Natural gas and generation stations - Great River Energy

Natural gas and generation stations

Peaking stations can produce precise amounts of energy when it’s needed. Great River Energy’s peaking stations are strategically located throughout Minnesota and possess the collective ability to produce more than 1,300 megawatts of electricity. Great River Energy’s peaking stations can provide energy in any amount, from a small boost to the full output of the fleet. And, they can begin feeding energy to the electric grid within minutes.  Peaking stations are particularly important during extreme weather, such as heat waves. As extreme weather events are happening with more frequency and intensity, peaking generation satisfies the important role of reliability assets, providing on-demand energy to the grid.

Cambridge Station

  • Location: Cambridge, Minnesota
  • Unit 2 Generating capability: 170 MW (summer)
  • Start of operation: May 2007
  • Fuel source: Natural gas
  • Turbine generators: Unit 2 manufactured by Siemens (SGT6-4000F)
  • Project site: 23 acres

Elk River Peaking Station

  • Location: Elk River, Minnesota
  • Generating capability: 175 MW (summer)
  • Fuel source: Natural gas; backup, fuel oil
  • Turbine generator: One combustion turbine manufactured by Siemens (SGT6-5000F4)
  • Start of operation: 2009
  • Project site: 20 acres

Lakefield Junction Station

  • Location: Martin County, Minnesota
  • Generating capability: 488 MW (summer)
  • Fuel source: Natural gas; backup, fuel oil
  • Turbine generators: Six combustion turbines manufactured by General Electric (6xMS7001EA)
  • Start of operation: 2001
  • Project site: 150 acres

Pleasant Valley Station

  • Location: Mower County, Minnesota
  • Generating capability: 421 MW (summer)
  • Fuel source: Natural gas; backup, fuel oil
  • Turbine generators: Three combustion turbines manufactured by Siemens Westinghouse (2xV84.3A2, 1x501D5A)
  • Start of Operation: Units 11 and 12 – 2001; Unit 13 – 2002
  • Project site: 160 acres

Arrowhead Emergency Generating Station

  • Location: Cook County, Minnesota
  • Generating capability: 18 MW
  • Fuel source: Fuel oil
  • Engines: Nine 2-MW Cummins emergency diesel generators
  • Start of operation: May 2009
  • Project site: 20 acres

Combustion turbine stations

St. Bonifacius Station
  • Location: St. Bonifacius, Minn.
  • Generating capability: 58 MW (summer)
  • Fuel source: Fuel oil
  • Turbine generator: Two aero-derivative combustion turbines manufactured by Pratt & Whitney coupled to a single generator. Can operate a number of hours in synchronous condenser mode which allows the plant to carry operating reserves as well as voltage support for the electrical grid.
Rock Lake Station
  • Location: Pine City, Minn.
  • Generating capability: 20 MW (summer)
  • Fuel source: Fuel oil
  • Turbine Generator: One combustion turbine manufactured by GE (MS5001)
Maple Lake Station
  • Location: Maple Lake, Minn.
  • Generating capability: 20 MW (summer)
  • Fuel source: Fuel oil
  • Turbine generator: One combustion turbine manufactured by GE (MS5001)
Cambridge Station – Unit 1
  • Location: Cambridge, Minn.
  • Generating capability: Unit 1: 21 MW (summer)
  • Fuel source: Fuel oil
  • Turbine generators: Two combustion turbines, Unit 1 manufactured by GE (MS5001)