Capital Power executes contracts for solar, natural gas and batteries and provides an update on the Genesee Repowering Project
June 29 2023 - 9:00AM
Capital Power Corporation (“Capital Power” or “the Company”) (TSX:
CPX) announced today:
- Execution of three long-term contracts in North Carolina and
Ontario, totalling 287 megawatts (MW) of additional generation and
energy storage capacity,
- Execution of a contract in the Ontario Independent Electric
System Operator’s (IESO) Same Technology Upgrade Solicitation,
- Successful bid in the Ontario IESO’s Expedited Long-Term RFP,
and
- Updates on timing and costs of the Genesee Repowering Project
(the “Repowering Project”) in Alberta.
These announcements demonstrate the value of our balanced
approach to net zero that supports the increase of renewable
generation to enhance the sustainability of our power system while
complementing the variability of these assets with battery energy
storage systems (BESS) and reliable natural gas generation.
“The executed contracts, with an average duration of nearly 21
years, increase our contracted cash flows and deliver on our
commitment to provide reliable power for our communities and
responsibly reach net zero by 2045,” said Avik Dey, President and
CEO of Capital Power. “Maple Leaf Solar is our fourth solar
development project, leveraging our established expertise in
building power projects. We see attractive growth opportunities in
North Carolina where we have six additional well-positioned solar
development sites totalling approximately 270 MW. In Ontario, the
five contracts reaffirm Capital Power’s approach to meeting growing
electricity demand. Our midlife natural gas assets continue to
provide critical generation capacity to Ontarians as we also build
out low-carbon solutions for our energy future.”
Maple Leaf Solar awarded 25-year contract The
Company executed a 25-year, fixed price renewable power purchase
agreement (PPA) for 100% of the output from its Maple Leaf Solar
project (“Maple Leaf” or “The Project”) with Duke Energy Progress
(DEP) as part of the 2022 Duke Energy Solar Procurement Program.
Maple Leaf is a 73 MWac (92 MWdc) solar development project in
Selma, North Carolina. The construction of the Project is planned
to begin in 2025 at a total cost of approximately US$165 million
with an expected commercial operations date in the fourth quarter
of 2026, pending completion of the Duke interconnection upgrades.
Local zoning approvals were obtained in May 2023 and detailed
design and permitting are underway.
Five new contracts from Ontario IESO
bids Capital Power has been an active participant in the
Ontario IESO’s expedited call for new power generation and capacity
in high priority areas to help address the IESO’s forecasted
shortfall, which has resulted in five successful bids. Capital
Power has:
- Executed two long-term contracts for the East Windsor Expansion
(81 MW summer and 100 MW winter contracted capacities) with a term
to 2040 (approximately 15 years) and the York BESS project (114 MW
contracted capacity) which is contracted until 2047 (approximately
22 years) as part of the IESO’s Expedited Long-Term RFP process
(selection by the IESO previously announced on May 16, 2023). Both
projects are expected to begin commercial operations in 2025.
- Executed a 3-year contract extension for the York Energy Centre
associated with its successful bid in the Same Technology Upgrade
Solicitation for approximately 38 MW. The upgrade will increase
York’s contracted capacity from 394 MW to 431 MW. The contract
extension applies to the new contracted capacity of 431 MW (from
the COD of the upgrades expected in 2025) and extends the current
contract from 2032 to 2035.
- Previously been awarded a 6-year contract extension through the
Same Technology Upgrade Solicitation for the Goreway Power Station
(40 MW upgrade).
- Been selected as a successful proponent for an approximately
22-year contract to 2047 for the Goreway BESS project as part of
Category 2 of the IESO’s Expedited Long-Term RFP. Capital Power
expects to execute this contract by July 25, 2023. The project is
expected to enter service in 2025.
With the addition of these contracts, the Company will have more
than 1,500 MW of contracted capacity in Ontario that support this
key market’s critical power needs and significantly increase
Capital Power’s contracted cash flow profile.
