Primrose

Cogeneration Plant

ATCO Power and Amoco Canada Power Resources Company brought Alberta's first independent power project on stream in 1998 in the newly deregulated market. Amoco's operations have since been purchased by Canadian Natural Resources Limited (CNRL). 

The 85-megawatt gas-fired Primrose Steam Enhancement Project provides electricity and steam to CNRL's heavy oil operations at Wolf Lake and Primrose in northeastern Alberta. Surplus power is sold to the Power Pool of Alberta. 

The cogeneration plant which is jointly owned by CNRL and ATCO has increased thermal efficiency from 61% using conventional steam generators to 78% with the cogeneration plant. As a result, carbon dioxide and nitrous oxide emissions are significantly reduced. 

The plant is operated by ATCO Power and CNRL under the direction of an ATCO Power plant manager. 

ATCO Power completed a 15-year, $150 million non-recourse financing through the Royal Bank of Scotland of its ownership interests in six independent Alberta power projects. The financing covers power plants totaling almost 300 megawatts of capacity at Primrose, Poplar Hill, Valleyview, two at Rainbow Lake and the Oldman River hydroelectric project.