Facts:

Main developer: SaskPower

This $1.24-billion integrated ‘clean coal’ demonstration project in Saskatchewan, Canada, aims to retrofit a carbon capture system at SaskPower's coal-fired Boundary Dam Power Station, near Estevan, and integrate it with enhanced oil recovery operations. It will be among the first commercial-scale projects in the world combining CCS with power generation.

The provincial government approved the proposals in April 2011 and made a final investment decision, clearing the way for construction to begin immediately, with a target start-up date of 2014.

The retrofitted capture plant will capture 1 million tonnes per year of CO2 from one of Boundary Dam’s aging combustion units, which has a generating capacity of around 120MW. The captured CO2 would be sequestered in deep saline aquifers, and the venture is actively seeking EOR customers. The total amount of CO2 produced, for all generating units at Boundary Dam Power station, is 5.5 to 6 million tonnes annually. 

The venture is a partnership between the Canadian government, the province of Saskatchewan and facility owner SaskPower, as well as private sector partners. Saskatchewan has a 300-year supply of coal and is keen to fast-track the development of clean coal technologies.

In July 2011, SaskPower placed a $30 million contract with Stantec for engineering consultancy during the design and construction of the system. The engineering firm has established its Clean Coal Centre of Excellence in nearby Regina as a result of its involvement in the project.

SNC Lavalin-Cansolv was selected in March 2010 to oversee EPC activities and supply the carbon capture process design. Hitachi will supply a state-of-the-art steam turbine designed to integrate a coal-fired power plant with carbon capture technology.

In late 2010, SaskPower gave a clear commitment to the project with its decision to rebuild the Unit 3 boiler at Boundary Dam. In January 2011, Babcock & Wilcox were contracted to carry out the work, which will extend its lifespan by 30 years and, importantly, ensure it can operate with the planned state-of-the-art carbon capture system.

A $5.2 million, pre-commercial-scale chemical absorption technology demonstration pilot plant has already been operating at Boundary Dam as part of the International Test Centre for CO2 Capture. Part-funding of $1.2 million came from the Canada/Saskatchewan Western Economic Partnership Agreement.

Carbon Capture Test Facility

SaskPower and Hitachi teamed up in March 2012 to construct a $60 million carbon capture test facility at SaskPower’s Shand Power Station in southeastern Saskatchewan. Each is to contribute about $30 million to the facility, with SaskPower acting as owner/operator. Construction will begin in late 2012 or early 2013, with a scheduled completion date of summer 2014. Hitachi’s proprietary amine technology will be the first technology tested there, and SaskPower also aims to evaluate a number of current and new carbon capture technologies.

Financing

The Canadian government has invested $240 million in the $1.24 billion demonstration project, with the remainder coming from the provincial government - which made a final investment decision in April 2011.

Timing

Construction on the project began in April 2011, and operations are expected to begin in 2014. As of early March 2012, the capture plant was 40% complete. of the CCS test facility will begin in late 2012 or early 2013, with a scheduled completion date of summer 2014.

More information and press releases

Hitachi and SaskPower to develop test facility, SaskPower PR, 20 March 2012

Stantec's centre of excellence, Vancouver Sun, 19 July 2011

SaskPower press release, 13 July 2011

Government of Saskatchewan press release, 26 April 2011

SaskPower press release, 14 January 2011

SaskPower invests in Boundary Dam, 10 December 2010

Saskatchewan Government press release, 3 March 2010

Saskpower project information sheet

Storage:

Captured CO2 from the Boundary Dam facility will be stored just two kilometres away as part of the Petroleum Research Centre's (PTCR) Aquistore project - which aims to demonstrate safe long-term storage of CO2, three kilometres underground in a saline reservoir. Aquistore builds on knowledge developed through PTRC’s ten-year management of the IEA GHG Weyburn-Midale CO2 Monitoring and Storage Project. SaskPower also hopes to provide CO2 volumes for use in EOR projects.

Companies involved

Homepage:

http://www.saskpower.com/sustainable_gro

News about Boundary Dam integrated CCS project