Generating stations
Hydroelectric generating stations
A hydroelectric generating station is a plant that produces electric power by using water to propel the turbines, which, in turn, drive the alternators.
These power stations generate about a quarter of all the electricity used in the world. With access to vast water reserves, Hydro-Québec uses water to generate almost all of its energy output. In this way, the company helps reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Last update: January 1st, 2024.
Name | Watersheds | River or other watercourse | Type | Installed capacity1 (MW) | Number of units | Head2 (m) | Commissioning date3 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Beauharnois | St. Lawrence River | Lac Saint-François and canal de Beauharnois | Run-of-river | 1,864 | 36 | 24.39 | 1932-1961 |
Beaumont | Saint-Maurice | Saint-Maurice | Run-of-river | 270 | 6 | 37.8 | 1958-1959 |
Bernard-Landry (Eastmain-1-A) | La Grande | Eastmain | Reservoir | 768 | 3 | 63 | 2011-2012 |
Bersimis-1 | Betsiamites | Betsiamites | Reservoir | 1,178 | 8 | 266.7 | 1956-1959 |
Bersimis-2 | Betsiamites | Betsiamites | Run-of-river | 845 | 5 | 115.83 | 1959-1960 |
Brisay | La Grande | Caniapiscau | Reservoir | 469 | 2 | 37.5 | 1993 |
Bryson | Outaouais (lower) | Outaouais | Run-of-river | 61 | 3 | 18.29 | 1925-1949 |
Carillon | Outaouais (lower) | Outaouais | Run-of-river | 756 | 14 | 17.99 | 1962-1964 |
Chelsea | Outaouais (lower) | Gatineau | Run-of-river | 152 | 5 | 28.35 | 1927-1939 |
Chute-Allard | Saint-Maurice | Saint-Maurice | Run-of-river | 62 | 6 | 17.83 | 2008-2009 |
Chute-Bell | Outaouais (lower) | Rouge | Run-of-river | 10 | 2 | 17.8 | 1915-2011 |
Chute-des-Chats | Outaouais (lower) | Outaouais | Run-of-river | 92 | 4 | 16.16 | 1931 |
Chute-Hemmings | Saint-François | Saint-François | Run-of-river | 29 | 6 | 14.64 | 1925 |
Drummondville | Saint-François | Saint-François | Run-of-river | 16 | 4 | 9.1 | 1919-1925 |
Eastmain-1 | La Grande | Eastmain | Reservoir | 480 | 3 | 63 | 2006 |
Hart-Jaune | Manicouagan | Hart-Jaune | Reservoir | 51 | 3 | 39.6 | 1960 |
Jean-Lesage (Manic-2) | Manicouagan | Manicouagan | Run-of-river | 1,229 | 8 | 70.11 | 1965-1967 |
La Gabelle | Saint-Maurice | Saint-Maurice | Run-of-river | 131 | 5 | 17.38 | 1924-1931 |
La Grande-1 | La Grande | Grande Rivière | Run-of-river | 1,436 | 12 | 27.5 | 1994-1995 |
La Grande-2-A | La Grande | Grande Rivière | Reservoir | 2,106 | 6 | 138.5 | 1991-1992 |
La Grande-3 | La Grande | Grande Rivière | Reservoir | 2,417 | 12 | 79 | 1982-1984 |
La Grande-4 | La Grande | Grande Rivière | Reservoir | 2,779 | 9 | 116.7 | 1984-1986 |
La Tuque | Saint-Maurice | Saint-Maurice | Run-of-river | 294 | 6 | 34.75 | 1940-1955 |
Lac-Robertson5 | Véco | Véco | Reservoir | 22 | 2 | 38.5 | 1995 |
Laforge-1 | La Grande | Laforge | Reservoir | 878 | 6 | 57.3 | 1993-1994 |
Laforge-2 | La Grande | Laforge | Run-of-river | 319 | 2 | 27.4 | 1996 |
Les Cèdres | St. Lawrence River | Saint-Laurent | Run-of-river | 113 | 12 | 9.14 | 1914-1924 |
Manic-1 | Manicouagan | Manicouagan | Run-of-river | 184 | 3 | 36.58 | 1966-1967 |
Manic-5 | Manicouagan | Manicouagan | Reservoir | 1,596 | 8 | 141.8 | 1970-1971 |
Manic-5-PA | Manicouagan | Manicouagan | Reservoir | 1,064 | 4 | 144.5 | 1989-1990 |
McCormick4 | Manicouagan | Manicouagan | Run-of-river | 235 | 7 | 37.8 | 1952 |
Mercier | Outaouais (lower) | Gatineau | Reservoir | 55 | 5 | 18 | 2007 |
Mitis-1 | Mitis | Mitis | Run-of-river | 6 | 2 | 36.58 | 1922-1929 |
Mitis-2 | Mitis | Mitis | Run-of-river | 4 | 1 | 22.86 | 1947 |
Outardes-2 | Aux Outardes | Aux Outardes | Run-of-river | 523 | 3 | 82.3 | 1978 |
Outardes-3 | Aux Outardes | Aux Outardes | Run-of-river | 1,026 | 4 | 143.57 | 1969 |
Outardes-4 | Aux Outardes | Aux Outardes | Reservoir | 785 | 4 | 120.55 | 1969 |
Paugan | Outaouais (lower) | Gatineau | Run-of-river | 216 | 8 | 40.54 | 1928-1956 |
Première-Chute | Outaouais (upper) | Outaouais | Run-of-river | 131 | 4 | 22.26 | 1968-1975 |
Péribonka | Péribonka | Péribonka | Run-of-river | 385 | 3 | 67.6 | 2007-2008 |
Rapide-2 | Outaouais (upper) | Outaouais | Run-of-river | 61 | 4 | 20.43 | 1954-1964 |
