Via SaskPower release

As part of its continued efforts to provide reliable, cost-effective power to customers, SaskPower will add two new natural gas turbines to its generation fleet. One simple cycle gas turbine will be added to Ermine Power Station, located near Kerrobert. Another one will will be added to the Yellowhead Power Station, located near North Battleford. Each of the turbines will generate 46 megawatts, enough to power approximately 46,000 homes.

“Adding turbines to existing power stations is the fastest and most costeffective option to increase the amount of baseload power available in the province," said Tim Eckel, SaskPower Vice-President of Asset Management, Planning & Sustainability. “This power will also support intermittent renewable generation options such as wind and solar.”

SaskPower has shortlisted Burns & McDonnell and Graham – Black & Veatch as potential build partners for the project. The competitive selection process is expected to be complete in late September 2022. The new turbines at Ermine and Yellowhead will be in-service by late 2024 and late 2025, respectively.

SaskPower is currently on track to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by at least 50 per cent from 2005 levels by 2030, and is working toward achieving net-zero emissions by 2050. To meet this goal, SaskPower is evaluating and/or developing a comprehensive range of non-emitting power supply options, including expanded wind and solar, strengthening electrical interconnections with neighbouring jurisdictions, biomass, geothermal, and nuclear power from Small Modular Reactors.

Natural gas generation is an important part of a staged approach that will help to transition toward these nonemitting options and replace capacity from conventional coal facilities that must be retired by 2030. Natural gas generation is reliable and cost-effective, and produces approximately half the emissions of conventional coal.