Hinds Lake Hydroelectric Generating Station
Encyclopedia
The Hinds Lake Generating Station is a hydroelectric power plant located within the Newfoundland Highland forests
ecoregion, in western Newfoundland on the eastern shore of Grand Lake. It makes use of 220 m of head between Hinds Lake on the Buchan's plateau and Grand Lake.
The plant operates under an average net head of 214 m. The average rated flow of 20.3 m3/s generates 75 megawatts (MW) electrical power with an average annual production of 352 GWh. The unit, which is equipped with a francis turbine
, was first synchronized on December 12, 1980.
The feasibility of a hydro electric development in the area was known of in the early 1960s when Bowater Power Company
had completed plans to build a power station on Hinds Brook, which flows from Hinds Lake to Grand Lake. However, the Bowater Power Company decided not to undertake the project when it was learned that the Newfoundland and Labrador Power Commission
was building a large generating station at Bay d'Espoir (Bay d’Espoir Hydro Electric Development), and that it would be more economical to buy power from the Commission than to build their own generating plant.
Newfoundland Highland forests
The Newfoundland Highland forests are an ecoregion located in Newfoundland, Canada. Part of the Taiga, the total area of the region is 4,031,999 acres .-Terrain:...
ecoregion, in western Newfoundland on the eastern shore of Grand Lake. It makes use of 220 m of head between Hinds Lake on the Buchan's plateau and Grand Lake.
The plant operates under an average net head of 214 m. The average rated flow of 20.3 m3/s generates 75 megawatts (MW) electrical power with an average annual production of 352 GWh. The unit, which is equipped with a francis turbine
Francis turbine
The Francis turbine is a type of water turbine that was developed by James B. Francis in Lowell, Massachusetts. It is an inward-flow reaction turbine that combines radial and axial flow concepts....
, was first synchronized on December 12, 1980.
The feasibility of a hydro electric development in the area was known of in the early 1960s when Bowater Power Company
Bowater
Bowater was an American pulp and paper company based in Greenville, South Carolina. Bowater had 12 pulp and paper mills in the United States, Canada and South Korea and 13 North American sawmills. It had approximately 10,000 employees...
had completed plans to build a power station on Hinds Brook, which flows from Hinds Lake to Grand Lake. However, the Bowater Power Company decided not to undertake the project when it was learned that the Newfoundland and Labrador Power Commission
Newfoundland and Labrador Power Commission
The Newfoundland and Labrador Power Commission is the former name of Newfoundland and Labrador Hydro.The NPC was created in 1954 by the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador to provide rural electrification across the province...
was building a large generating station at Bay d'Espoir (Bay d’Espoir Hydro Electric Development), and that it would be more economical to buy power from the Commission than to build their own generating plant.