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Non-Controlling Interests
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2017
Interests In Other Entities [Abstract]  
Non-Controlling Interests
Non-Controlling Interests
The Corporation’s subsidiaries and operations that have non-controlling interests are as follows:
Subsidiary/Operation
Non-controlling interest as at Dec. 31, 2017
TransAlta Cogeneration L.P.
49.99% - Canadian Power Holdings Inc.
TransAlta Renewables
36% - Public shareholders
Kent Hills Wind LP(1)
17% - Natural Forces Technologies Inc.
 
(1) Owned by TransAlta Renewables.

TransAlta Cogeneration, L.P. (“TA Cogen”) operates a portfolio of cogeneration facilities in Canada and owns 50 per cent of a coal facility. TransAlta Renewables owns and operates a portfolio of renewable power generation facilities in Canada and owns economic interests in various other gas and renewable facilities of the Corporation.
Summarized financial information relating to subsidiaries with significant non-controlling interests is as follows:
A. TransAlta Renewables
 
The net earnings, distributions and equity attributable to non-controlling interests include the 17 per cent non-controlling interest in the 150 MW Kent Hills wind farm located in New Brunswick.
The South Hedland Power Station achieved commercial operation on July 28, 2017. On Aug. 1, 2017, the Corporation converted its 26.1 million Class B shares held in TransAlta Renewables into 26.4 million common shares of TransAlta Renewables. At that time, the Corporation’s equity participation percentage in TransAlta Renewables increased to 64 per cent from 59.8 per cent. The Class B shares were converted at a ratio greater than 1:1 because the construction and commissioning costs for the project were below the referenced costs agreed to with TransAlta Renewables.
As a result of the conversion of Class B shares and the transactions described in Note 4, the Corporation’s share of ownership and equity participation in TransAlta Renewables has fluctuated since its formation as follows:
Period
Ownership and voting
rights percentage
Equity participation
percentage
April 29, 2014 to May 6, 2015
70.3
70.3
May 7, 2015 to Nov. 25, 2015
76.1
72.8
Nov. 26, 2015 to Jan. 5, 2016

66.6
62.0
Jan. 6, 2016 to July 31, 2017

64.0
59.8
Aug. 1, 2017 and thereafter

64.0
64.0

Year ended Dec. 31
2017

2016

2015

Revenues
459

259

236

Net earnings
13

1

198

Total comprehensive income
(24
)
40

204

Amounts attributable to the non-controlling interests:
 
 

 

Net earnings
11

2

63

Total comprehensive income

18

65

Distributions paid to non-controlling interests
85

83

43

As at Dec. 31
2017

2016

Current assets
145

109

Long-term assets
3,483

3,732

Current liabilities
(356
)
(537
)
Long-term liabilities
(1,075
)
(1,237
)
Total equity
(2,197
)
(2,067
)
Equity attributable to non-controlling interests
(812
)
(851
)
Non-controlling interests’ share (per cent)
36.0

40.2

B. TA Cogen
Year ended Dec. 31
2017

2016

2015

Results of operations
 

 

 

Revenues
175

274

288

Net earnings
61

211

61

Total comprehensive income
61

258

77

Amounts attributable to the non-controlling interest:
 

 

 

Net earnings
31

105

31

Total comprehensive income
31

128

38

Distributions paid to Canadian Power Holdings Inc.
87

68

56

As at Dec. 31
2017

2016

Current assets
193

171

Long-term assets
404

538

Current liabilities
(73
)
(65
)
Long-term liabilities
(26
)
(35
)
Total equity
(498
)
(609
)
Equity attributable to Canadian Power Holdings Inc.
(247
)
(301
)
Non-controlling interest share (per cent)
49.99

49.99