Rapide-7 | Outaouais (upper) | Outaouais | Reservoir | 61 | 4 | 20.73 | 1941-1949 |
Rapide-Blanc | Saint-Maurice | Saint-Maurice | Reservoir | 204 | 6 | 32.92 | 1934-1955 |
Rapide-des-Cœurs | Saint-Maurice | Saint-Maurice | Run-of-river | 76 | 6 | 22.69 | 2008-2009 |
Rapides-des-Quinze | Outaouais (upper) | Outaouais | Run-of-river | 109 | 6 | 25.9 | 1923-1955 |
Rapides-des-Îles | Outaouais (upper) | Outaouais | Run-of-river | 176 | 4 | 26.22 | 1966-1973 |
Rapides-Farmer | Outaouais (lower) | Gatineau | Run-of-river | 104 | 5 | 20.12 | 1927-1947 |
René-Lévesque (Manic-3) | Manicouagan | Manicouagan | Run-of-river | 1,326 | 6 | 94.19 | 1975-1976 |
Rivière-des-Prairies | St. Lawrence River | Rivière-des-Prairies | Run-of-river | 54 | 6 | 7.93 | 1929-1930 |
Robert-Bourassa | La Grande | Grande Rivière | Reservoir | 5,616 | 16 | 137.16 | 1979-1981 |
Rocher-de-Grand-Mère | Saint-Maurice | Saint-Maurice | Run-of-river | 230 | 3 | 24.3 | 2004 |
Romaine-1 | Romaine | Romaine | Run-of-river | 270 | 2 | 61.5 | 2015 |
Romaine-2 | Romaine | Romaine | Reservoir | 640 | 2 | 156 | 2014 |
Romaine-3 | Romaine | Romaine | Reservoir | 395 | 2 | 119 | 2017 |
Romaine-4 | Romaine | Romaine | Reservoir | 245 | 2 | 88,54 | 2022 |
Sainte-Marguerite-3 | Sainte-Marguerite | Sainte-Marguerite | Reservoir | 882 | 2 | 330 | 2003 |
Sarcelle | La Grande | Eastmain | Run-of-river | 150 | 3 | 8.7 to 16.1 | 2013 |
Sept-Chutes | Sainte-Anne | Sainte-Anne | Run-of-river | 22 | 4 | 124.97 | 1916-1999 |
Shawinigan-2 | Saint-Maurice | Saint-Maurice | Run-of-river | 200 | 8 | 44.2 | 1911-1929 |
Shawinigan-3 | Saint-Maurice | Saint-Maurice | Run-of-river | 194 | 3 | 44.2 | 1948-1949 |
Toulnustouc | Manicouagan | Toulnustouc | Reservoir | 526 | 2 | 152 | 2005 |
Trenche | Saint-Maurice | Saint-Maurice | Run-of-river | 302 | 6 | 48.47 | 1950-1955 |
- The installed capacity of Rocher-de-Grand-Mère generating station is the maximum allowed under the operating permit.
- The head of water shown corresponds to the largest value (greatest height), if there are several values. The head varies with each generating unit. Refurbishment work may therefore change the water head value.
- Year of commissioning of first and last generating unit in each facility.
- McCormick generating station is operated by a limited partnership between Hydro-Québec (60%) and Alcoa (40%).
- Generating station not connected to the Hydro-Québec grid and operated by Hydro-Québec Distribution.
Thermal generating stations
Because they burn fossil fuels, thermal power plants cost more to operate and emit more pollutants in comparison to hydroelectric generating stations.
While these facilities represent only a small portion of Hydro-Québec's overall generating capacity–about 3% in 2002–they play a vital role in meeting Québec's baseload and peak energy requirements. They're also useful in supplying power to remote, off-grid regions such as the Îles-de-la-Madeleine.
Name | Type | Installed capacity (MW) | Number of units | Commissioning date |
---|---|---|---|---|
Bécancour | Gas-fired turbines | 411 | 4 | 1992-1993 |
24 plants* | Diesel | 131 | n/a | n/a |
*Hydro-Québec operates diesel-powered facilities to supply its off-grid systems. The diesel-powered facilities are the responsibility of Hydro-Québec Distribution.
The role of thermal generation at Hydro-Québec
Some thermal power stations operate continuously to meet baseload energy needs; for instance, diesel generating stations. Others, such as gas-fired facilities, operate only when demand is high and hydroelectric facilities are working at maximum capacity.
Other sources of supply
- Installed capacity 10,314 MW
- Churchill Falls generating station — Churchill Falls (Labrador) Corporation Limiteda 5,428 MW
- 39 wind farms operated by independent power producersb 3,508 MW
- 7 biomass and 3 biogas cogeneration plants operated by independent power producersc 257 MW
- 5 small hydropower plants operated by independent power producersb 65 MW
- Other suppliersd 1,056 MW
- Hydro-Québec has access to almost all the output until 2041.
- Hydro-Québec purchases all the output.
- Hydro-Québec purchases almost all the output.
- Hydro-Québec has access to the output of these suppliers.