ESTEVAN - SaskPower has announced that Unit 4 at the Boundary Dam Power Station will remain available for a while longer.
In a news release issued Friday afternoon, the Crown corporation said that to provide added reliability to its power grid, SaskPower will extend the status of Unit 4, keeping it available to return to service if needed until at least April 1, 2023 – one year longer than initially planned.
The coal-fired unit was taken offline on Dec. 1, 2021, and placed on standby in case of the need for additional power. In February, SaskPower said BD4 was returned to service for two weeks to provide power while other generating facilities were offline as a result of planned and unplanned outages.
It is not online at this time.
“We are continuing to add generating capacity to the provincial grid, but having BD4 available for an additional year will help to ensure reliability in the event of unplanned outages at other facilities,” said Howard Matthews, SaskPower vice-president of power production. “In addition, SaskPower’s updated forecast indicates greater demand for power than previously expected, and BD4 can also provide power when demand spikes, such as during periods of extreme heat or cold.”
SaskPower will be able to bring the 150-megawatt unit into service in 36 to 48 hours, if needed. BD4’s status will be re-evaluated prior to April 2023 to determine whether it will be retired at that time or if its availability will be extended further.
