Other Technologies

Several of ATCO Power’s plants provide additional capacity for the electrical energy grid in Alberta by using innovative designs. 

Synchronous condenser:

ATCO Power’s Poplar Hill plant near Grande Prairie won the McGraw Hill Power Plant of the Year award in 2000 for its design. The plant can operate as a synchronous condenser which allows the plant’s generator to be disconnected from the turbine and provide voltage support when needed. In this mode of operation, the gas turbine is shut off while the generator is free to spin while connected to the electric grid. The rotating mass of the generator allows for filtering of short-term voltage dips and spikes on the transmission system. A small amount of electricity is consumed to do so. 

When the transmission system needs longer-term voltage support in the form of additional capacity, the turbine can be instantaneously reconnected to the generator. In this manner, the Poplar Hill Plant supports transmission facilities in the northwest region of Alberta.

The Valleyview plant also provides system stability benefits for the Valleyview area east of Grande Prairie. The stations are environmentally progressive, low emission facilities.