October 23, 2015 – SaskPower has officially unveiled its newly commissioned “D Plant” at Saskatoon’s Queen Elizabeth Power Station. The $525 million project adds 204MW, or enough electricity to power more than 200,000 homes, and was completed on time and on budget, the utility notes.

“This expansion is a critical investment in our electrical infrastructure, and our province’s future,” said Mike Marsh, SaskPower president and CEO. “This is part of our long-term plan to renew and expand our power grid, and meet a growing demand for electricity, which is expected to grow by 13% over the next five years.”

The project involved converting three gas turbines from simple-cycle to combined-cycle, which means a 10-15% increase in efficiency, SaskPower said. This newest addition adds to upgrades that were completed in 1971, 2002 and 2009. The power station was inaugurated by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II in 1959.

“Natural gas is an important part of our generation mix because it supports our future plans for additional wind capacity, ensuring that necessary backup power is available,” said Guy Bruce, SaskPower vice-president of Planning, Environment and Sustainable Development. “Currently, 25% of our available capacity comes from renewables, and we plan to add even more in the future.”