Rehabilitation and Repair

Hydro-Quebec reports delay of its Chelsea hydro station rehab project

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Hydro-Quebec reports delay of its Chelsea hydro station rehab project
(photo courtesy Hydro-Quebec)

Hydro-Québec said that the refurbishment work at its 153 MW Chelsea generating station will continue into 2023, as the contractor hired to carry out the work was unable to complete the project by the deadline.

As a result, Hydro-Québec will not lower the level of the Gatineau River upstream of the generating station to 96 m in early December, as previously announced.

Hydro-Québec operates four generating stations on the Gatineau River. From north to south, these are Mercier, Paugan, Chelsea and Rapides-Farmer. Paugan, Chelsea and Rapides-Farmer are run-of-river stations and are supplied with water from Baskatong Reservoir and the Mercier generating station. Because they do not have reservoirs, these three generating stations cannot retain the water inflows that occur downstream of Baskatong Reservoir.

The Chelsea generating station was commissioned in 1927, and Hydro-Québec began this refurbishment work in spring 2022. The rehab project encompasses the dam deck, emergency access points and emergency exits. The work will continue until Dec. 15, and the water level will remain at 97 m to ensure the safety of the workers. As of Dec. 15, work will be suspended for the winter, and the water level will vary between 97.2 and 97.5 m — the standard for that time of year. The work will resume in spring 2023.

Hydro-Québec generates, transmits and distributes electricity. It is Canada’s largest electricity producer and one of the largest hydroelectric producers in the world, sourcing most of its electricity supply from hydroelectric generating stations. Its sole shareholder is the Quebec government.