SaskPower promoted their integrated carbon capture and storage project at the Boundary Dam Power Station, their proposed carbon capture test facility at the Shand Power Station, and the impact those projects will have on the future of power production in Saskatchewan, during an open house at the Saskatchewan Energy Training Institute on October 17.

SaskPower clean coal technology manager Doug Daverne said their last open house for the project was in 2010. Since that time, new regulations have been implemented that make it more difficult to operate coal-fired generating stations. The Boundary Dam project will meet those regulations.

SaskPower has also made changes to the project. As opposed to a water treatment plant and ash lagoons for waste water, they'll be using a deep disposal well, similar to what's used in the oil and gas sector. They have also make changes to the cooling water system to close it off from the reservoir.

"This is a big project, a very important project," said Daverne. "It has to be a success if we're going to continue to use coal in the province."

The project is still on-time and on-budget. About 450 workers are currently in the community working on the project.

They are also close to reaching an agreement for the carbon dioxide that will be captured at the plant, Daverne said. The carbon dioxide will be used for enhanced oil recovery.

Another clean coal technology manager, Max Ball, explained the $60 million carbon capture test facility that is planned for the Shand Power Station. Corporations will come to Shand to test their carbon capture technologies.

"I think it's a very exciting concept because while we're very happy with what's going on at Boundary Dam, we know we're going to have to make improvements to that technology if we're going to expand our carbon capture program to other units, and the test facility will help us find the answer to get to lower costs in the future," said Ball.

Construction on the test facility should begin in the spring of 2013, and Hitachi is scheduled to begin testing its carbon capture technology in 2014. It's expected Hitachi will remain at Shand for 18 months.

SaskPower had several other displays at the open house, which dealt with coal supply, safety and environment. Sherritt Coal and the Petroleum Technology Research Centre also attended the open house, and explained their connection to the carbon capture and storage project.