Brandon Generating Station

Brandon Generating Station
Natural-gas fired combustion turbine building at Brandon GS
Map
CountryCanada
LocationBrandon, Manitoba
Coordinates49°50′43″N 99°53′21″W / 49.84528°N 99.88917°W / 49.84528; -99.88917
StatusOperational
Commission date1958
OwnerManitoba Hydro
Thermal power station
Primary fuelNatural gas
Turbine technologySteam turbine Gas turbine
Power generation
Nameplate capacity340 MW

Brandon Generating Station is a natural gas-fired power station owned by Manitoba Hydro, located in Brandon, Manitoba, Canada. The station was first built to burn lignite from Saskatchewan.

On 1 January 2010, Unit 5, the sole coal-fired unit, was downgraded to emergency use only, per section 16 of the Manitoba Climate Change and Emissions Reductions Act.[1][2] Unit 5 was permitted to operate as a generator only under certain circumstances:[3]

  • To prevent a situation which would lead to a disruption or destabilization of the power supply.
  • In drought years where demand exceeds forecasted supply.
  • To maintain the generator in a state of readiness and availability.

The last allowance required Unit 5 to operate for 3–4 days each month at 10–15% of maximum capacity.[2] Unit 5 stopped burning coal on August 1, 2018, and was converted to a synchronous condenser.[4]

Description

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The station consists of:[5][6]

  • 4 x 33 MW units (In 1996 three units were retired, and the last retired in 2001)
  • 1 x 105 MW coal-fired unit. (Added in 1970, and Converted to Synchronous Condenser operation in 2018)
  • 2 x 140 MW Alstom natural gas units (installed in 2002).

References

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  1. ^ "Manitoba Climate Change and Emissions Reductions Act". Archived from the original on 2011-11-23. Retrieved 2011-06-15.
  2. ^ a b "Brandon Generating Station – Unit 5 Environmental Impact Statement Volume 5 – Amendments to Manitoba Hydro's Environment Act Licence Review Submission" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-08-18. Retrieved 2011-06-15.
  3. ^ Coal-Fired Emergency Operations Regulation "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2012-03-18. Retrieved 2011-06-15.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  4. ^ Abigail Turner, "Manitoba no longer using coal for power," Global News, January 9, 2019
  5. ^ "Plant Description". Archived from the original on 2012-12-05. Retrieved 2010-03-28.
  6. ^ "Generating Stations". Retrieved 16 February 2023.