Focus on renewables

TransAlta’s acquisition of Canadian Hydro Developers in 2009 positions the company as the leading investor-owned provider of renewable energy in Canada. The acquisition accelerated the strategy to expand our renewables portfolio by approximately two years by adding 694 megawatts (MW) of renewable power. Assets acquired include:

  • nine wind farms in operation
  • 12 hydro facilities in operation
  • one biomass facility

In addition to the assets acquired from Canadian Hydro Developers, TransAlta’s wind portfolio has continued to grow:

  • Kent Hills, in New Brunswick, began operations December 31, 2008 and will provide approximately 280,000 megawatt (MW) hours of electricity per year, enough to meet the needs of approximately 17,300 homes.
    • An expansion of Kent Hills was announced in January 2010. TransAlta has been awarded a 25-year power purchase agreement (PPA) to provide an additional 54 MW of wind power to New Brunswick Power Distribution and Customer Service Corporation.
  • The 66 MW Blue Trail wind farm, southwest of Fort Macleod, Alberta, was completed in late 2009, earlier than initially planned and on budget.

  • Summerview 2, by Pincher Creek, Alberta, added 135 MW of wind energy to TransAlta’s portfolio when it became operational in February 2010, ahead of schedule and on budget.

  • Ardenville, a 69 MW wind power project in southern Alberta, is scheduled to be operational in early 2011.

TransAlta is 50 per cent owner of geothermal facilities in California. Investments in recent years in three-dimensional modeling at geothermal wells have resulted in more precise drilling and increased production of electricity from these sources.