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Press Release

GE Helps Maxim Power Corp Safely Switch from Coal-to-Gas Power to Support Canada’s Coal Phase-Out Plan

October 26, 2020
  • Maxim Power’s (“Maxim”) Milner Power II power plant is currently the largest simple cycle natural gas-fired unit in Alberta. Maxim’s transition to natural gas marks a significant milestone in Alberta and Canada’s efforts towards decarbonization through coal-to-gas transition.
  • GE worked closely with Maxim Power to upgrade and support the installation of a GE 7F.05 gas turbine, held previously in storage, which powers a GE H35 generator.
  • GE’s DLN2.6+ combustion system upgrade improved the flexibility of the gas turbine and produces NOx emissions at a rate of less than 9 ppm to help successfully meet operational and environmental requirements.
  • GE and Maxim teams worked in an unseasonably wet summer construction season, harsh winter weather and strict COVID-19 preventative measures to achieve safe completion of the project.

CALGARY, ALBERTA-  October 26, 2020 –  The Province of Alberta in Canada is in the process of moving away from coal-powered electricity generation, and Maxim Power Corp.(TSX: MXG), one of Canada’s largest independent power producers, turned to GE to provide expert support for its Milner II power plant to ensure the success of its decision to re-power the coal facility using natural gas. GE (NYSE: GE) today announced that Maxim Power’s M II 204 megawatt (MW) natural gas-fired power plant is safely and successfully delivering power to the Alberta grid near Grand Cache, Alberta using natural gas, which provides electricity with less than 50% of the emissions of a coal-fired facility. For this project, GE provided relocation support with a DLN2.6+ upgrade and secured a contractual services agreement for the GE 7F.05 gas turbine.

"Canada is part of the international community moving toward a decarbonized future, with Alberta committed to a phase-out of coal power by 2030” said Bob Emmott, President and Chief Operating Officer of Maxim Power Corp. “We were faced with the reality of shuttering the facility or re-powering it with natural gas - the cleanest burning fossil fuel, emitting less than half the CO2 of a coal plant, significantly lower nitrous oxides and particulate matter, no mercury, and essentially no sulfur oxides – and we decided to turn to GE to help us transition the facility to natural gas. GE helped us solve our most pressing power generation challenges, such as, the upgrade and maintenance of a GE gas turbine that we purchased from a third party and sat in storage, unused, for eight years near a copper mine in the Northern part of the United States.  We know that GE has the level of experience needed to deliver reliable and sustainable power under any condition.”

The relocation project included the task of moving the massive turbine from the United States to Alberta and the modernization of the existing combustion system with GE’s DLN2.6+ technology to address local fuel gas qualities, improve plant efficiency and reduce its environmental footprint to meet Canadian and local government specifications and standards.

“In North America, energy usage has been changing for many years: as the availability of natural gas and renewables has increased, and the use of coal has declined,” said Eric Gray, Vice President for Americas region, GE Gas Power.  “Alberta is implementing a broad coal phase-out plan and we are honored to support power plant operators, like Maxim Power, to embrace the flexibility gas technology offers to complement renewables including solar and wind. Gas’ flexibility and efficiency compliments renewable energy as it balances electric system loads and helps maintain grid reliability”.

GE supported Maxim to safely deliver commercial operation through global pandemic and harsh weather.
During transport of the power generation equipment, GE and FieldCore – the field services company owned by GE - faced enormous challenges presented by record torrential rainfall, extreme cold temperatures reaching -40 degrees F, and the COVID-19 global pandemic. Engineers from GE and FieldCore worked together and in close co-operation with Maxim Power experts to quickly implement an array of safety measures including more frequent disinfections at the site, mandatory face masks, consistent personnel temperature monitoring, and strictly enforced social distancing to ensure employee safety and achieve safe completion of the project. Today, the Milner II power plant produces the equivalent of electricity consumed by approximately 208,000 Canadian households.

For more information, contact:
Laura Aresi
GE Gas Power
Public Relations Leader
[email protected]

 


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