Maxim Power commissions 204 MW gas-fired plant in Canada

Calgary based Canadian independent power producer Maxim Power Corp. has successfully commissioned its 204 MW natural gas-fired power plant (M2) located near Grande Cache, Alberta. The project is the largest simple cycle natural gas-fired power plant in Alberta and is a significant milestone in the province’s transition away from coal-fired generation.

M2 began generating electricity to the Alberta power grid on May 8, 2020 during commissioning and successfully demonstrated its maximum generating capacity and environmental compliance during this final phase of construction.

Maxim completed the construction and commissioning of M2 despite challenging construction conditions related to both weather and COVID-19. This project represents an industry-leading 16-month construction duration and a 21-month total project horizon (from equipment procurement to project completion).

The project created more than 120 jobs during the course of its construction and now provides ongoing employment and support of local businesses in the Grande Cache area of Alberta. The government's work to ensure federal carbon policy does not inhibit investment and its introduction of the made-in-Alberta TIER program is important to this project.

Maxim maintains its estimate of total capital expenditures to construct M2 of CAD147 million (US$108 million) before borrowing costs.

MAXIM is advancing its option to increase the capacity of M2 to approximately 300MW and lower its operating costs significantly by investing capital in heat recovery technology that enables the facility to operate in combined cycle mode.