SaskPower’s new combined-cycle gas plant is now generating power to the provincial grid.
The 370 megawatt (MW) Great Plains Power Station is now online near Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan. The plant is powered by Siemens Energy’s SGT6-5000F6.3 gas turbine, SGEN6-1000A generator, SST700-900 steam turbine and SGEN6-100A steam turbine generator.
Construction on the plant began in March of 2021. At the peak of construction in July 2023, there were more than 600 workers on site each day. Now up and running, the plant is operated by 25 full-time employees on site.
Burns & McDonnell was SaskPower’s engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) partner for the Great Plains project.
We reported back in May that SaskPower planned to invest in new generation as part of a $1.6 billion modernization plan during the 2024-25 fiscal year.
The $710 million in investments includes the construction of the Aspen Power Station Project and the Ermine and Yellowhead expansions.
The Aspen Power Project will be a 370 MW natural gas combined-cycle (NGCC) plant. The project is expected to come online by Spring 2028. Burns & McDonnell was also announced as the EPC.
SaskPower is adding a simple cycle natural gas turbine to the Ermine Power Station. This will be the facility’s third turbine and will produce an additional 46 MW of power. It is expected to be in-service in May 2025.
The utility is also adding 46 MW at the Yellowhead Power Station through the facility’s fourth turbine. The unit is expected to be in service in December 2025.
The $1.6 billion modernization plan also covers grid maintenance and upgrades, growth projects, smart meter deployments and more. The capital investment represents an increase of $433 million over 2023-24.
