Overview
Shepard is an 873 MW gas-fired power plant in Alberta, Canada, operated by Enmax. It supplies electricity to the grid using natural gas.
Shepard is a natural gas-fired power plant located in Alberta, Canada, with a capacity of 873 megawatts. Owned and operated by Enmax, it is one of the larger gas power plants in the region, contributing to the province's electricity supply. The plant utilizes natural gas as its primary fuel, a common choice in Alberta due to abundant local gas resources. Gas-fired plants like Shepard typically operate as combined-cycle or simple-cycle units, offering flexibility and lower emissions compared to coal. The facility operates under Canadian federal and provincial regulations, including the Canadian Environmental Protection Act and Alberta's emission standards. Shepard plays a key role in Alberta's power grid, providing reliable electricity to homes and businesses. Its location near Calgary supports the growing energy demand of the region. As a gas plant, it has a lower carbon footprint than coal, aligning with Canada's transition to cleaner energy sources.
Environmental context
The plant's gas fuel source results in lower CO2, SOx, and NOx emissions compared to coal-fired plants. Its location in Alberta, a region with significant oil and gas activity, means it operates within a regulatory framework that includes provincial emission guidelines and federal climate targets. The facility's capacity of 873 MW places it in the large-scale category, with potential local air quality impacts mitigated by modern combustion technology.
Frequently asked questions
Shepard is located in Alberta, Canada, near the city of Calgary. Its coordinates are approximately 50.9713° N, -113.8858° W.
Shepard is a natural gas-fired power plant, using gas as its primary fuel to generate electricity.
The Shepard plant is owned and operated by Enmax, a Canadian energy company based in Calgary.
Gas power plants in Canada must comply with the Canadian Environmental Protection Act (CEPA) and provincial regulations, such as Alberta's Emission Standards. These set limits on air pollutants and greenhouse gas emissions.
With a capacity of 873 MW, Shepard is considered a large-scale gas power plant. It can supply electricity to hundreds of thousands of homes, contributing significantly to Alberta's grid.