“Our success in securing three new projects in the Ontario IESOs
Expedited Long-Term RFP as well as securing two new uprates with
contract extensions is an embodiment of Capital Power’s midlife gas
strategy of acquiring well-positioned assets in markets with strong
fundamentals, enhancing, upgrading, and expanding the facilities
and extending their contracts with investment-grade off takers,”
said Chris Kopecky, SVP and Chief Legal, Development and Commercial
Officer of Capital Power. “Furthermore, the deployment of BESS
solutions on existing natural gas sites demonstrates the strategic
value of these sites for new technologies beyond simply natural gas
generation.”
Ontario IESO Expedited Long-Term RFP |
Project |
Contracted Capacity |
Term |
Status |
East Windsor Expansion |
81 MW |
To 2040 (approximately 15 years) |
Contract Executed |
York Battery Energy Storage System |
114 MW |
To 2047 (approximately 22 years) |
Contract Executed |
Goreway Battery Energy Storage System |
48 MW |
To 2047 (approximately 22 years) |
Bid Approved |
Ontario IESO Same Technology Upgrade
Solicitation |
Project |
Existing Capacity |
New Capacity |
Total Capacity |
Contract Expiry |
Status |
Goreway Power Station Upgrade |
840 MW |
40 MW |
880 MW |
2035 |
Contract Executed |
York Energy Centre(1) Upgrade(1) 50% joint ownership with
Manulife. |
393 MW |
38 MW |
431 MW |
2035 |
Contract Executed |
Updates to Genesee Repowering Project
schedule and costsAs a result of construction delays on
the Repowering Project, the Company is modifying the commissioning
timelines for the repowered units. Simple cycle commissioning of
Unit 1 is expected to commence in December 2023, approximately 60
days later than initially anticipated. Simple cycle commissioning
for Unit 2 is expected to be further delayed and will begin in
March 2024. Combined cycle commissioning is expected to begin in
April 2024 (Unit 1) and June 2024 (Unit 2). The total capital costs
for the Repowering Project have increased to $1.35 billion as a
result of cost escalations and increased labour costs.
The delay in commissioning is expected to have a modest impact
on the full year 2023 AFFO and adjusted EBITDA guidance as the
unfavourable impact will be offset across the portfolio. The
Company expects to be above the midpoint of the guidance range
despite an unforced outage at Genesee during periods of high
pricing in June that dampened a strong start to the second quarter
relative to the guidance provided in the Company’s first quarter
2023 report. Management is currently evaluating the impact of
commissioning delays on the Company’s target of being off coal in
2023 and expects to provide additional information on the 2023
outlook and our off-coal target with the second quarter 2023
earnings release.
Territorial Acknowledgement
In the spirit of reconciliation, Capital Power respectfully
acknowledges that we operate within the ancestral homelands,
traditional and treaty territories of the Indigenous Peoples of
Turtle Island, or North America. Capital Power’s head office is
located within the traditional and contemporary home of many
Indigenous Peoples of the Treaty 6 Territory and Métis Nation of
Alberta Region 4. We acknowledge the diverse Indigenous communities
that are located in these areas and whose presence continues to
enrich the community.
About Capital Power
Capital Power (TSX: CPX) is a growth-oriented North American
wholesale power producer with a strategic focus on sustainable
energy headquartered in Edmonton, Alberta. We build, own, and
operate high-quality, utility-scale generation facilities that
include renewables and thermal. We have also made significant
investments in carbon capture and utilization to reduce carbon
impacts. Capital Power owns approximately 7,500 MW of power
generation capacity at 29 facilities across North America. Projects
in advanced development include approximately 151 MW of owned
renewable generation capacity in Alberta and 512 MW of incremental
natural gas combined cycle capacity, from the repowering of Genesee
1 and 2 in Alberta.
For more information, please
contact:
Media Relations:Katherine Perron(780)
392-5335kperron@capitalpower.com |
Investor Relations:Randy Mah(780) 392-5305 or
(866) 896-4636 (toll-free)investor@capitalpower.com |
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