Coal-fired power plant demolished

Ontario Power Generation (OPG) has demolished the powerhouse of the former Nanticoke Generating Station, located on the shores of Lake Erie in south east Ontario, Canada.

Once the largest coal-fired power plant in the world, Nanticoke’s powerhouse was finally demolished more than a year after that of the plant’s two 198 m (650 ft) tall smokestacks.

The facility took 11 years to build, measured 150,000 sq m (491,000 sq ft) and had a maximum generating capacity of 4,000 MW. OPG said that at peak capacity Nanticoke could power a city of three million people.

Nanticoke was brought online in 1972 and decommissioned in 2013. In 2016 the Independent Electricity System Operator selected OPG, one of the largest electricity generators in Ontario, and its partner companies to develop a 44 megawatt solar facility on the Nanticoke site.

Mike Martelli, OPG president of renewable generation, said: “The closure of Nanticoke Generating Station remains one of North America’s single largest climate change initiatives. Building and sustaining a clean, low cost electricity system is fundamental to a healthy environment and a strong, low-carbon economy.”

“I want to thank all of the employees that contributed to the legacy of a high performing station and the community for their decades of support and ensure residents that Nanticoke Solar is a continuation of OPG’s rich legacy of generation electricity in their backyard.”

OPG, Six Nations of Grand River Development Corporation and Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation completed the new solar facility earlier this year. Nanticoke Solar’s 200,000 solar panels came online on March 29.