Lambton Generating Station Explained

Lambton Generating Station
Country:Canada
Location:Corunna, Ontario
Coordinates:42.7972°N -82.4694°W
Owner:Ontario Power Generation
Status:Permanent shutdown
Th Fuel Primary:Coal
Th Technology:Steam turbine
Ps Electrical Capacity:950 megawatts[1]
Commissioned:1969
Decommissioned:Shutdown in September 2013

The Lambton Generating Station was a coal-fuelled power plant located on the St. Clair River near Corunna, Ontario, delivering up to 950 MW of power to the grid.[2] It is owned by Ontario Power Generation.[3]

The plant previously had a total generating capacity of 1,976 MW,[4] prior to the permanent shutdown of generating units 1 and 2 (of four) in October 2010.[5] The remaining units were shut down in September 2013.[6] It was connected to the power grid via numerous 230 kV lines, and also had two interconnections with Detroit Edison and ITC Transmission via a 230 kV line (Lambton-St. Clair #1) and a 345 kV line (Lambton-St. Clair #2). It is located almost exactly across the St. Clair River from Detroit Edison's St. Clair Power Plant in East China, Michigan.

The facility had three 168m (551feet) smokestacks, one of which was equipped with flue-gas desulfurization units, commonly called "scrubbers", to remove sulfur oxide.[7] Emissions from scrubbers at the Lambton station could be seen for over 16 km, although with the scrubbers operating properly, these plumes likely had over 90% less SO2 compared with other coal-fired stations without scrubbers.

On November 22, 2016, it was announced that Ontario Power Generation was no longer looking at alternative uses for Lambton Generating Station, and that the facility would be decommissioned in 2017.[8] [9] It was definitively closed in 2020. Demolition work is in progress and should last 2 years.[10]

On February 12, 2022, the majority of buildings at Lambton Generating Station, including the three large stacks, were imploded.[11]

Emissions

Greenhouse gas! scope="col"
Sum (tonnes)Sum (tonnes CO2e*)
CO22,238,606.72 2,238,607
CH446.08 968
N2O27.05 8,387
HFCs0.00 2
SF60.00 84
Total- 2,248,047
Total emissions, 2004–2012
YearEmissions (tonnes CO2e)
20047,208,141
20058,738,072
20066,485,627
20078,501,943
20086,405,366
20093,782,065
20103,330,461
20111,265,653
20122,248,047

Redevelopment

In 2012, plans were announced to relocate a proposed natural gas-powered generating station, originally intended for construction by Greenfield South Power Corporation in Mississauga, near to Etobicoke's Sherway Gardens, to the Lambton Generating Station site.[12]

Construction in Mississauga had already begun in 2011; the original site selection was cancelled during the October 2011 provincial election with the project becoming a key issue during that campaign and the subsequent 2014 campaign.[13]

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Power Generation: Thermal Power . Ontario Power Generation . 2012-10-13.
  2. Web site: Lambton Generating Station brochure . Ontario Power Generation . 11 January 2013.
  3. Web site: Lambton Generating Station . . 11 January 2013.
  4. http://www.mto.gov.on.ca/english/pubs/Ontario-Marine-Study-Phase1-Report.pdf (pg 60)
  5. Web site: Four OPG coal-fired generating units removed from service – Press Release . Ontario Power Generation . 4 October 2010.
  6. News: Morrow. Adrian. Ontario shuts down Lambton power plant ahead of schedule. The Globe and Mail. 22 October 2013. 24 February 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20131025225646/http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/ontario-to-shut-down-lambton-power-plant-ahead-of-schedule/article15005767. 25 October 2013.
  7. archive.org/stream/annualrepor1967onta/annualrepor1967onta_djvu.txt
  8. Web site: OPG plans to decommission Lambton Generating Station in 2017.
  9. Web site: OPG to Decommission Lambton Generating Station. Ontario Power Generation Inc.. 24 November 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20161124104427/http://www.opg.com/news-and-media/news-releases/Documents/20161122_LambtonDecommission.pdf. 24 November 2016.
  10. Web site: Demolition set to restart at Lambton Generating Station . Paul . Morden . The Observer . 11 February 2021 . 30 March 2021.
  11. Web site: 2022-02-12. Watch as old Lambton, Ont., generating station demolished by implosion. 2022-02-13. London. en.
  12. News: Liberals release another 20,000 pages on Oakville generator amid charges of a "cover-up" . Toronto Star . October 2012 . 2012-10-13.
  13. Web site: Hooper. Tristan. Construction continues at Mississauga power plant. National Post. 13 October 2012. 24 October 2011.