Overview
Cory Cogeneration is a 260 MW gas-fired power plant in Saskatchewan, Canada, jointly owned by Saskpower and ATCO Power. It operates as a cogeneration facility, providing both electricity and thermal energy.
Cory Cogeneration is a natural gas-fired power plant located in Saskatchewan, Canada, with a capacity of 260 megawatts (MW). The facility is jointly owned by Saskpower and ATCO Power, two major energy companies in the region. As a cogeneration plant, it produces both electricity and useful thermal energy, enhancing overall efficiency compared to conventional power generation. The plant operates under Canada's federal and provincial environmental regulations, which include emissions standards for nitrogen oxides (NOx), sulfur dioxide (SO2), and greenhouse gases. Saskatchewan's electricity grid relies on a mix of coal, natural gas, hydro, and renewables, with gas-fired plants like Cory Cogeneration playing a key role in balancing intermittent renewable sources. The use of natural gas as a fuel results in lower CO2 emissions per megawatt-hour compared to coal, though methane leakage remains a consideration. Cory Cogeneration contributes to the local grid's reliability and supports industrial and residential energy needs in Saskatchewan. Its cogeneration design improves fuel efficiency and reduces overall emissions compared to separate heat and power generation. The plant's location in a region with cold winters makes its thermal output valuable for district heating or industrial processes, further enhancing its environmental and operational significance.
Environmental context
The plant uses natural gas, which produces lower CO2, SO2, and NOx emissions per MWh than coal but still contributes to greenhouse gas emissions. Its location in Saskatchewan, a province with a mix of coal and gas generation, means it operates under Canada's federal carbon pricing and provincial emissions regulations. The cogeneration design improves overall efficiency, reducing fuel consumption and emissions per unit of useful energy output. Typical gas plants have moderate local air quality impacts.
Frequently asked questions
Cory Cogeneration is located in Saskatchewan, Canada, near the city of Saskatoon. The plant's coordinates are approximately 52.09° N, 106.85° W.
Cory Cogeneration has a capacity of 260 megawatts (MW), making it a medium-sized gas-fired power plant in Canada.
The plant is jointly owned by Saskpower (50%) and ATCO Power (50%). Ownership implies shared operational responsibility.
Gas power plants in Canada must comply with federal and provincial emissions standards, including the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999, and provincial regulations on NOx, SO2, and greenhouse gases. Carbon pricing also applies under the federal backstop or provincial systems.
Cogeneration, or combined heat and power (CHP), simultaneously produces electricity and useful thermal energy from the same fuel source. This increases overall efficiency to 60-80%, compared to 35-45% for conventional power plants, reducing fuel consumption and emissions per unit of energy output.