Vanderwell Contractors (1971) — Canada
Biomass power plant in Alberta, Canada. Approximate location 55.264, -114.5893.
BiomassAlbertaCanada
Vanderwell Contractors (1971) is a 4 MW biomass power plant in Alberta, Canada. It is operated by Vanderwell Contractors (1971). Based on its capacity (estimated), it can supply roughly 5.5k homes (estimated). It ranks #1026 of 1,210 Canada power plants by installed capacity. In context, biomass supplies about 1.6% of Canada's electricity; the national grid averages 191 gCO₂/kWh (77.0% low-carbon) (2025).
Plant data: WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0), id CAN0008507.
Data status
Known data
Calculated from dataset
Not available
Known, modelled and calculated values are kept separate. Missing fields are shown as unavailable.
Data provenance
Capacity and fuel are the upstream open-dataset record, not yet matched to a 2026 registry or GEM entry.
capacity: WRI GPPD; fuel: WRI GPPD
In context: how this plant compares
At 4 MW, Vanderwell Contractors (1971) is below the median biomass plant in Canada (15 MW). Biomass plants burn organic material such as wood, residues or waste-derived fuel to raise steam; they are dispatchable and counted as low-carbon where the feedstock is sustainably sourced.
Capacity comparison computed from the WRI Global Power Plant Database; fuel-type context is general engineering background.
Key facts
- Share of Canada biomass capacity
- 0.1% of 2,742 MW across 111 plants in this dataset
Calculated from the capacity and generation records in this dataset (WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0)).
Capacity vs largest biomass plants in Canada
Installed capacity (MW), WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0).
Owner
Operated by Vanderwell Contractors (1971).
Local climate & thermal context
This biomass plant burns organic material (wood, residues) to raise steam for a turbine. It sits in a subarctic (boreal) climate (Köppen Dfc) — Northern Hemisphere, latitude 55.3°N — which shapes how much energy it can produce and how its output varies through the year.
Monthly mean temperature
Heating degree-days here run 145% above the median power plant in this dataset — a proxy for how much extra energy heated equipment must replace through its surfaces in winter.
Climate heat-demand index: 98/100 — this site sits in the top third of the power plants we cover by heating degree-days.
Climate normals: WorldClim 2.1 (1970–2000 monthly normals, 10 arc-min, CC BY 4.0); zone: Köppen-Geiger world climate classification (Kottek et al. 2006, 0.5° grid). Degree-days & heat-demand index computed by PowerAtlas — a modelled heat-demand proxy, not a measured site figure.
Site climate & environmental severity
This site sits in a mild atmospheric environment (estimated ISO 9223 class C2 — Low), with thermal cycling the leading environmental stress.
Indicative estimate via the ISO 9223:2012 informative method (atmospheric corrosivity from temperature, time-of-wetness and airborne salinity), using WorldClim climate normals, the Köppen-Geiger class and coast distance. Indicative, not a measured corrosion rate.
How it compares & nearby plants
The #86 largest biomass power plant of 111 in Canada by capacity.
Canada has 111 biomass power plants in this dataset, together about 2,742 MW of capacity.
Nearby power plants
- Slave Lake · Biomass · 9 MW · Alberta
- Westlock (Dapp) · Biomass · 17 MW · Alberta
- Whitecourt · Biomass · 25 MW · Alberta
- Wabamun power station · Coal · 537 MW · Alberta
- Sundance · Coal · 2,141 MW · Alberta
- Alberta Sundance power station · Gas · 2,121 MW · Alberta
Location
Coordinates 55.264, -114.5893 from WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0). View on OpenStreetMap.
Frequently asked questions
What type of power plant is Vanderwell Contractors (1971)?
Vanderwell Contractors (1971) is a 4 MW biomass power plant in Alberta, Canada.
Who operates Vanderwell Contractors (1971)?
Vanderwell Contractors (1971) is operated by Vanderwell Contractors (1971).