Coniston Generating Station
Redevelopment Project
Coniston Generating Station (GS) is located on the Wanapitei River, in the City of Greater Sudbury, approximately 15 km east of the City Centre. Coniston Generating Station is located within the traditional territories of Wahnapitae First Nation, Atikameksheng Anishnawbek First Nation, Nipissing First Nation, Whitefish River First Nation, Henvey Inlet First Nation and Dokis First Nation. The project team has been engaging with the six communities listed above, as well as the Métis Nation of Ontario and the Sudbury Métis Council.
Coniston GS is owned and operated by OPG, and the station is currently 119 years old. To continue to reliably generate clean, renewable energy, Coniston GS is slated for redevelopment. The project will utilize the available river flows more efficiently with more efficient units, allowing for an increase in power generation capacity.
The Coniston GS is currently a three-unit hydroelectric power generating facility. The station has a capacity of 2.7 MW, and is controlled remotely from the Northeast Control Centre (NECC) in Timmins.
Project information
This redevelopment aligns with the Independent Electricity System Operator’s (IESO) Pathways to Decarbonization report, which highlights the growing need for clean energy investments to meet Ontario’s electricity demands.
The Coniston GS Redevelopment Project is part of OPG’s larger investment strategy which includes upgrading and optimizing many of its existing hydroelectric assets to meet emerging demand as the province continues to electrify. Redevelopment and optimization opportunities include station refurbishments to upgrade facility infrastructure, increase generating capacity, improve operational efficiency, and in some cases, redevelop the entire site.
The Project will see an increase capacity from 2.7 to 6 megawatts. This investment will ensure that Coniston GS can continue to generate clean, renewable, reliable and flexible energy for generations to come.
Project description
The redevelopment of Coniston GS will modernize critical infrastructure, including:
- A new headworks dam and two new headgates.
- Two new penstocks.
- A new powerhouse superstructure housing two modern DIVE turbines.
- Upgrades to balance-of-plant equipment.
Project schedule
| Estimated timeline | Milestone |
|---|---|
Winter 2025 | Mobilization |
Winter-Spring 2025 | Demolition and excavation |
Summer-Fall 2025 | Construction |
Spring 2026 to Winter 2027 | Electrical and commissioning |
Summer 2027 | Project completion |
DISCLAIMER: Please note this website was only actively maintained during the related EA process period. As this process may have closed several years ago, the content of this site may not accurately reflect the current date and may include language with incorrect time references.
