CALGARY – TransAlta Corporation announced on Dec. 29 it has completed the last of three coal-to-gas conversions at its Alberta Thermal power generation facilities near Wabamun, Alta.
The company invested $29 million in Keephills Unit 3 (KH3) along with $48 million in gas infrastructure and maintenance projects and has invested $295 million in its coal-to-gas program since 2019 including conversion of Sundance Unit 6 (Q1-2021), conversion of Keephills Unit 2 (Q3-2021), conversion of Sheerness Units 1 and 2 and construction of new high-volume gas delivery infrastructure.
“The full conversion of Keephills Unit 3 from thermal coal to natural gas is a significant milestone for TransAlta in its transition off coal. We are pleased to have completed this important step, nine years ahead of the government target. Our coal transition is among the most meaningful carbon emissions reduction achievements in Canadian history,” TransAlta president and CEO John Kousinioris said.
The converted units generate nearly 50 per cent fewer CO2 emissions fuelled by natural gas compared to coal, a TransAlta release said, adding the project is a “significant achievement for TransAlta towards its target to reduce 60 per cent, or 19.7 million tonnes, of annual greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 over 2015 levels and achieve carbon neutrality by 2050.”
With completion of the KH3 conversion and the closure of the Highvale coal mine on Dec. 31, 2021, TransAlta’s thermal facilities in Alberta have been fully converted to natural gas operation, the release stated.
Recent Comments
comments for this post are closed