Atikokan Generating Station
CountryCanada
LocationAtikokan, Ontario
Coordinates48°50′17″N 91°34′15″W / 48.83806°N 91.57083°W / 48.83806; -91.57083
StatusOperational
Commission date1985 (1985) (coal-fired)
2014 (biomass-fired)
Owner(s)Ontario Power Generation
Thermal power station
Primary fuelWood biomass (2014)
Turbine technologySteam turbine
Power generation
Nameplate capacity205 MW

Atikokan Generating Station is a biomass power plant owned by Ontario Power Generation (OPG) located 8 km (5 mi) north of Atikokan, Ontario (190 km (118 mi) west of Thunder Bay). The plant employs 90 people. The Atikokan Generating Station began operation as a coal fired station in 1985 and underwent an overhaul in the autumn of 2003.

Until 2012, it had one coal fueled generating unit with low nitrogen oxide (NOx) burners, providing a peak output of 230 MW fuelled by low-sulfur lignite coal from the Ravenscrag Formation in Southern Saskatchewan.[1]

In late 2012, the facility powered down and underwent renovations, due to the Ontario government's initiative to eliminate all coal-fired electricity generation.[2] It is the first generating station to be converted by OPG to be fueled by biomass,[3] and is North America's largest purely biomass-fueled power plant.[4] The conversion came at a cost of C$200 million, and the plant was re-opened on 10 September 2014.[4][5][6]

Annual production at the plant is approximately 900 million kilowatt-hours (kWh), enough energy to supply approximately 70,000 households for one year. The station occupies an area of 300 ha (741 acres). The plant's chimney is 145 m (476 ft) tall, and the steam temperature is 538 °C (1,000 °F). This plant is connected to the provincial power grid via several 230,000-volt transmission lines.

Emissions

Greenhouse Gases (2012)[7]
Greenhouse gas Sum (tonnes) Sum (tonnes CO2e*)
CO2 46,68446,684
CH4 1.2226
N2O 0.92286
Total -46,996

*Calculated figures for CO2e are rounded to the nearest tonne.

Total emissions, 2004-2020[7]
Year Emissions (tonnes CO2e)
2004 1,181,122
2005 1,108,437
2006 851,094
2007 754,148
2008 413,639
2009 200,393
2010 501,830
2011 78,078
2012 46,996
2013 0
2014 0
2015 48,070
2016 29,219
2017 18,138
2018 19,645
2019 17,022
2020 17,104

See also

References

  1. ↑ Saskatchewan Energy and Mines (December 1994). "Coal in Saskatchewan" (PDF). Saskatchewan Publications Centre. p. 27. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2016-12-18. Retrieved October 18, 2019.
  2. ↑ Montgomery, James. Sneak Peek: Inside The Atikokan Biomass Plant Conversion. Renewable Energy World. 2013-09-12.
  3. ↑ "Ontario coal-fired power plant to switch to biomass", CBC News, January 21, 2009. Retrieved January 21, 2009.
  4. 1 2 "Ensuring a future of renewable energy for the people of Northwestern Ontario". Archived from the original on 2014-04-17. Retrieved 2014-04-18.
  5. ↑ http://www.ediweekly.com/largest-biomass-power-plant-na-set-open-atikokan/
  6. ↑ "$200M conversion coming for Atitkokan coal plant", CBC News, July 19, 2012. Retrieved July 19, 2012.
  7. 1 2 "Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program data search - Canada.ca".
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