A project for sustainable development
Project Description
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The project consists of three main components:
- Construction of a 768-MW powerhouse, Eastmain-1-A, near the existing Eastmain-1 powerhouse
- Construction of a 150-MW powerhouse, Sarcelle, at the outlet of Opinaca reservoir
- Partial diversion of the Rivière Rupert to these two generating stations and from there to Robert-Bourassa, La Grande 2-A, and La Grande-1 generating stations
- Simulation of Rupert dam
The Rupert diversion includes the following structures and facilities:
- Four dams
- A spillway, which also functions as an instream flow release structure, on the Rupert
- 74 dikes
- Two diversion bays (forebay and tailbay) with a total area of about 346 km2; at maximum operating level
- A 2.9-km-long tunnel between the Rupert forebay and tailbay
- A network of canals with a total length of about 12 km to facilitate flow in the various portions of the diversion bays
- Hydraulic structures on the Rivière Rupert to maintain post-diversion water levels along approximately 48% of the river's entire length
- Simulation of Sarcelle dam
Also part of the project is the construction of a new drinking-water plant in Waskaganish, which meet the needs of the community until 2025.
To bring the output from the new generating facilities onto the power grid, 315-kV lines were built between Eastmain-1 and Eastmain-1-A and between Sarcelle and Eastmain-1.
The project, scheduled for commissioning in 2011–2012, will give Hydro-Québec's generating fleet additional capacity of 918 MW and additional output of 8.7 TWh per year, distributed as follows:
- Simulation of Eastmain-1-A powerhouse
- Marginal gain at Eastmain-1-A and Eastmain-1 powerhouses: 2.3 TWh.
- Output at Sarcelle powerhouse: 1.1 TWh.
- Additional output at Robert-Bourassa, La Grande-2-A and La Grande-1 generating stations: 5.3 TWh.
Technical innovations
Nemiscau-1 dam
Dam with asphalt concrete core under construction
Core to be constructed of asphalt concrete. Well known in Europe, this technique is used in the absence of till to ensure that a structure is watertight.
Although there is no lack of till in the Nemiscau area, Hydro-Québec wished to adopt this technique for use in future projects in northern regions, such as those being carried out on the Rivière Romaine, where till is harder to find.
Eastmain-1-A powerhouse
Prefabricated components
Use of prefabricated concrete elements within the powerhouse structure
The superstructure was built of components prefabricated at the jobsite and then transported to the powerhouse site for assembly. One of the advantages of this method is that it speeds up the work.
Sarcelle powerhouse
Bulb-type turbine
Installation of bulb-type turbine generating units-a first for Hydro-Québec. Bulb-type units, where both the turbine and generator are housed within a watertight metal casing, work well in situations where there is little hydraulic head (about a dozen metres at the Sarcelle site) and high flow.
Schedule
Activities |
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| Partial diversion of the Rupert |  |
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| Eastmain-1-A powerhouse | |
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| Sarcelle powerhouse | |
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| Construction period Delivery or commissioning of generating unit |
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