Lakeview Generating Station
Encyclopedia
The Lakeview Generating Station was an Ontario Power Generation
coal
-burning station located in Lakeview, a community just east of Port Credit
, in Mississauga
, Ontario
, Canada
. The former station was located just east of Lakeshore Road and Cawthra Road. The four stacks of the station were known as the Four Sisters, because the generating plant actually had eight boiler
s and two boilers were 'sistered' to a common stack. The station was a landmark for years and was shut down in April, 2005. The four stacks, which could be seen from as far away as Burlington
to the west and downtown Toronto
to the east, were demolished on June 12, 2006. The rest of the building was demolished on June 28, 2007.
On the north shore of Lake Ontario, in what is now the City of Mississauga, 52 hectares of land were earmarked for a new thermal-electric plant that would help meet Ontario’s power demands and even provide system reserves. “The Lakeview Project” was underway by June, 1958, and quickly became a station of superlatives: its eight boilers were the largest ever installed in Canada; the 300,000 kilowatt generators the largest ever purchased by a Canadian utility; and its power transformers were the largest ever built in Canada.
On June 20, 1962, Ontario Premier John Robarts
and Ontario Hydro chairman W. Ross Strike pushed the button to start up the first 300,000 kilowatt unit. Lakeview was the second thermal plant designed by Ontario Hydro. The Hearn Generating Station
in Toronto
opened several years before and served as a test bed for Lakeview. As the design and construction of progressed, the station would include two different types of boilers and three unique turbine designs. It is possible that Ontario Hydro had a dispute with equipment suppliers in the early 1960s which caused the
unusual equipment choices. The switch from Parsons as a turbine supplier to AEI was unusual since the AEI turbine generators on units 3-6 were (50 cycle) machines. They would require heavy weights attached to overcome turbine vibration at the higher (60 cycle) speeds in Canada.
These were the only AEI turbines installed at Ontario Hydro. Units 5 & 6 operated until the station closed (40 years)
The station would reach 2400 MW by 1968, surpassed only by the Nanticoke Generating Station
(4096 MW) near Port Dover, in the late 1970s. During the late 1960s and 1970s, the station operated to full capacity as an eight-unit baseload plant, meeting about 17% of Ontario’s electricity needs. In the early 1980s, Lakeview worked at full capacity after problems at Pickering in August 1983 resulted in a brief power shortage. In the early 1990s the station was partially overhauled. A surplus of capacity led to the mothballing of four units. The station continued to play an important role as a four-unit peaking plant, providing an adequate and reliable electricity supply when consumer demands were highest in the morning and around the dinner hour – and in the summer and winter. This role was especially critical on hot days when air conditioning use drove up electricity demand.
Following provincial government policy to phase out Ontario Power Generation’s six coal-fired generating stations by the end of 2007, Lakeview Generating Station ceased operations on Saturday, April 30, 2005 after 43 years. Lakeview and its employees made a highly significant contribution to the energy needs of the province, and particularly to the Greater Toronto Area (GTA).
Units 3 & 4 (1964–65) had boilers built by Combustion Engineering
, with double tangentially fired furnaces. The tandem compound turbines were supplied by AEI (UK)
Units 5 & 6 (1965–66) had Babcock & Wilcox front-fired boilers and AEI tandem compound turbines.
Units 7 & 8 (1968) has Babcock & Wilcox front-fired boilers and Parsons tandem compound turbines.
At a cost of $274 million, Lakeview Generating Station had become the largest
thermal-electric plant in the world when it was completed in 1968.
and safeguarding water quality. The station’s achievement of International Organisation for Standardisation ISO 14001 certification continued to demonstrate Lakeview’s commitment to environmental management through responsible operation at the highest standards.
:
Ontario Power Generation
Ontario Power Generation is a public company wholly owned by the Government of Ontario. OPG is responsible for approximately 70% of the electricity generation in the Province of Ontario, Canada. Sources of electricity include nuclear, hydroelectric, solar, wind, and fossil fuel...
coal
Coal
Coal is a combustible black or brownish-black sedimentary rock usually occurring in rock strata in layers or veins called coal beds or coal seams. The harder forms, such as anthracite coal, can be regarded as metamorphic rock because of later exposure to elevated temperature and pressure...
-burning station located in Lakeview, a community just east of Port Credit
Port Credit, Ontario
Port Credit is found at the mouth of the Credit River on the north shore of Lake Ontario, within the southcentral area of the city of Mississauga...
, in Mississauga
Mississauga, Ontario
Mississauga is a city in Southern Ontario located in the Regional Municipality of Peel, and in the western part of the Greater Toronto Area. With an estimated population of 734,000, it is Canada's sixth-most populous municipality, and has almost doubled in population in each of the last two decades...
, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. The former station was located just east of Lakeshore Road and Cawthra Road. The four stacks of the station were known as the Four Sisters, because the generating plant actually had eight boiler
Boiler
A boiler is a closed vessel in which water or other fluid is heated. The heated or vaporized fluid exits the boiler for use in various processes or heating applications.-Materials:...
s and two boilers were 'sistered' to a common stack. The station was a landmark for years and was shut down in April, 2005. The four stacks, which could be seen from as far away as Burlington
Burlington, Ontario
Burlington , is a city located in Halton Region at the western end of Lake Ontario. Burlington is part of the Greater Toronto Area, and is also included in the Hamilton Census Metropolitan Area. Physically, Burlington lies between the north shore of Lake Ontario and the Niagara Escarpment...
to the west and downtown Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
to the east, were demolished on June 12, 2006. The rest of the building was demolished on June 28, 2007.
History
During the first half of the 20th century, most electricity produced in Ontario came from hydroelectric stations. But by the early 1950s, most large hydroelectric sites were already under development and new power sources were required to meet the province’s growing appetite for electricity.On the north shore of Lake Ontario, in what is now the City of Mississauga, 52 hectares of land were earmarked for a new thermal-electric plant that would help meet Ontario’s power demands and even provide system reserves. “The Lakeview Project” was underway by June, 1958, and quickly became a station of superlatives: its eight boilers were the largest ever installed in Canada; the 300,000 kilowatt generators the largest ever purchased by a Canadian utility; and its power transformers were the largest ever built in Canada.
On June 20, 1962, Ontario Premier John Robarts
John Robarts
John Parmenter Robarts, PC, CC, QC was a Canadian lawyer and statesman, and the 17th Premier of Ontario.-Early life:...
and Ontario Hydro chairman W. Ross Strike pushed the button to start up the first 300,000 kilowatt unit. Lakeview was the second thermal plant designed by Ontario Hydro. The Hearn Generating Station
Hearn Generating Station
The Richard L. Hearn Generating Station is a decommissioned electrical generating station in Toronto. The plant was originally fired by coal, but later converted to burn natural gas. It is still owned by Ontario Power Generation, a publicly owned electrical generation company...
in Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
opened several years before and served as a test bed for Lakeview. As the design and construction of progressed, the station would include two different types of boilers and three unique turbine designs. It is possible that Ontario Hydro had a dispute with equipment suppliers in the early 1960s which caused the
unusual equipment choices. The switch from Parsons as a turbine supplier to AEI was unusual since the AEI turbine generators on units 3-6 were (50 cycle) machines. They would require heavy weights attached to overcome turbine vibration at the higher (60 cycle) speeds in Canada.
These were the only AEI turbines installed at Ontario Hydro. Units 5 & 6 operated until the station closed (40 years)
The station would reach 2400 MW by 1968, surpassed only by the Nanticoke Generating Station
Nanticoke Generating Station
The Nanticoke Generating Station is the largest coal-fired power plant in North America, delivering up to 2,760 MW of power into the southern Ontario power grid from its base in Nanticoke, Ontario, Canada. Previous to unit shutdowns, its generating capacity was 3,964 MW. It is owned by...
(4096 MW) near Port Dover, in the late 1970s. During the late 1960s and 1970s, the station operated to full capacity as an eight-unit baseload plant, meeting about 17% of Ontario’s electricity needs. In the early 1980s, Lakeview worked at full capacity after problems at Pickering in August 1983 resulted in a brief power shortage. In the early 1990s the station was partially overhauled. A surplus of capacity led to the mothballing of four units. The station continued to play an important role as a four-unit peaking plant, providing an adequate and reliable electricity supply when consumer demands were highest in the morning and around the dinner hour – and in the summer and winter. This role was especially critical on hot days when air conditioning use drove up electricity demand.
Following provincial government policy to phase out Ontario Power Generation’s six coal-fired generating stations by the end of 2007, Lakeview Generating Station ceased operations on Saturday, April 30, 2005 after 43 years. Lakeview and its employees made a highly significant contribution to the energy needs of the province, and particularly to the Greater Toronto Area (GTA).
Boilers
Units 1 & 2 had Babcock & Wilcox front-fired boilers and Parson turbines with a tandem cross compound arrangement (there were two 150 MW turbines - high/intermediate pressure and intermediate/low pressure) Each unit had two generators - one 3600 RPM, the other 1800 RPM.Units 3 & 4 (1964–65) had boilers built by Combustion Engineering
Combustion Engineering
Combustion Engineering was an American engineering firm and leading firm in the development of power systems in the United States with approximately 30,000 employees in about a dozen states at its peak. Headquartered in Stamford, Connecticut, C-E owned over two dozen other companies including...
