Highlights of Alberta's Generation Sector February Edition

TransAlta announced that it has completed the full conversion of Sundance U6 to natural gas, the first of three planned coal-to-gas conversions. Keephills U2 is scheduled to be converted by June, followed by Keephills U3 by mid-December, 2021.

• Aura Power Renewables Ltd. submitted a request (AUC Proceeding 26274) to delay the completion of its 39 MW Empress Solar Power Plant until December 2021. The County of Cypress project had originally been approved in October of 2019 (AUC Decision 23580-D01-2019) and was anticipated to be complete by July 1, 2021.

• The AESO is hosting a virtual Energy Storage Stakeholder Engagement Session on February 24, 2021 to share progress on integration activities, provide an update on related initiatives, and to provide an opportunity for Q&A from stakeholders.

• BowArk Energy Ltd. has submitted a request (AUC Proceeding 26280) for an interim time extension until November 30, 2021 to allow it to file future amendments to its 34 MW Drywood Generating Power Plan Addition. The Project was first approved (AUC Decision 24551-D03-2019) in Oct 2019 for completion in Q4 2020.

• The AESO is hosting a Distributed Energy Resources Engagement Session on February 23, 2021 to provide stakeholders with its DER roadmap update and to review the draft recommendations presented in its DER Long-term Markets Participation Recommendation Paper, to be issued on February 17, 2021.

• Heartland Generation Ltd., on behalf of its affiliate Alberta Power (2000) Ltd. applied (AUC Proceeding 26288) to convert its 150 MW Battle River U4 to burn both coal and natural gas. Battle River U4 can currently use natural gas to supplement its coal-firing up to 75 MW. Following the conversion, Battle River U4 will be able to fire between 70-100% natural gas.

• The AESO issued a letter to stakeholders clarifying potential implications of analysis it shared September 24, 2020 on Bulk and Regional Tariff Rate Design.