<SUBMISSION>
<ACCESSION-NUMBER>0001179110-16-027272
<TYPE>4
<PUBLIC-DOCUMENT-COUNT>1
<PERIOD>20160630
<FILING-DATE>20160705
<DATE-OF-FILING-DATE-CHANGE>20160705
<ISSUER>
<COMPANY-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>ATLANTIC POWER CORP
<CIK>0001419242
<ASSIGNED-SIC>4900
<IRS-NUMBER>550886410
<STATE-OF-INCORPORATION>A1
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>1231
</COMPANY-DATA>
<BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>3 ALLIED DRIVE
<STREET2>SUITE 220
<CITY>DEDHAM
<STATE>MA
<ZIP>02026
<PHONE>617-977-2400
</BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<MAIL-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>3 ALLIED DRIVE
<STREET2>SUITE 220
<CITY>DEDHAM
<STATE>MA
<ZIP>02026
</MAIL-ADDRESS>
</ISSUER>
<REPORTING-OWNER>
<OWNER-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>DUNCAN R FOSTER
<CIK>0001196663
</OWNER-DATA>
<FILING-VALUES>
<FORM-TYPE>4
<ACT>34
<FILE-NUMBER>001-34691
<FILM-NUMBER>161748422
</FILING-VALUES>
<MAIL-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>139 E FOURTH ST
<CITY>CINCINNATI
<STATE>OH
<ZIP>45202
</MAIL-ADDRESS>
</REPORTING-OWNER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 4 -
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0306</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2016-06-30</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001419242</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>ATLANTIC POWER CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>AT</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001196663</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>DUNCAN R FOSTER</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O ATLANTIC POWER CORPORATION</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>3 ALLIED DRIVE, SUITE 220</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>DEDHAM</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>02026</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle></officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable></nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Deferred share units</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2016-06-30</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>9281</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>2.45</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common shares</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>9281</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>89695</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Deferred share units are granted under the Company's Deferred Share Unit Plan, which provides for the payment of all accrued deferred share units to the reporting person following his or her termination as a director. Each deferred share unit is equal to the economic equivalent of one common share.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ John S. Miele, attorney-in-fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2016-07-05</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SUBMISSION>
