Refurbishment of Carillon generating station
Project overview
Commissioned in 1962 during the large-scale nationalization of the 1960s, Carillon was the first hydroelectric project built by Hydro‑Québec under the supervision of French‑speaking engineers. It is a run-of-river generating station located on the Rivière Outaouais (Ottawa River) with 14 generating units and an installed capacity of 753 MW.
Hydro‑Québec has been investing in Carillon since 2021 to rejuvenate the generating station, make it more robust and optimize its capacity. A first project, the Replacement of Carillon generating units, was announced in October 2020 and is still going on.
The spillway refurbishment is a new project starting in 2023.The first step of the project is the draft-design studies for refurbishment of the spillway, that will look at ways to ensure the spillway’s long-term operability and compliance with applicable standards.
Project description
The Carillon spillway has 12 gates and was built between 1960 and 1963. Hydro‑Québec will analyze different scenarios for its refurbishment in the draft-design phase.
The spillway refurbishment project is scheduled to begin in 2028 and will include the following:
- Determination of sensitive elements, work impacts and necessary mitigation measures
- Assessment of the need to raise the level of embankments around the generating station
- Refurbishment of the spillway
Project schedule
2023-24
Public consultation
2025
Announcement of selected solution
2026‑2027
Design and permitting
2028
Start of work
Related project ─ Replacement of Carillon generating units
Hydro‑Québec is in the process of replacing six of Carillon’s generating units and carrying out related work to increase the generating station’s installed capacity to 795 MW. The other eight generating units will be replaced at a later date.
Fun facts
A run-of-river generating station
Installed capacity:
753 MW
Commissioning of generating units:
1962
Installed capacity after the refurbishment project:
795 MW
Generating units:
14
Head:
19.2 m
Supply capacity in 2021:
85 000 homes
Supply capacity after project completion:
90 000 homes
Type:
Gravity dam
Height:
28 m
Length:
830 m
Construction:
1962
Generating station component
- Carillon dam is composed of seven concrete elements spanning the river in a straight line that runs 830 m from the left to the right bank of the river.
- A run-of-river generating station, Carillon houses 14 generating units with Kaplan turbines and a total installed capacity of 753 MW.
- The spillway is 239 m long and 31 m high. Heated and remote-controlled, its gates are 15.24 m wide with a maximum opening height of 8 m.
Study area map
For more information
If you have any questions, comments or concerns about the project, please feel free to contact us.
Contact person
Info-Project – Refurbishment of the Carillon facility
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