Toronto Power Generating Station
Encyclopedia
The Toronto Power Generating Station is a former generating station
located along the Niagara River
in Niagara Falls, Ontario
, Canada
, slightly upstream from the newer Rankine power station
. Completed in 1906 in the Beaux-Arts-style, the station was designed by architect E. J. Lennox
and was built by the Electrical Development Company of Ontario under supervision of Hugh L. Cooper to supply hydro-electric power
to nearby Toronto
.
The plant is built on top of a deep wheel pit, with turbines at the bottom of the pit, turning generators at the top by means of long vertical shafts. The water from the turbines runs out through a brick lined tailrace
which eventually comes out at the base of the falls. In its prime, it had a generating capacity of 137,500 horsepower.
The plant ceased operations on February 15, 1974 as Ontario Hydro
looked to make better use of the available water downriver at the Sir Adam Beck Hydroelectric Power Stations
in Queenston. In addition, the plant produced "25 Cycle"
electricity, now largely unused. The vacant plant was designated a National Historic Site of Canada in 1983, due to its importance in the development of business, industry and technology in Ontario, its status as the first wholly Canadian-owned hydro-electric facility at Niagara Falls, and the unusual application of Beaux-Arts design to an industrial plant.
Ownership of the Toronto Power Generating Station was transferred to the Niagara Parks Commission
in 2007. Structural assessments were subsequently undertaken in order to consider future adaptive reuse
options for the facility. In its current empty state, the plant has been the subject of urban exploration
activities.
Power station
A power station is an industrial facility for the generation of electric energy....
located along the Niagara River
Niagara River
The Niagara River flows north from Lake Erie to Lake Ontario. It forms part of the border between the Province of Ontario in Canada and New York State in the United States. There are differing theories as to the origin of the name of the river...
in Niagara Falls, Ontario
Niagara Falls, Ontario
Niagara Falls is a Canadian city on the Niagara River in the Golden Horseshoe region of Southern Ontario. The municipality was incorporated on June 12, 1903...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, slightly upstream from the newer Rankine power station
Rankine power station
The Rankine Generating Station is a former hydro-electric generating station along the Canadian side of the Niagara River slightly downstream from the older Toronto Power Generating Station...
. Completed in 1906 in the Beaux-Arts-style, the station was designed by architect E. J. Lennox
E. J. Lennox
Edward James Lennox was a Toronto-based architect who designed several of the city's most notable landmarks in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries including Old City Hall and Casa Loma...
and was built by the Electrical Development Company of Ontario under supervision of Hugh L. Cooper to supply hydro-electric power
Hydroelectricity
Hydroelectricity is the term referring to electricity generated by hydropower; the production of electrical power through the use of the gravitational force of falling or flowing water. It is the most widely used form of renewable energy...
to nearby Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
.
The plant is built on top of a deep wheel pit, with turbines at the bottom of the pit, turning generators at the top by means of long vertical shafts. The water from the turbines runs out through a brick lined tailrace
Water wheel
A water wheel is a machine for converting the energy of free-flowing or falling water into useful forms of power. A water wheel consists of a large wooden or metal wheel, with a number of blades or buckets arranged on the outside rim forming the driving surface...
which eventually comes out at the base of the falls. In its prime, it had a generating capacity of 137,500 horsepower.
The plant ceased operations on February 15, 1974 as Ontario Hydro
Ontario Hydro
Ontario Hydro was the official name from 1974 of the Hydro-Electric Power Commission of Ontario which was established in 1906 by the provincial Power Commission Act to build transmission lines to supply municipal utilities with electricity generated by private companies already operating at Niagara...
looked to make better use of the available water downriver at the Sir Adam Beck Hydroelectric Power Stations
Sir Adam Beck Hydroelectric Power Stations
Sir Adam Beck Hydroelectric Power Stations are two hydroelectric power stations in Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada. The stations divert water from the Niagara and Welland Rivers above the falls which is then released into the lower portion of the river, and together produce up to 1,926 MW.Adam Beck...
in Queenston. In addition, the plant produced "25 Cycle"
Utility frequency
The utility frequency, line frequency or mains frequency is the frequency at which alternating current is transmitted from a power plant to the end-user. In most parts of the world this is 50 Hz, although in the Americas it is typically 60 Hz...
electricity, now largely unused. The vacant plant was designated a National Historic Site of Canada in 1983, due to its importance in the development of business, industry and technology in Ontario, its status as the first wholly Canadian-owned hydro-electric facility at Niagara Falls, and the unusual application of Beaux-Arts design to an industrial plant.
Ownership of the Toronto Power Generating Station was transferred to the Niagara Parks Commission
Niagara Parks Commission
The Niagara Parks Commission, or Niagara Parks for short, is an agency of government of Ontario which maintains the Ontario shoreline of the Niagara River.- History :...
in 2007. Structural assessments were subsequently undertaken in order to consider future adaptive reuse
Adaptive reuse
Adaptive reuse refers to the process of reusing an old site or building for a purpose other than which it was built or designed for. Along with brownfield reclamation, adaptive reuse is seen by many as a key factor in land conservation and the reduction of urban sprawl...
options for the facility. In its current empty state, the plant has been the subject of urban exploration
Urban exploration
Urban exploration is the examination of the normally unseen or off-limits parts of urban areas or industrial facilities. Urban exploration is also commonly referred to as infiltration, although some people consider infiltration to be more closely associated with the exploration of active or...
activities.