{{short description|Natural gas-fired power station in New Brunswick, Canada}} {{Use Canadian English|date=January 2026}} {{Use mdy dates|date=November 2025}} {{Infobox power station | name = Bayside Generating Station | image = Bayside Power Station.jpg | image_caption = The generating station in 2026 | country = Canada | location = Saint John, New Brunswick | coordinates = {{coord|45.2753|N|66.0263|W|display=inline,title}} | status = O | construction_began = 1998 | commissioned = 1999 | owner = NB Power | operator = NB Power | th_fuel_primary = Natural gas | ps_electrical_capacity = 284 MW | mapframe = yes | mapframe-zoom = 10 }}
The '''Bayside Generating Station''' (also known as '''Bayside Power''') is a 284 MW natural gas-fired power station located in Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada. It is owned and operated by NB Power.<ref name="IRP2023">{{cite report |title=2023 Integrated Resource Plan |publisher=NB Power |date=July 28, 2023 |url=https://www.nbpower.com/media/1492472/2023-integrated-resource-plan-en.pdf}}</ref> The station was developed in the late 1990s as a repowering project at the former Courtenay Bay industrial site, where an existing heavy fuel oil–fired generating unit was converted and reconfigured as part of the development of a natural gas–fired combined-cycle facility.<ref name="PowerEng2000">{{cite magazine |title=Repowering and Retrofits: Building on Past Value |magazine=Power Engineering |date=January 1, 2000 |url=https://www.power-eng.com/operations-maintenance/repowering-and-retrofits-building-on-past-value/ |access-date=January 3, 2026}}</ref>
== Overview == Bayside is a combined-cycle station in which exhaust heat from a gas turbine is recovered to produce steam for a secondary turbine.<ref name="EmeraAIF">{{cite web |title=Emera Inc. Annual Information Form |publisher=Emera Inc. |date=2011 |url=https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1127248/000119312511084952/dex991.htm |access-date=December 28, 2025}}</ref> Data from the Commission for Environmental Cooperation reports an estimated net thermal efficiency in the low-50% range for the technology category used at the plant.<ref name="CEC">{{cite web |title=North American Power Plant Air Emissions – Information sources (Canada) |publisher=Commission for Environmental Cooperation |url=https://www.cec.org/sites/default/napp/en/information_sources-canada.php |access-date=December 28, 2025}}</ref>
In 2022, NB Power replaced the station's gas turbine and generator as part of a major upgrade intended to improve production efficiency and reduce emissions, with the work completed ahead of winter peak demand.<ref name="NBP_AR_2022_23">{{cite report |title=NB Power Annual Report 2022–23 |publisher=NB Power |date=June 19, 2023 |url=https://www.nbpower.com/media/1492469/nb-power-annual-report-2022-23.pdf |access-date=December 28, 2025}}</ref><ref name="IRP2023" />
== History == There are 3 prominent red-and-white striped smokestacks at the site from the original Courtenay Bay Generating Station, which was built and expanded during the 1960s as an oil-fired steam plant.<ref name="NBPHist">{{cite web |title=Our history |publisher=NB Power |url=https://www.nbpower.com/About-Us/Our-History |access-date=January 4, 2026}}</ref>
Bayside entered service in 1999 as Bayside Power LP, developed as a repowering of Courtenay Bay Unit 3, and supplied electricity to NB Power as well as export markets in the northeastern United States.<ref name="PowerEng2000" /><ref name="IrvingEmera2009">{{cite press release |title=Irving Oil sells Bayside Power to Emera |publisher=Emera Inc. |date=June 26, 2009 |url=https://investors.emera.com/news/news-details/2009/Irving-Oil-sells-Bayside-Power-to-Emera/default.aspx |access-date=December 28, 2025}}</ref>
On July 26, 2024, a roof fire at the station was quickly extinguished and no injuries were reported.<ref>{{cite news |title=Crews extinguish fire at natural-gas-fired power plant in Saint John |work=Yahoo News |agency=CBC News |date=July 26, 2024 |url=https://ca.news.yahoo.com/crews-battle-fire-natural-gas-204426169.html |access-date=December 28, 2025}}</ref>
== Operations == Bayside produces lower greenhouse gas emissions per megawatt-hour than NB Power's older oil- and coal-fired stations such as Coleson Cove Generating Station and Belledune Generating Station. IRP planning indicates the plant will shift to a reduced or backup role after 2035 under federal Clean Electricity Regulation, with gas supply considerations during the coldest periods influencing dispatch.<ref name="IRP2023" /> The station's planning end of life is in 2038.<ref name="IRP2023" />
Regulatory filings associated with NB Power's capital program and depreciation planning have also referenced the Bayside gas turbine upgrade as a material cost driver in the early 2020s.<ref name="NBEUB_2023">{{cite report |title=Decision – Matter 541 |publisher=New Brunswick Energy and Utilities Board |date=June 7, 2023 |url=https://nbeub.ca/uploads/2023%2006%2007%20-%20Decision%20-%20Matter%20541.pdf |access-date=December 28, 2025}}</ref>
== See also == * NB Power * Electricity sector in Canada * List of generating stations in New Brunswick
== References == {{reflist}}
== External links == * {{Official website|https://www.nbpower.com/}}
Category:Natural gas-fired power stations in Canada Category:Buildings and structures in Saint John, New Brunswick Category:NB Power Category:Energy infrastructure completed in 1999 Category:1999 establishments in New Brunswick