Sundance Power Station
Sundance Power Station is a gas fired station owned by TransAlta Corp., located 70 km west of Edmonton, Alberta, Canada on Lake Wabamun. It comprised six units ; both 280 MW units were taken out of service in mid-December 2010 and determined to be beyond economic repair. A legal battle between the owner of the PPA ensued, which forced the two units to come back on line after replacement of the two boiler units. As of Dec 2013 both units had returned to production.
Units 1 and 2 operated under a 100% power purchase agreement with Alberta, known as 'Sundance A'. In August 2000 TransCanada purchased the rights to the production from Sundance A and B. Coal for the station was sourced from the TransAlta Highvale Coal Mine that is adjacent to the power station.
Description
The Sundance Power Station consists of six units, of which four were upgraded during the 2001-2012 period. Several units went through upgrades in 2009.Unit Commissioning dates consist of:
- Unit 1, 280 MW – 1970 ;
- Unit 2, 280 MW – 1973 ;
- Unit 3, 368 MW – 1976 ;
- Unit 4, 406 MW – 1977 ;
- Unit 5, 406 MW – 1978 ;
- Unit 6, 401 MW – 1980 ;
The plant features three large smokestacks each approximately 156 m in height.
Unit 3 has been mothballed, and was retired in 2020.
Unit 4 will be retired April 1, 2022.