PROJECT

Chinook Power Station

Southwest Saskatchewan is home to the new 353-megawatt natural gas-fired Chinook Power Station. The combined-cycle plant is not only instrumental in meeting the growing demand for power, but also in providing cleaner energy for the surrounding area.

Due to the area’s rugged winters, off-site prefabrication was crucial to the project delivery approach, and helped maintain a timely project schedule.

Regulations in Saskatchewan are phasing out conventional coal-fired generation and requiring the integration of intermittent renewables. SaskPower, the province’s sole energy provider, sought to provide cleaner energy to the surrounding area.

Our team provided comprehensive EPC services for the new power facility. The project engaged Saskatchewan skilled trade workers, who comprised 44% of the on-site workforce. Off-site prefabrication offered many benefits, allowing on-time and on-budget project completion. To address winter conditions, large portions of the natural gas facility were built off-site in a controlled environment before being transferred to the main construction site. Everything from air-cooled condenser modules and pipe racks to electrical enclosures and other equipment were all built off-site.

Client

SaskPower

Location

Swift Current, Saskatchewan, Canada

Services

Commissioning (Cx)

Construction

Natural Gas Generation

Industry

Power

The facility has a Siemens SGT6-5000F gas turbine, a heat recovery steam generator (HRSG) and a Siemens SST6-900 steam turbine to boost power output and maximize energy efficiency while reducing the overall emissions footprint. A highly efficient combined-cycle operation utilizes exhaust heat that would otherwise be lost in a simple-cycle configuration. The hot exhaust from the initial cycle is captured to boil water into steam in the HRSG to spin an additional generator, producing more power. The plant also uses advanced air cooling, making it more water-efficient than traditional combined-cycle designs.

The facility is now a key component of SaskPower’s commitment to support Saskatchewan’s growing electricity needs. It provides highly efficient baseload power that is cost-effective and generates fewer carbon emissions than coal. This baseload power supports the intermittent renewable power, such as wind and solar. The power station generates enough electricity to meet the growing demand for power in the area, providing power for at least 350,000 homes. It supports the electric utility’s goal of a 40% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030, exceeding the national target of a 30% reduction.

This new facility will be an integral part of the power generation mix as SaskPower works to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. In addition, the power station’s advanced gas turbine is a critical base supply for the province when environmental barriers hinder renewable power generation.

Project Highlights & Features

$143 million local and aboriginal contractor procurement (Canadian dollars)

40% greenhouse gas reduction goal supported

2 million+ on-site hours worked

Greenfield project

Siemens SGT6-5000F gas turbine generator

CMI triple-pressure HRSG

Siemens SST6-900 steam turbine generator

Fully enclosed power generation building

Air-cooled condenser

Process water for steam cycle generated in on-site water treatment plant

Plant wastewaters routed to on-site evaporation pond