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{{Show badges| CoalSwarm}}'''Alberta Sundance''' is a coal-fired power station owned and operated by [[TransAlta]] in Alberta, Canada. Unit 1 was retired in 2018, Unit 2 was first mothballed and then retired in 2018, and the remaining power station is planned for conversion Moved to gas-burning in 2021-2023. ==Location==The undated satellite photo below shows the plant, located 70 kilometers west of Edmonton, Alberta on the south shore of Wabamun Lake. {{#display_map:53.5072, -114.5567|width=600|height=600|type=hybrid|zoom=16GEM}} ==Background==The facility is the largest coal-fired electrical generating facility in western Canada, with a total of six generating units:<ref name=trans>[http://www.transalta.com/facilities/plants-operation/sundance "Sundance"] TransAlta Company Website, accessed April 30, 2010.</ref> *Unit 1 - 280 MW - 1970 (retired 2018); *Unit 2 - 280 MW - 1973 (retired 2018); *Unit 3 - 380 MW - 1976;(mothballed 2018);*Unit 4 - 380 MW - 1976;*Unit 5 - 380 MW - 1977; (mothballed 2018);*Unit 6 - 433 MW - 1980. ==Retirement==In February 2011, [[TransAlta]] said it will be closing operations at two of the Sundance coal-fired units because repairs would be too costly. The Sundance 1 and 2 units have been down since December 2010. The units comprise 560 MW of the 2,126 MW Sundance power plant, which operates as a baseload facility for the Alberta electricity system.<ref name=pg>[http://www.powergenworldwide.com/index/display/articledisplay/0066857725/articles/powergenworldwide/coal-generation/o-and-m/2011/02/Transalta.html "TransAlta issues notice of termination for Sundance units"] Power-Gen, Feb. 10, 2011.</ref> The closing of the units could cost consumers more than $200 million in unrealized refunds through Alberta’s Balancing Pool. The agency that oversees power purchase agreements would have to pay that amount to TransAlta as net book value of the plants and to [[TransCanada]] as partial payment on the remainder of its contract. TransCanada holds the Sundance units' power purchase agreement and expects reimbursement.<ref name=pg/> In 2011 TransAlta brought units 1-2 back online because it was demanded under the company’s PPA agreement with TransCanada.<ref>[http://www.pembina.org/media-release/economics-lead-to-early-coal-shutdowns-improved-possibilities-for-health-and-jobs "Economics lead to early coal shutdowns, improved possibilities for health and jobs,"] Pembina Institute, April 20, 2017</ref> In April 2017 TransAlta said it plans to retire Sundance Units 1-2 effective January 1, 2018, but the utility is seeking approval to have unit 2 on reserve between 2019 and 2021. Additionally, TransAlta plans conversion of Sundance Units 3 to 6 from coal-fired generation to gas-fired generation in the 2021 to 2023 timeframe, for use until the mid-2030s.<ref>[http://www.transalta.com/newsroom/news-releases/transalta-board-approves-plan-for-accelerating-transition-to-clean-power-in-alberta/ "TransAlta Board Approves Plan for Accelerating Transition to Clean Power in Alberta,"] TransAlta, Apr 19, 2017</ref> In December 2017 TransAlta announced that Unit 3 and Unit 6 would be mothballed until 2020 due to low demand for electricity. The two units then mothballed were actually Unit 3 and Unit 5.<ref>[https://www.transalta.com/newsroom/news-releases/transalta-announces-accelerated-transition-clean-energy/ TransAlta Announces Accelerated Transition to Clean Energy], TransAlta, Dec. 6, 2017</ref> [[TransAlta]] retired Sundance Unit 1 effective January 1, 2018, and mothballed Sundance Unit 2 effective January 1, 2018, for a period of up to 2 years.<ref>[https://www.aeso.ca/market/market-updates/status-of-sundance-unit-1-sd1-and-sundance-unit-2-sd2-effective-january-1-2018/ "Status of Sundance Unit 1 (SD1) and Sundance Unit 2 (SD2) effective January 1, 2018,"] AESO, Jan 1, 2018</ref> An October 31, 2018 TransAta press release states that in the third quarter of 2018 the company "Retired the previously mothballed Sundance Unit 2 due to its relatively short useful life, small size relative to other units, and the capital required to return the unit to service."<ref>[https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/transalta-reports-third-quarter-2018-results-300740851.html "TransAlta Reports Third Quarter 2018 Results,"] PR Newswire, Oct 31, 2018</ref> In March 2019 TransAlta received approval from the Alberta Electric System Operator to continue mothballing Unit 3 and Unit 5 until November 2021, an extension of 18 months.<ref>[https://www.spglobal.com/marketintelligence/en/news-insights/trending/qLIVuzXq1EgxswZst4roqw2 TransAlta to extend mothballing of Sundance coal-fired units], S&P Platts Global, Mar. 11, 2019</ref> ==Coal supply==TransAlta's [[Highvale coal mine]] supplies Sundance with coal.<ref>[http://www.transalta.com/facilities/mines-operation/highvale-mine "Highvale"] TransAlta Mine Page, accessed May 5, 2010.</ref> ==Plant Data==*'''Owner''': TransAlta Centralia Generation LLC*'''Parent Company''': [[TransAlta]]*'''Plant Nameplate Capacity''': 2,133 MW (Units 1-2: 280 MW, Units 3-5: 380 MW, Unit 6: 433 MW)*'''Status:''' Units 1-2: Retired; Unit 3: Mothballed; Unit 4: Operating; Unit 5: Mothballed; Unit 6: Mothballed*'''Start year''': 1970-1980*'''Location''': Wabamun, AB*'''GPS Coordinates''': *'''Coal Consumption''':*'''Coal Source''': TransAlta's [[Highvale coal mine]] *'''Number of Employees''': ==Articles and Resources=====Sources===<references/> ===Related SourceWatch Articles===*[[Existing coal plants in Canada]]*[[Existing U.S. Coal Plants]]*[[Washington (state) and coal]]*[[TransAlta]]*[[Highvale coal mine]]*[[Canada and coal]]*[[Global warming]] ===External Articles===*Phuong Le, [http://www.seattlepi.com/local/6420ap_wa_transalta_centralia.html "Wash. says deal will cut pollution at coal plant,"] ''Seattle Post-Intelligencer,'' September 10, 2009.* Kathy Durbin, [http://www.columbian.com/news/2010/apr/25/sierra-club-organizes-effort-to-close-coal-fired-p/ "Sierra Club Organizes Effort to Close Coal Fired Plant in Centralia,"] The Columbian, April 25, 2010 [[Category:United States]][[Category:Corporations]][[Category:Environment]][[Category:Energy]][[Category:Climate change]][[Category:Existing coal plants in Canada]][[Category: Retired coal plants in Canada]]
