OPG powers up 205-MW biomass power plant in Ontario

Sep 12, 2014 - Canadian company Ontario Power Generation Inc (OPG) has kicked off electricity generation at the newly-converted 205-MW Atikokan Generating Station, a 100% biomass-fueled power plant in northwestern Ontario.

The opening of the renewable energy facility was unveiled in a press release on Friday. The power station, located near the town of Atikokan, ceased using coal as fuel in September 2012 and went through a CAD-170-million (USD 153m/EUR 119m) conversion. The process involved the construction of two silos and some boiler modifications so it could use biomass, harvested and processed locally. Now, Atikokan Generating Station is the largest 100% biomass-fueled power facility in North America, the statement said.

US company Rentech Inc (NASDAQ:RTK) and Resolute Forest Products Canada have signed contracts to each supply 45,000 tonnes of wood pellets per year for the plant.

Earlier this month, the provincial Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO) said that Ontario is expected to put on stream about 3,300 MW of renewable energy facilities, including wind, solar, biomass and hydropower plants, between September 2014 and February 2016.

(CAD 1.0 = USD 0.903/EUR 0.698)

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