Manitoba Opens Natural Gas-Fuelled Plant

Built over two years at a cost of $177 million, the new plant will help Manitoba Hydro maximize export revenues while strengthening the security of the electricity system in southern Manitoba.

“These two natural gas-fuelled turbines will allow Manitoba Hydro to back up export sales of hydroelectricity during periods of low water flows,” said Doer. “With this additional support, Manitoba Hydro can sell electricity further in advance on the more lucrative long-term export market, helping to bolster the revenues that ensure Manitoba enjoys the lowest electricity rates anywhere.”

Minister Tim Sale, Minister of Energy, Science and Technology and minister responsible for Hydro, noted that using natural gas to power combustion turbines is considered one of the cleanest sources of thermally generated electricity.

“The completion of these turbines adds another environmentally friendly source to Manitoba Hydro’s system,” said Sale. “Viewed with the conversion of the Selkirk Generating Station from coal to natural gas and Manitoba Hydro’s recent commitment to investigate wind power resources, this plant illustrates why Manitoba Hydro is a leader in providing some of the cleanest energy in the world.”

“To ensure reliability and cost-effectiveness, Manitoba Hydro is always evaluating resource options,” said Manitoba Hydro President and CEO, Bob Brennan. “With low emissions, relatively low capital cost and short construction time, natural gas turbines are a natural fit for our hydraulic system where we periodically experience low flows.”

Brennan also noted that the new 260-megawatt plant would run only occasionally, such as when water flows are extremely low, because Manitoba Hydro has a surplus of hydraulic energy available most of the time.

Work on Brandon combustion turbine created 187.5 person years of employment in Brandon during the two-year construction process.