the new technology by at least half.
The project also includes 210 MW of battery storage to allow the repowered units to operate up to their baseload capacity in accordance with the AESO most severe single contingency (or MSSC) limit.
Approval for the project is required from Alberta Environment and Parks (AEP) and the Alberta Utilities Commission (AUC). Capital Power submitted its regulatory applications in late 2020 and received approval from the AUC on March 16, 2021 and AEP on May 18, 2021. Based on the NGCC repowering project schedule, Genesee 1 would become a dedicated NGCC unit in 2023; Genesee 2 would become a dedicated NGCC unit by 2024. Genesee 1 & 2 will be converted to run in simple cycle mode before the expected completion of the repowering of each unit.
For more information, read our project information package below.
Genesee Battery Energy Storage System
We’re developing a battery energy storage system (“BESS”) at the Genesee Generating Station to ensure capacity from the repowered Genesee 1 and 2 units will be available to serve Alberta in circumstances when it might otherwise be constrained due to current transmission system restrictions. Pending regulatory approval, the BESS will be used to store, and later deploy, up to 210 MW of energy, using lithium-ion batteries. The project will employ best-in-class battery storage technology and be amongst the first large-scale storage projects in Alberta.
Located entirely within the existing footprint of the Genesee Generating Station, the BESS will create no air emissions and will not require additional water supply during the electricity storage and deployment processes. The technology being assessed for the project will be compliant with applicable safety codes and standards. Capital Power will be applying to the Alberta Utilities Commission (“AUC”) for approval to construct and operate the BESS.
For more information, read our project information package below.
Stakeholder Engagement
Community input is important. Please reach out to us anytime with your questions or comments about the project by:
Telephone: 1-855-703-5005
Email: [email protected]
Mail: Genesee Repowering Project C/O Stakeholder Engagement
C/O Stakeholder Engagement
Capital Power
10th Floor EPCOR Tower
10423 101 Street NW
Edmonton, AB T5H 0E9
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Genesee Generating Station consists of some of Alberta’s youngest and most efficient thermal generation units. This reliable facility supports the Alberta energy market with baseload power supply and contributes to the economic well-being of the community it operates in. Repowering to best-in-class natural gas units will reduce emissions by 3.4 million tonnes per year and continue to deliver responsible energy for our future.
Sean Furey
VP, Solid Fuels
Site Contact
Phone: 1-780-848-8300
Email: [email protected]