, with double tangentially fired furnaces. The tandem compound turbines were supplied by AEI (UK)
Units 5 & 6 (1965–66) had Babcock & Wilcox front-fired boilers and AEI tandem compound turbines.
Units 7 & 8 (1968) has Babcock & Wilcox front-fired boilers and Parsons tandem compound turbines.
At a cost of $274 million, Lakeview Generating Station had become the largest
thermal-electric plant in the world when it was completed in 1968.
Environmental Improvements
Environmental improvements at Lakeview in recent years included recycling fly ashFly ash
Fly ash is one of the residues generated in combustion, and comprises the fine particles that rise with the flue gases. Ash which does not rise is termed bottom ash. In an industrial context, fly ash usually refers to ash produced during combustion of coal...
and safeguarding water quality. The station’s achievement of International Organisation for Standardisation ISO 14001 certification continued to demonstrate Lakeview’s commitment to environmental management through responsible operation at the highest standards.
Emissions Control
- 1972: Research to remove SO2 from flue gases continues.
- 1981: Coal-cleaning project completes first of four years of testing.
- 1984: Launch of acid gas control program and commitment to cutting emissions in half by 1990.
- 1986: “War on acid gas emissions” continues as Lakeview tests limestone-injection scrubbing technology to further reduce emissions, and uses more low-sulphur coal.
- 1987: The prospect of a major equipment overhaul looms, along with new environmental restrictions. Ontario Hydro begins three-year study aimed at obtaining approval for acid gas control equipment at coal-fired generating stations.
- 1989: Hydro announces a major Lakeview rehabilitation between 1990 and 1994, including the addition of acid gas control equipment on all eight units.
- 1991: Revised plan for Lakeview includes complete rehabilitation for Units 5 and 6, and a reduced rehabilitation for Units 1 and 2; decision on remaining four units deferred.
- 1992: High-efficiency precipitators are installed on all four operating units, which combined with flue gas conditioning technology to capture more than 99% of particulates in the flue gases.
- 1999: Lakeview receives ISO 14001 accreditation and announces new initiative to further reduce nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions.
- 2001: Lakeview completes installation of new, low nitrogen oxide burners on all operating units, cutting nitrogen oxides emissions by 50% from the 1999 level.
Timeline
- June 1, 1958: Construction begins on 52 hectares of land purchased from Toronto Township
- July 24, 1959: Ontario Hydro announces the addition of a third and fourth 300,000 kilowatt generating unit to Lakeview by 1964
- 1961: Unit 1 produces first electricity on October 30
- 1962–1965: Units 2 – 4 in service
- 1965–1969: Units 5 – 8 in service
- On the waterfront of Lake Ontario, “The Four Sisters” – Lakeview’s four 146 meter (sometimes quoted as 150 meters) concrete stacks – became a familiar navigational beacon for boats, ships and airplanes.
- Lakeview ran at its highest capacity as a baseload plant from the late 1960s to the early 1980s and met about 17% of the province’s energy needs. During this time, Lakeview played an important role in providing an around-the-clock, reliable supply of electricity to Ontario’s energy customers.
- 1980s: In the 1980s, as nuclear units came on line at Pickering and Bruce, Lakeview’s role in the electricity marketplace changed. It transitioned to a peaking plant, due to its higher costs operating only when electricity demands were highest, or other generating units were not available. In 1986, the station began to use lower-sulphur coal to reduce emissions of sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxides.
- 1990–1993: $1.1 billion was invested in rehabilitation to increase efficiency and reliability, and the addition of acid gas control equipment to all eight units. By 1992, only four units had been overhauled when repairs were halted due to the changing future outlook and to a decline in the consumer use of energy, due to economic recession.
- 1993–2000: In January, 1993, reduced load forecasts resulted in the decommissioning of Units 3, 4, 7 and 8. In 1994, the plant returned to service as a four-unit peak-demand generating station, but with a much improved environmental performance. Lakeview continued to provide customers with a safe, reliable source of power when demand was highest, and became a key asset in times of uncertainty in the electricity marketplace. The station’s location in the GTA made its output invaluable to some of Ontario’s largest municipal utilities and industries –especially when nuclear and other generation was not available.
- 1998–2002: In December, 1998, Ontario Hydro announced a joint venture to pursue the development of a 550 MW natural gas-fired combined cycle power plant at Lakeview. The venture was dissolved in May, 2000. In March, 2001, the provincial government announced that Lakeview would be required to stop burning coal by April, 2005.
