Project OVERVIEW
TransCanada has recently completed a feasibility review of a gasification-based, polygeneration facility near Belle Plaine, Saskatchewan, located about 50 kilometres west of Regina and 30 kilometres east of Moose Jaw.
The proposed facility would enable TransCanada to use an abundant fossil fuel, petroleum coke, to generate electricity and a host of other energy by-products for use at nearby industrial facilities. With gasification, much needed energy is created, by-products are used, and air emissions are reduced. The facility would be constructed near existing industrial facilities near Belle Plaine.
The feasibility review confirmed that the proposed site offers the right location, infrastructure and customer characteristics to make a development like this possible. It is one of the few sites in North America that could support the development and operation of a complex polygeneration facility.
TIMELINE & STATUS
Projects are subject to various internal and external approvals. Timelines are subject to change without notice.
- Stakeholder consultation: ongoing
- Environmental impact assessment: spring and summer 2008
- On April 23, 2008, TransCanada submitted to Saskatchewan Environment – Environmental Assessment Branch, a Project Description
- Engineering – through 2008 through late 2009
- Proposed begins: 2013
ENVIRONMENTAL CONSIDERATIONS
Through the gasification process known as polygeneration, an abundant fossil fuel –petroleum coke – is used to generate multiple energy products, including electricity, hydrogen, carbon dioxide and steam, all with very low air emissions.
The facility would generate approximately 300 megawatts of clean electricity for Saskatchewan, enough to power approximately 300,000 homes. As the proposed facility is adjacent to two large, existing industrial fertilizer operations, they will use the hydrogen, steam and carbon dioxide for their operations. Additional carbon dioxide would be sent to nearby oil fields and injected deep underground for enhanced oil recovery. This process enables previously unrecoverable oil resources to be produced, while the carbon dioxide is permanently stored.
PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT
As the proposed facility site is located within an existing industrial area and removed from large population centres, TransCanada does not anticipate any significant impact to the surrounding communities; however, we are committed to identifying and working with the local communities at every phase of the project, including planning, construction and operation.
TransCanada will host community open houses in early 2008 to share information about the proposed project with interested stakeholders. In late 2008, we will hold a second series of open houses to share details and receive further stakeholder input on the Environmental Impact Assessment we are conducting related to this proposed facility.
CONTACTS
Project e-mail:
belleplaine@transcanada.com
Media inquiries
1.800.608.7859
Project inquiries
1.877.444.8414
Mailing address
TransCanada
P.O. Box 1000
450 – 1st Street SW
Calgary, Alberta
T2P 5H1
Attn: Belle Plaine Project
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