Enmax is all charged up about its largest-ever lifecycle project, replacing Calgary’s first-ever substation.
The $240 million, state-of-the-art building takes over a large portion of downtown electrical duties from the original Enmax Substation No. 1, which was first electrified in 1912. At that time, it powered the first streetlights in Calgary, along with the streetcar system.
Greg Retzer, Enmax Power executive vice president, said that they had just finished energizing the 9 Avenue and 8 Street SW facility on July 1. He said the project completion was a huge accomplishment for Enmax.
“It powers about half of downtown, and essentially we were able to finish the project on time and on budget,” he said.
A substation takes in the larger electrical feeds from power transmission lines and converts it into a lower voltage that eventually makes its way into buildings and homes across Calgary.
Retzer said that a large part of their capital program moving forward is keeping up with Calgary’s growth. Like the City of Calgary, Enmax also has “billions” worth of aging infrastructure that they’ll have to replace because it’s nearing end-of-life.
The new building has modern equipment, and Retzer said one of the key improvements is reliability, but also safety for workers. Inside the new substation, visitors could talk in regular voices without being overcome by equipment noise.
“If you ever have an opportunity to work around some of the old (equipment), it’s quite frankly, it’s scary, it’s old, it’s noisy, and it’s quite violent,” Retzer said.
“When it operates, the new equipment is much safer, it’s much more reliable, it operates on a smaller footprint, and essentially just provides downtown Calgary with higher reliability.”
The system uses sulfur hexafluoride in a compact system to allow the massive wires to sit close together without arcing. The site also employs the latest technology to deal with arc blasts, manage loads and watch for potential issues.
Electricity providers, including from BC Hydro, have come to the new Calgary location to see how Enmax is handling power distribution in Substation No. 1, according to Enmax officials.
The cost of electrical infrastructure
Like most electrical infrastructure projects, the cost of the building does ultimately come out of customers’ pockets through the rate base.
That’s why Retzer said they want to maximize the lifespan of all of their infrastructure.
“Affordability matters tremendously. We want to make sure we get good value out of every penny and every dollar,” he said.
“For this building in particular, the building footprint is different than other types of equipment, but various equipment will last between 30, 50, and 60 years.”
Alberta Minister of Affordability and Utilities, RJ Sigurdson, said that electricity is often something citizens take for granted.
“We’ve seen remarkable momentum in recent years, bringing new opportunity, new investment, and new people to the city,” he said in remarks made at the July 2 opening.
“It’s important that we make sure that we have reliable and affordable power that can support the momentum and growth of this great city.”
Sigurdson said that in 2017, Alberta’s internal electricity load was 9,500 megawatts – or enough to power roughly 7 million homes. It rose to more than 10,000 MW in 202 and could be 13,000 MW by 2030.
“This new substation will help meet the growing demand, providing a stronger foundation for our electricity system, and giving downtown businesses the confidence to grow, invest, and build into the future,” he said.
Calgary Mayor Jeromy Farkas said that Substation No. 1 has been a part of Calgary’s story for more than a century. It began in the same year as the first Calgary Stampede.
“Since then, it has quietly powered homes, businesses, hospitals, and the downtown that generations of Calgarians have built together,” he said.
“Most people will never think about a substation, and that is exactly the point. The best infrastructure is there when you need it. It works every hour of every day, often without anyone noticing.”
