Project Schedule
The implementation agreement between PEC and Ontario Power Authority (OPA) was signed on February 10, 2006. The agreement described the basic terms and the process by which a final power supply contract would be negotiated. The 20-year accelerated "Clean Energy Supply Contract" between PEC and OPA was signed on August 18, 2006.
Simultaneously, an engineering, procurement, and construction contract was negotiated between PEC and SNC-Lavalin and signed on July 31, 2006.
Simple-cycle completion was achieved in May 2008 to accommodate OPA’s requirement for energy during the peak demand season, June through September. PEC entered the acceptance test phase on April 13 and reported its successful completion on April 21. The project turnover from SNC-Lavalin was completed on April 22, followed by commercial operation of the plant the following day — six weeks early.
"This is another great day for the Portlands Energy Centre, Ontario Power Generation, TransCanada and SNC-Lavalin, and the people of Toronto," said Curtis Mahoney, PEC general manager. "We are very proud of the many men and women who worked around the clock to complete the construction of PEC. It is on line on budget and weeks ahead of schedule."
Operational data reported shortly after the plant entered commercial service show that combustion turbine 1, operating with its dry low-NOx system, produces 22.75 ppm NOx at 15% O2. Turbine 2 was producing 25.90 ppm NOx at 14% O2. Data from the Independent Electricity System Operator in July show the plant is currently operating weekdays as an afternoon-evening peaker.
PEC expended approximately 2.5 million man-hours to construct and commission the facility.
Keep the Noise Down
PEC is located near residential and other commercial facilities, which require the plant to meet a far field noise limit of 40 dBA at the nearest receptor. Frequent, nonemergency-type emitters (such as start-up and shutdown systems) are included in this criterion. All safety relief valves are equipped with permanent silencing to meet the criteria plus 10 dBA.
PEC was focused on being a good neighbor and involved local stakeholders in the development process and construction status by forming a Public Relations and Community Liaison Committee. That committee provided recommendations to PEC regarding key aspects of the facility design and plant operations, including landscaping plans, emergency preparedness plans, and other evolving issues, such as the city’s area redevelopment plants.
—Dr. Robert Peltier, PE is POWER’s editor-in-chief
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