Cascade Power Plant is a 900 MW combined-cycle natural gas-fired power facility located near Edson in Alberta, Canada. Built with high-efficiency Siemens SCC6-8000H power trains, the project represents one of Canada’s most advanced gas generation facilities. The power plant was developed by Kineticor Resource Corp., with support from OPTrust, Axium Infrastructure, and DIF Capital Partners. It started commercial operation in 2024, marking a major milestone in Alberta’s energy transition toward lower-carbon generation. Combined-cycle power plants, as well as renewables, continue to take favor among other countries transitioning from carbon fuels as seen with the recent push by Singapore’s PacificLight for a hydrogen-ready CCGT plant in one of the country’s islands.
Factsheet for the Cascade Power Plant in Canada
Location: Near Edson in Alberta, Canada.
Type: Combined-cycle gas turbine (CCGT) power plant.
Installed Capacity: 900 MW
Technology: Siemens SCC6-8000H gas turbine power trains.
Developer: Kineticor Resource Corp.
Equity Partners: OPTrust, Axium Infrastructure, DIF Capital Partners
EPC Contractor: PCL Construction
Fuel Source: Natural gas
Cooling System: Air-cooled condenser to minimize water use.
Start of Construction Date: 2020
Start of Operation Date: 2024
Grid Connection: Alberta Interconnected Electric System (AIES)
Energy Generation: Power for over 900,000 homes.
Emission Reduction: Expected to cut CO2 emissions by 5 million tons annually compared to equivalent coal generation.
Project Timeline
2019: Project announced and approved under Alberta’s power generation framework.
2020: Financial close reached. Construction also commences under PCL Construction.
2021-2023: Major equipment installation, including Siemens gas turbines and HRSG units.
Mid-2023: Commissioning and grid synchronization testing.
2024: Full commercial operations start.
Construction of 900MW Cascade Power Plant Project in Alberta, Canada Begins
Reported September 29, 2020 – Construction of the 900MW Cascade Power Project in Alberta, Canada has begun. Kineticor Resource with joint development sponsors, Macquarie Capital and Ontario-based pension fund OPTrust. Also on board are project sponsors OPTrust, Axium Infrastructure and DIF Capital Partners who successfully closed financing on the US $1.2bn project. Macquarie also acted as exclusive financial advisor and debt arranger to the partnership, securing non-recourse project financing.
A look at the Cascade CCGT Power Project in Canada
Cascade Power Project is a combined cycle natural gas-fired generating facility to be located near Edson, Alberta. Siemens Energy will provide two highly efficient single shaft SCC6-8000H power trains. Siemens will also provide maintenance support under a long-term service agreement. Cascade is also strategically situated in proximity to significant gas production as well as the NGTL System and high voltage electrical transmission lines, an important competitive advantage for Cascade. Additionally, Cascade is contracted and benefits from long-term gas netback agreements which provide cashflow stability and downside protection once the project is commissioned.
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Cascade will also lead the transition to a lower carbon intensive power grid in Alberta by supporting the province’s transition off coal-fired power. It will generate low emissions electricity expected to supply over 8 per cent of the province’s average demand. Alberta contributes over 50 per cent of Canada’s greenhouse gas emissions from electricity generation. Cascade is also expected to result in one of the largest emissions reduction opportunities in the country’s electricity sector. Commercial operations are expected to commence in 2024.
Cascade Natural-Gas Fired Plant EPC Contractor
BPC, a joint venture between affiliates of PCL Construction and Overland Contracting Canada, Inc., a Black & Veatch Company, is also constructing the facility under an Engineering, Procurement and Construction Services contract with Kineticor acting as construction and asset manager. Cascade will additionally benefit the local community with over 3 million work hours of labour required for construction, creating approximately 600 jobs during peak construction as well as 25 long-term jobs during operation.
