Jean-Lesage generating station

Jean-Lesage
Country Canada
Location Manicouagan, Quebec
Coordinates 49°19′18″N 68°20′48″W / 49.32167°N 68.34667°W / 49.32167; -68.34667Coordinates: 49°19′18″N 68°20′48″W / 49.32167°N 68.34667°W / 49.32167; -68.34667
Construction began 1961
Opening date 1967
Owner(s) HydroQuebec
Dam and spillways
Impounds Manicouagan River
Height 94 m (308 ft)
Length 692 m (2,270 ft)
Reservoir
Creates Manic-2
Total capacity 4,000,000 m3 (140,000,000 cu ft)
Surface area 124 km2 (48 sq mi)
Power station
Type Run-of-the-river
Turbines 8 × Francis-type
Installed capacity 1,145 MW

The Jean-Lesage generating station, formerly known as Manic-2, is a dam located 22 km from Baie-Comeau built on Manicouagan River in Quebec, Canada. It was constructed between 1961 and 1967. On June 22, 2010, the dam and the generating station were renamed in honour of Jean Lesage, who was premier of Quebec during the construction of the complex.[1]

Dam

Jean-Lesage is a gravity dam "hollow type" with a spillway made of concrete. The reservoir starts at the base of Manic-3. The dam is considered run-of-the-river and is fitted with eight Francis turbines, with a total capacity of 1,145 megawatts (1,535,000 hp).[2][3]

Construction and commissioning

Construction started on October 24, 1961. From June 2 to December 8, 1962, diversion tunnels were driven through the mountain to divert the river's flow around the construction site. The cofferdam that forced the water to use the diversion tunnels was completed on July 30, 1963, construction of the dam started the day after. By autumn 1965, the dam and powerhouse were sufficiently complete to put the first group of five turbines into service, the others were put in service at the end of construction. Commissioning was completed in 1967.

Tourism

It is possible to visit the complex during summer between the end of June and start of September. The 90 minutes visit consists of a guided tour by Hydro-Quebec which lets the visitor enter cavities of the dam and see a turbine in action within the powerhouse.

See also

References

  1. ↑ Presse canadienne (2010-06-22). "Deux centrales porteront les noms de Jean Lesage et René Lévesque". La Presse (in French). Montréal. Retrieved 2010-06-22.
  2. ↑ http://www.hydroquebec.com/publications/en/financial_profile/2007_2008/pdf/profile_2007-2008.pdf
  3. ↑ "Hydroelectric Generating Stations". HydroQuebec. 2009-12-31. Retrieved 3 October 2010.
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