Bay d'Espoir Hydro Electric Development
Encyclopedia
The Baie D'Espoir Hydroelectric Development, built by the Newfoundland and Labrador Power Commission
is located on the south coast of Newfoundland
near the rural community of Bay d'Espoir. It was the first major hydroelectric project undertaken in Newfoundland
.
(BRINCO) became interested in the site. In 1957 a Shawinigan Engineering survey confirmed the feasibility of building a hydroelectric plant. By 1959 BRINCO had set up a subsidiary, Southern Newfoundland Power and Development Corporation, to carry out the project. However, the subsidiary was unable to attract industrial customers to the area; this, it felt, was necessary before undertaking the project, so in 1964 it sold all its rights and assets to the Newfoundland Government.
The government, by taking over the project, became eligible for a $20 million grant from the Atlantic Development Board a Federal Government
agency. The engineering and construction work was carried out by ShawMont Newfoundland Engineering, a joint venture company formed by Shawinigan Engineering and Montreal Engineering in 1964.
The Baie D'Espoir Hydroelectric Development was undertaken to provide the province with a large source of low-cost electric power which would allow the Island's utilities to extend their services, stimilate the expansion of the industries already in the province and attract new industries to Newfoundland and Labrador. The Electric Reduction Company of Canada Industries Limited (ERCO), phosphorus
plant at Long Harbour and the Come by Chance Oil Refinery at Come by Chance
were built partially because of the availability of cheap power.
Units 1 through 4 went online between 1967 and 1968, with each unit having a rated capacity of 75 MW.
Generating unit 2 underwent a major refurbishment during the summer of 2010, including a stator rewind, rotor pole re-insulation and protection upgrade. This project was the first stator rewind on a unit of this size in Newfoundland and Labrador Hydro's history.
and canals, this water is directed to generating plants at Granite Canal, Upper Salmon and, finally, 150 km from Victoria Lake to its final tidewater destination at Baie d'Espoir. Water is collected, stored and diverted from a number of drainage areas
between Victoria Lake and Long Pond, the forebay for the two Baie d'Espoir generating stations.
The seven generating units at Baie d'Espoir utilize approximately 176 m of head
to produce a rated output of 604 MW with a rated flow of 397 m3/s. The plant produces an average of 2,657 GWh annually, making it the largest hydroelectric plant in Newfoundland.
Newfoundland and Labrador Power Commission
The Newfoundland and Labrador Power Commission is the former name of Newfoundland and Labrador Hydro.The NPC was created in 1954 by the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador to provide rural electrification across the province...
is located on the south coast of Newfoundland
Newfoundland and Labrador
Newfoundland and Labrador is the easternmost province of Canada. Situated in the country's Atlantic region, it incorporates the island of Newfoundland and mainland Labrador with a combined area of . As of April 2011, the province's estimated population is 508,400...
near the rural community of Bay d'Espoir. It was the first major hydroelectric project undertaken in Newfoundland
Newfoundland and Labrador
Newfoundland and Labrador is the easternmost province of Canada. Situated in the country's Atlantic region, it incorporates the island of Newfoundland and mainland Labrador with a combined area of . As of April 2011, the province's estimated population is 508,400...
.
History
The hydroelectric potential of this area was known by the early 1920's but its development was not seriously considered until 1954 when British Newfoundland Development CorporationBritish Newfoundland Development Corporation
The British Newfoundland Development Corporation, or BRINCO was incorporated by a consortium of British companies in 1953 which undertook industrial development opportunities in the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador...
(BRINCO) became interested in the site. In 1957 a Shawinigan Engineering survey confirmed the feasibility of building a hydroelectric plant. By 1959 BRINCO had set up a subsidiary, Southern Newfoundland Power and Development Corporation, to carry out the project. However, the subsidiary was unable to attract industrial customers to the area; this, it felt, was necessary before undertaking the project, so in 1964 it sold all its rights and assets to the Newfoundland Government.
The government, by taking over the project, became eligible for a $20 million grant from the Atlantic Development Board a Federal Government
Politics of Canada
The politics of Canada function within a framework of parliamentary democracy and a federal system of parliamentary government with strong democratic traditions. Canada is a constitutional monarchy, in which the Monarch is head of state...
agency. The engineering and construction work was carried out by ShawMont Newfoundland Engineering, a joint venture company formed by Shawinigan Engineering and Montreal Engineering in 1964.
The Baie D'Espoir Hydroelectric Development was undertaken to provide the province with a large source of low-cost electric power which would allow the Island's utilities to extend their services, stimilate the expansion of the industries already in the province and attract new industries to Newfoundland and Labrador. The Electric Reduction Company of Canada Industries Limited (ERCO), phosphorus
Phosphorus
Phosphorus is the chemical element that has the symbol P and atomic number 15. A multivalent nonmetal of the nitrogen group, phosphorus as a mineral is almost always present in its maximally oxidized state, as inorganic phosphate rocks...
plant at Long Harbour and the Come by Chance Oil Refinery at Come by Chance
Come By Chance, Newfoundland and Labrador
Come By Chance is a town on the Avalon Peninsula in Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. It is in Division No. 1 on Placentia Bay.Located in this town is Newfoundland's only oil refinery, the Come By Chance Refinery operated by North Atlantic Refining Company, which has a capacity of .According to...
were built partially because of the availability of cheap power.
Units 1 through 4 went online between 1967 and 1968, with each unit having a rated capacity of 75 MW.
Generating unit 2 underwent a major refurbishment during the summer of 2010, including a stator rewind, rotor pole re-insulation and protection upgrade. This project was the first stator rewind on a unit of this size in Newfoundland and Labrador Hydro's history.
Design
The headwaters of the Baie d'Espoir system begin at Victoria Lake at an approximate elevation of 320 metres. Through a man-made array of damsDAMS
Driot-Arnoux Motorsport is a racing team from France, involved in many areas of motorsports. DAMS was founded in 1988 by Jean-Paul Driot and former Formula One driver René Arnoux. It is headquartered near Le Mans, only 2 km from the Bugatti Circuit.- History :The year after its foundation,...
and canals, this water is directed to generating plants at Granite Canal, Upper Salmon and, finally, 150 km from Victoria Lake to its final tidewater destination at Baie d'Espoir. Water is collected, stored and diverted from a number of drainage areas
Drainage basin
A drainage basin is an extent or an area of land where surface water from rain and melting snow or ice converges to a single point, usually the exit of the basin, where the waters join another waterbody, such as a river, lake, reservoir, estuary, wetland, sea, or ocean...
between Victoria Lake and Long Pond, the forebay for the two Baie d'Espoir generating stations.
The seven generating units at Baie d'Espoir utilize approximately 176 m of head
Head
In anatomy, the head of an animal is the rostral part that usually comprises the brain, eyes, ears, nose and mouth . Some very simple animals may not have a head, but many bilaterally symmetric forms do....
to produce a rated output of 604 MW with a rated flow of 397 m3/s. The plant produces an average of 2,657 GWh annually, making it the largest hydroelectric plant in Newfoundland.