TC Energy
TC Energy Corporation, previously known as TransCanada Corporation, stands as a prominent player in the North American energy sector. Headquartered in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, within the iconic TC Energy Tower, the company specializes in the development and operation of energy infrastructure spanning across Canada, the United States, and Mexico. TC Energy operates through three primary segments: Natural Gas Pipelines, Liquids Pipelines, and Energy.
The Natural Gas Pipeline network encompasses an extensive network of 92,600 kilometers (57,539 miles) of gas pipelines, facilitating the transportation of over a quarter of North America’s natural gas demand. On the other hand, the Liquids Pipelines division includes 4,900 kilometers (3,045 miles) of oil pipelines, enabling the shipment of 590,000 barrels of crude oil daily, equivalent to approximately 20% of Western Canadian exports. Additionally, the Energy division boasts ownership or interests in 11 power generation facilities, collectively generating 6,600 megawatts (MW) of power, sourced from nuclear and natural gas-fired plants. Notably, TC Energy is expanding its energy division to incorporate more renewable sources like pumped storage, wind, and solar generation.
Established in 1951 in Calgary, TC Energy underwent a rebranding in 2019. Over its history, it has evolved through strategic mergers and acquisitions, notably merging with NOVA Corporation’s pipeline business in 1998 and acquiring Columbia Pipeline Group in 2016. The company’s US headquarters are situated in the TC Energy Center skyscraper in Houston, Texas.
TC Energy’s operations are diverse and expansive. Its natural gas pipelines span across North America, connecting gas production to various markets and end-users. Some of its major pipeline systems include the NGTL System, Canadian Mainline, Columbia Gas, ANR Pipeline System, and Columbia Gulf, among others. The company also has a significant presence in Mexico, with a growing network of natural gas pipelines.
In the realm of liquids pipelines, TC Energy’s Keystone Pipeline System and Grand Rapids pipelines are instrumental in connecting Alberta crude oil supplies to refining markets in the United States. The Keystone Pipeline System, despite facing opposition and controversy, has been pivotal in transporting Western Canadian crude oil to export markets. Additionally, TC Energy has ongoing projects like the Keystone XL Pipeline, aimed at further expanding its liquids pipeline infrastructure.
TC Energy’s Energy division focuses on power generation and natural gas storage assets. With a capacity of approximately 7,000 MW, its power generation facilities are primarily located in Canada and powered by natural gas, nuclear, and wind sources. The company has proposed projects in pumped storage and solar energy to bolster its clean energy portfolio.
As of February 2020, TC Energy’s ownership structure reflects a diverse shareholder base, with institutional investors holding a majority stake in the company. Notable shareholders include the Royal Bank of Canada and other prominent financial institutions.
Operational natural gas pipelines[edit] | ||||
Name | Country | Length | TransCanada’s participation | Description |
NGTL System | Canada | 24,320 km (15,112 mi) | 100 | Receives, transports and delivers natural gas within Alberta and B.C., and connects with the Canadian Mainline, Foothills system and third-party pipelines. |
Canadian Mainline | Canada | 14,077 km (8,747 mi) | 100 | Transports natural gas from the Alberta/Saskatchewanborder and the Ontario/U.S. border to serve eastern Canada and interconnects to the U.S. |
Foothills | Canada | 1,241 km (771 mi) | 100 | Transports natural gas from central Alberta to the U.S. border for export to the U.S. Midwest, PacificNorthwest, California and Nevada |
Trans Québec & Maritimes | Canada | 572 km (355 mi) | 50 | Connects with the Canadian Mainline near the Ontario/Québec border to transport natural gas to the Montréal to Québec City corridor, and interconnects with the Portland pipeline system that serves the northeast U.S. |
Ventures LP | Canada | 161 km (100 mi) | 100 | Transports natural gas to the oil sands region near Fort McMurray, Alberta. It also includes a 27 km (17 mile) pipeline supplying natural gas to a petrochemical complex at Joffre, Alberta. |
Great Lakes Canada | Canada | 58 km (36 mi) | 100 | Transports natural gas from the Great Lakes system in the U.S. to Ontario, near Dawn, through a connection at the U.S. border underneath the St. Clair River |
ANR | United States | 15,109 km (9,388 mi) | 100 | Transports natural gas from various supply basins to markets throughout the Midwest and Gulf Coast. |
Bison | United States | 488 km (303 mi) | 25.7 | Transports natural gas from the Powder River Basin in Wyoming to Northern Border in North Dakota. |
Columbia Gas | United States | 18,113 km (11,255 mi) | 100 | Transports natural gas from supply primarily in the Appalachian Basin to markets throughout the U.S. Northeast. |
Columbia Gulf | United States | 5,377 km (3,341 mi) | 100 | Transports natural gas to various markets and pipeline interconnects in the southern U.S. and Gulf Coast. |
Crossroads | United States | 325 km (202 mi) | 100 | Interstate natural gas pipeline operating in Indiana and Ohio with multiple interconnects to other pipelines. |
Gas Transmission Northwest | United States | 2,216 km (1,377 mi) | 25.7 | Transports WCSB and Rockies natural gas to Washington, Oregon and California. Connects with Tuscarora and Foothills. |
Great Lakes | United States | 3,404 km (2,115 mi) | 65.5 | Connects with the Canadian Mainline near Emerson, Manitoba, and to Great Lakes Canada near St Clair, Ontario, plus interconnects with ANR at Crystal Falls and Farwell in Michigan, to transport natural gas to eastern Canada and the U.S. Upper Midwest |
Iroquois | United States | 669 km (416 mi) | 13.4 | Connects with the Canadian Mainline and serves markets in New York. |
Millennium | United States | 407 km (253 mi) | 47.5 | Natural gas pipeline supplied by local production, storage fields and interconnecting upstream pipelines to serve markets along its route and to the U.S. Northeast. |
North Baja | United States | 138 km (86 mi) | 25.7 | Transports natural gas between Arizona and California, and connects with a third-party pipeline on the California/ Mexico border. |
Northern Border | United States | 2,272 km (1,412 mi) | 12.9 | Transports WCSB, Bakken and Rockies natural gas from connections with Foothills and Bison to U.S. Midwest markets. |
Portland | United States | 475 km (295 mi) | 15.9 | Connects with TQM near East Hereford, Québec to deliver natural gas to customers in the U.S. Northeast. |
Tuscarora | United States | 491 km (305 mi) | 25.7 | Transports natural gas from GTN at Malin, Oregon to markets in northeastern California and northwestern Nevada. |
Guadalajara | Mexico | 315 km (196 mi) | 100 | Transports natural gas from Manzanillo, Colima to Guadalajara, Jalisco. |
Mazatlán | Mexico | 491 km (305 mi) | 100 | Transports natural gas from El Oro to Mazatlán, Sinaloa inMexico. Connects to the Topolobampo Pipeline at El Oro |
Tamazunchale | Mexico | 375 km (233 mi) | 100 | Transports natural gas from Naranjos, Veracruz in east central Mexico to Tamazunchale, San Luis Potosí and on to El Sauz, Querétaro. |
Topolobampo | Mexico | 560 km (348 mi) | 100 | Transports natural gas to Topolobampo, Sinaloa, from interconnects with third-party pipelines in El Oro, Sinaloa and El Encino, Chihuahua in Mexico |