Capital Power has ordered two Mitsubishi Power M501JAC gas turbines to repower its Genesee Units 1 and 2 in Alberta, Canada, from coal to natural gas. With greater than 64% efficiency, the Genesee units will be the most efficient combined cycle plants in Canada. The plant will provide 1,360 megawatts (MW) of net capacity, and carbon emissions intensity will decrease by approximately 60% to a level below the Alberta Technology Innovation and Emissions Reduction (TIER) regulation benchmark.
The M501JAC gas turbines are hydrogen-capable to support future decarbonization. They will be able to operate on a mixture of natural gas and up to 30% hydrogen. The units can be converted in the future to operate on 100% hydrogen for zero carbon emissions, enhancing Capital Powers standing as among the cleanest large-scale power generators in Canada.
The repowering project timeline calls for the units to operate in natural gas simple cycle mode during construction, allowing the Genesee station to be off-coal in 2023, with expected repowering completion of Unit 1 in 2023 and Unit 2 in 2024.
Capital Power is adding roughly 260 MW of solar and wind energy with delivery between now and 2022.