Nelson River Hydroelectric Project

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Powerplants (existing and planned) of the Nelson River Hydroelectric Project, Manitoba, Canada (2006)

The Nelson River Hydroelectric Project refers to the construction of a series of dams and hydroelectric power plants on the Nelson River in Northern Manitoba, Canada. The project began to take shape in the late 1950s, with the planning and construction of the Kelsey dam and hydroelectric power station, and later was expanded to include the diversion of the upper Churchill River into the Nelson River and the transformation of Lake Winnipeg, the world's 11th largest freshwater lake, into a hydrelectric reservoir. The project is owned and operated by Manitoba Hydro, the electrical utility in the province.

[edit] The Nelson River Project

Between 1955 and 1960, studies were carried out to determine what resources would be available for future hydraulic generation in Manitoba. The stations at Kelsey, Kettle, Long Spruce and Limestone were built on the lower Nelson River to support both Manitoba load growth and export plans. Limestone, the largest generating station in Manitoba, is located on the Lower Nelson only 90 km from Hudson Bay. Long-term firm power sales contracts were signed with Northern States Power of Minneapolis, Minnesota. Control dams and excavated channels have transformed Lake Winnipeg into a 25,000 km² reservoir for the Nelson hydroelectric system.

The great distance between generating sites on the Nelson River and load centers in southern Manitoba required the use of high-voltage, direct current (HVDC) electric power transmissionlines to bring the energy to market. When these lines began operation as the Nelson River Bipole in 1972, they were the longest and highest-voltage direct current lines in the world. The Dorsey converter station is 26 km north-west of Winnipeg, Manitoba.

[edit] Generating stations

(1) Generating station total ratings are approximate.

[edit] New Projects

• Wuskwatim Project: Manitoba Hydro has obtained an environmental licence for the Wuskwatim generating station, to be built on the Burntwood River near Thompson. This 200 MW station will have three hydraulic turbine generator units and will have only a small reservoir. This project had the most extensive environmental review of any generating project in Manitoba. Participation of the Nisichawayasihk Cree Nation (NCN) aboriginal community has been passed by a June 2006 referendum by NCN members. This partnership between NCN and Manitoba Hydro will allow advancement of the in-service date to 2012 and opportunities for additional export revenue. Otherwise the load growth would not require this new capacity until several years later.

• New Hydraulic Generation (Gull, Conawapa, Notigi) and HVDC Transmission (Bipole III): Studies are continuing to permit eventual construction of new generating projects along the Nelson River. The Gull (now known as Keeyask) station will have a capacity of approximately 630 megawatts and planning studies are continuing. Projected first power date is in 2012, but no final design or construction decisions have been made. The 1380 megawatt Conawapa project was initiated but postponed indefinitely in 1992 when Ontario Hydro elected not to purchase firm energy from Manitoba. Planning activities now underway are intended to allow for an in-service date of 2017, but no construction commitment has been made and no environmental hearings are currently scheduled. The in-service date would be after that for Wuskwatim and Gull. The station at Notigi would be rated approximately 100 megawatts, but no in-service date has been set for this project.

More than 5000 MW of hydroelectric potential could be developed in Manitoba, which includes 1380 MW at the Conawapa site, 630 MW at the Gull (Keeyask) site, and 1000 MW at the Gillam Island site, all on the lower Nelson river. Other sites have been assessed but are not currently under study for development. All of these developments would require a large increase in electric power exports, since Manitoba load growth will not require this capacity for a generation or more. All of these projects require additional HVDC transmission capacity from the North to the South. One such project, Bipole III, has been discussed with communities on the east side of Lake Winnipeg, but this area is ecologically and culturally sensitive and power line construction will require extensive environmental impact assessment.

[edit] Controversies and issues

Like any other large-scale activity, the Nelson River Hydroelectric Project has not been without controversy.

In 1976, the Churchill River diversion project was set into operation. Flow was diverted by a series of channels and control structures into the Nelson River. Instead of developing hydroelectric sites along the Churchill River, water wsa diverted by control structures and an artificial channel into the Nelson, thereby increasing flow and saving cost of development. The effects of this diversion on pre-existing water levels and the indigenous Cree and Métis people continue to be felt to this day. Negotiations between the affected Northern communities and Manitoba Hydro continue, to discuss mitigation measures and compensation for loss of traditional resource areas and sites.

The water level of Lake Winnipeg is now regulated by Manitoba Hydro as part of the energy generation operations. Some property owners on the southern edge of the lake feel that the levels are now maintained at a higher average level than would be natural, and attribute erosion of their property to the lake level. Manitoba Hydro has pointed out that the regulation project also allows lake level to be lowered, such as during the 1997 floods, thereby preventing significant property damage.

[edit] See also

• Electric power
• Environmental concerns with electricity generation
• Hydroelectricity
• Manitoba Hydro

[edit] References

• L. A. Bateman, "A History of Electric Power Development in Manitoba" printed in the Winter 2005 edition of "IEEE Canadian Review"
• Ecological impacts of Nelson River Project

[edit] External links

• Manitoba Hydro corporate site
• The Price of Power (Northern Manitoba) (A CBC report)
• Detailed map of existing and future generating stations (Northern Manitoba) (Manitoba Wildlands website)
• Manitoba Hydro Bipole III