Redeveloped Calabogie hydro station now providing more clean power for Ontario
At a glance
- Redeveloped Calabogie Generating Station now in service in eastern Ontario.
- New hydroelectric station more than doubles its predecessor’s output of clean electricity.
- Original station, constructed in 1917, was damaged by a tornado in 2018.
In eastern Ontario, OPG’s brand-new Calabogie Generating Station (GS) is now in service and providing more clean power for the province.
After several months of testing and commissioning activities, the redeveloped hydroelectric station’s two new units officially went into service in April and are now generating about 10.7 megawatts (MW) of power on the Madawaska River – enough to power about 10,000 homes.
The original station, which was constructed by the Calabogie Light and Power Company in 1917, first supported local development and the lumber industry.
In 1929, Calabogie GS was acquired by OPG’s predecessor, the Hydro-Electric Power Commission of Ontario.
The original plant stood as one of OPG’s oldest hydro stations before it was extensively damaged by a tornado in 2018.
Construction on the new build began in 2020 and is situated about 50 metres upstream from the old powerhouse. The new, larger turbine units are capable of handling more water, thanks in part to a reshaped forebay and tailrace. This results in less spill and more generation, while doubling the output of the original plant.
We were able to rebuild from the ground up a modern, more efficient station at this existing site, which will provide many more decades of clean power to support Ontario’s future and electrification.Tony PalmaSenior Manager of Projects at OPG
“This is an important clean energy project for OPG and, in fact, all of Ontario,” said Tony Palma, Senior Manager of Projects at OPG. “We were able to rebuild from the ground up a modern, more efficient station at this existing site, which will provide many more decades of clean power to support Ontario’s future and electrification.”
To complete the Calabogie GS redevelopment project, OPG, along with its owner’s representative, KGS Group, helped define the technical parameters. A joint venture was formed to spearhead the development – SNC-Lavalin, responsible for the station’s design, teaming up with M. Sullivan & Son, which led construction.
Throughout the planning and execution phases, OPG consulted with Indigenous communities, including the Algonquins of Pikwakanagan First Nation, the Algonquins of Ontario, who represent nine Algonquin communities, and four Williams Treaties First Nations – Alderville First Nation, Curve Lake First Nation, Hiawatha First Nation, and Mississaugas of Scugog Island First Nation.
The project helps OPG attain its Climate Change Plan goals, which include becoming a net-zero company by 2040 and helping the economy reach net-zero by 2050. By investing in its fleet of 66 hydroelectric stations in Ontario, OPG will ensure these assets continue to deliver clean, reliable electricity to support the province’s growing economy and demands from electrification.
As one of five OPG hydro stations on the Madawaska River, with a combined capacity of about 620 MW, Calabogie GS has been a mainstay for many years in this region.
“We are very proud to be able to build on and continue the original station’s legacy at this site,” said Palma. “Calabogie will continue to play a major role in supporting the local economy in this area and providing clean power for the wider province for many years to come.”
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