- 2003–2005: In October, 2003, the provincial government confirmed that Lakeview would close on April 30, 2005, with plans for the remainder of OPG’s coal-fuelled plants removed from service by the end of 2007, this plan never met its deadline and only demolished the Lakeview plant before 2008.
- June 12, 2006: "The Four Sisters" were successfully imploded by Murray Demolition LP, in order of east to west, falling to the east with a stack toppling every 4 seconds. Over a thousand spectators came to a nearby park to observe the demolition. Helicopters filled the sky, each taking footage of the event.
- June 28, 2007: The rest of the building was demolished at 11:04am EST.
Trivia
- 50% of Lakeview’s total generation was produced between 1962 and 1976.
- Over Lakeview’s lifetime as a coal-fired facility, the station generated more than 215 terawatt-hours (TWh) of electricity for the people of Ontario. By comparison, the output would have been sufficient to provide all of Ontario’s electricity needs for approximately 1.4 years (based on 2004 153.4 TWh for Ontario).
- The station was shut down in April 2005. The closing is said to have the same impact as removing 30,000 cars off the road every day.
- The station's four stacks (The Four Sisters) were imploded on Monday June 12, 2006 at 7:31 AM EST - charges were set off and within about 10 seconds, all had crumbled to the ground.
- The four stacks are the tallest concrete structures to ever be demolished in Canada each standing appox. 150m tall.
See also
List of other electricity genearting facilities in the Greater Toronto AreaGreater Toronto Area
The Greater Toronto Area is the largest metropolitan area in Canada, with a 2006 census population of 5.5 million. The Greater Toronto Area is usually defined as the central city of Toronto, along with four regional municipalities surrounding it: Durham, Halton, Peel, and York...
:
- Hearn Generating StationHearn Generating StationThe Richard L. Hearn Generating Station is a decommissioned electrical generating station in Toronto. The plant was originally fired by coal, but later converted to burn natural gas. It is still owned by Ontario Power Generation, a publicly owned electrical generation company...
- inactive generating station located along the lakefront in TorontoTorontoToronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from... - Portlands Energy CentrePortlands Energy CentreThe Portlands Energy Centre is a 550-megawatt natural gas electrical generating station on the Toronto waterfront at 470 Unwin Avenue – next to the site of the decommissioned Hearn Generating Station.-Corporate Support:...
- active generating station located next to Hearn and located along the lakefront - Pickering Nuclear Generating StationPickering Nuclear Generating StationPickering Nuclear Generating Station is a Canadian nuclear power station located on the north shore of Lake Ontario in Pickering, Ontario. The facility derives its name from the City of Pickering in which it is located....
- located along the lakefront in Pickering, OntarioPickering, OntarioPickering is a city located in Southern Ontario, Canada immediately east of Toronto in Durham Region. It is part of the Greater Toronto Area, the largest metropolitan area in Canada.- Early Period :... - Darlington Nuclear Generating StationDarlington Nuclear Generating StationDarlington Nuclear Generating Station is a Canadian nuclear power station located on the north shore of Lake Ontario in Clarington, Ontario. The facility derives its name from the Township of Darlington, the former name of the municipality in which it is located.The Darlington station is a large...
- located along the lakefront in Darlington, Ontario
External links
- Emporis Listing
- http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/HTMLTemplate?tf=/ctv/mar/video/new_player.html&cf=ctv/mar/ctv.cfg&hub=TopStories&video_link_high=mms://ctvbroadcast.ctv.ca/video/2006/06/12/ctvvideologger2_691kbps_2006_06_12_1150127895.wmv&video_link_low=mms://ctvbroadcast.ctv.ca/video/2006/06/12/ctvvideologger2_218kbps_2006_06_12_1150127343.wmv&clip_start=00:11:36.02&clip_end=00:02:05.12&clip_caption=CTV%20Toronto:%20Austin%20Delaney%20at%20the%20Lakeview%20Plant&clip_id=ctvnews.20060612.00149000-00149503-clip5&subhub=video&no_ads=&sortdate=20060612&slug=smokestacks_demolished_061206&archive=CTVNews#ctvnews.20060612.00149000-00149503-clip5/CTV Videos of "Four Sisters" Demolition]
- Toronto Star Video of "Four Sisters" Demolition
- High resolution video of the "Four Sisters" Demolition
- Pictures of "Four Sisters" demolition on flickr.com by Andrew Alexander
- Video of boiler house demolition
- Discovery Channel footage of implosion
- Unauthorized photographs taken by an urban explorerUrban ExplorerUrban Explorer is a 2011 horror-thriller film directed by Andy Fetscher.-Premise:Four young urban explorers from the USA, South America, Asia and Europe meet up in Berlin via the internet to explore the subterranean relics of Nazi Germany...