Sarnia

TransAlta’s Sarnia Regional Cogeneration Plant was commissioned in 2003 when a new power island facility was integrated with two existing steam and power plants. Combined, the Sarnia plant has three Alstom 11N2 gas turbines, each capable of generating between 102 and 118 megawatts, two condensing steam turbines that can produce 120 megawatts, and back-pressure steam turbines capable of generating 56 megawatts. The plant also incorporates a fired boiler, river water pump houses, and water treatment plants.

The plant has long term contracts to supply steam and electricity to ArLanxeo, Styrolution, Suncor Energy and Nova with the remainder of the generation being sold into the Ontario market via the Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO).

The plant is located on the south part of a 268-acre parcel of land owned by TransAlta. The site is being developed as a full service industrial park with access to the St. Clair River and the CSX rail system.

Environmental Highlights

The Sarnia plant is a cogeneration facility, meaning electricity and steam are produced simultaneously from a single energy source – in this case, natural gas. Natural gas turbines generate electricity and heat which, in turn, produces steam. The steam can then be used for industrial processes or to generate additional electricity through a steam turbine. This increases a plant’ s efficiency.