Matabitchuan Generating Station
Redevelopment Project
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The Matabitchuan Generating Station (GS) is located 40 km southeast of Cobalt, Ontario, on the Matabitchuan River and within the Matabitchuan River watershed. The Matabitchuan GS is located within the traditional territory of Matachewan First Nation, Temagami First Nation, Timiskaming First Nation, Wolf Lake First Nation, and Kebaowek First Nation.
Matabitchuan GS is owned and operated by OPG, and the station is currently 114 years old, with much of its original equipment from 1910 still in operation. The station will reach end of life within the next five years according to a condition assessment commissioned by OPG in 2020. To continue to reliably generate clean, renewable energy, the Matabitchuan GS is slated for redevelopment. The redevelopment plan is anticipated to extend the life of the station up to 90 years while utilizing the available river flows more efficiently with more efficient units, allowing for an increase in power generation capacity.
The Matabitchuan GS is a four-unit turbine-generator (T/G) hydroelectric power generating facility. The station has a nameplate capacity of 7.5 megawatts (MW); however, it has been operating at a total output capacity of 9.6 to 10.4 MW at a gross hydraulic head of 95 m.
The station is controlled remotely from the Northeast Control Center (NECC) in Timmins and consists of the following structures:
- Powerhouse – has a building footprint of approximately 560 m2 and is located approximately 85 m below the intake.
- Penstock – consists of an older twinned 1.5 m-diameter section at the intake leading into a newer 275 m-long, 2.1 m-diameter section bifurcating back into 18 m-long, 1.5 m-diameter sections. The new penstock sections were replaced in 2012 and welded to the original twinned steel riveted section that extends into the powerhouse.
- Concrete control dam – is 206 m in length, located at the north end of Fourbass Lake, and comprised of four, 4.3 m-wide sluices with gravity wing walls.
- Intake - located approximately 750 m east of the dam and consists of a short intake channel bisected by a bailey bridge leading to the headworks.
- Access road and parking areas.
Project information
Hydroelectric Asset Life-Extension Optimization Initiative
The Matabitchuan 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.
Based on the results of a condition assessment and optimization study, redevelopment of the Matabitchuan GS was identified as the best option to extend the life of the station. These upgrades are anticipated to increase the station’s output capacity from 7.5 MW (nameplate) to approximately 12 MW. An investment of this scale will ensure Matabitchuan GS will continue to generate clean, renewable, reliable and flexible energy for generations to come.
Project description
Redevelopment of the Matabitchuan GS will consist of the following upgrades to the station:
- Installation of a bubbler system at the headworks dam to mitigate ice build-up along wingwalls during station shutdown over winter months.
- Replacement of a short length of the penstock between the headworks access road and the powerhouse, to align with new T/G units.
- Construction of a new powerhouse and superstructure on block machine foundation supported by end bearing deep piles on bedrock, with a footprint similar to the existing building and generally in the same location.
- Construction of a downstream cofferdam in the tailrace to allow the excavation, foundation preparation, and structural works to occur in a dry, safe, and controlled environment.
- Installation of two new Francis T/G units designed for optimal performance at the existing station flow range, which will increase total plant capacity to approximately 12 MW.
- Installation of new generator switchgears and balance-of-plant electrical and mechanical systems.
- Installation of a new powerhouse crane for equipment installation and regular plant maintenance.
- Introduction of an air-cooling system to existing station transformers for re-use at new upgraded station capacity.
Project schedule
| Estimated timeline | Milestone |
|---|---|
Q2 2024 | Notice of project screening |
Q2 2024 | Front end engineering and design phase complete (30% designs) |
Q2 2024 | Start of project definition phase |
Q3 2024 | Advise MECP on screening status |
Q4 2024 | Engineering designs complete (90% designs) |
Q1 2025 | Final cost estimate and construction schedule complete |
Q2 2025 | Start of project execution phase |
Q3 2025 | Installation of cofferdam |
Q4 2027 | Station construction complete |
Q1 2028 | Station available for service |
Q4 2028 | Project closure |
Environmental Screening
Proposed waterpower facilities in Ontario are subject to the Environmental Assessment Act (EA Act). The EA Act formally recognizes the Ontario Waterpower Association (OWA) Class EA for Waterpower Projects (February 2024). This provides a planning process that allows waterpower facility proponents to assess potential effects of a waterpower project to the environment. The OWA Class EA applies to all waterpower projects to which Ontario Regulation 116/01 – Electricity Projects (2001) under the EA Act applies.
Some waterpower projects involve very minimal, short term and localized effects that can be addressed through other legislative mechanisms (e.g., Lakes and Rivers Improvement Act, Fisheries Act, etc.). A screening process has been developed to enable those projects to be screened and, subject to that the screening outcomes, exempt from the Ontario EA Act, and therefore the Class EA.
Projects that meet the following criteria qualify for the Class EA Screening process:
- Projects that are associated with existing water management infrastructure, such as a dam, a weir, or a lock. The existing water management infrastructure may be retrofitted, or refurbished/upgraded (as defined in Appendix A of the Class EA); and
- Projects that limit any increase in the footprint of the water management infrastructure to 25% or less.
The Matabitchuan GS Redevelopment Project meets the criteria for following the Class EA Screening process. The Project team has commenced studies to address the screening questions to confirm that there are no significant negative environmental effects anticipated from the Project after the application of mitigation measures and best management practices (BMP).
The following screening criteria in accordance with the OWA Class EA, will be used to determine if the Project is exempt from the EA Act. It should be noted that the answer to each of the following questions must be ‘no’, after considering BMP’s and mitigation measures for the screening process to be considered successful:
- Will there be a change in the water management regime, including a significant change to water flow, inundated area, or historical mean monthly maximum water level?
- Will contaminants be released into the immediate environment, and cause an exceedance of regulatory thresholds?
- Will there be any negative effects on provincially designated endangered species or their habitats?
- Will there be any negative effects on protected areas, such as areas of natural and scientific interest, environmentally sensitive areas, or provincially significant wetlands?
- Will there be a considerable increase in sedimentation or erosion on or off-site?
- Will there be any negative effects on known or potential built heritage resources or cultural heritage landscapes?
- Will there be any negative effects on archeological resources or areas of archeological potential?
Environmental Studies
- Baseline aquatic studies to support Fisheries Act permitting have been conducted and will continue through 2024.
- Terrestrial ecology studies have confirmed that there are no species at risk that will trigger Endangered Species Act
- Surface and groundwater conditions are being assessed to support construction dewatering activities.
- Archaeological studies have been completed and are under review by the Ministry of Citizenship and Multiculturalism. No archaeological impacts are anticipated based on study findings.
- A Cultural Heritage Evaluation Report has been completed and determined that the Matabitchuan GS is considered a provincial heritage property but is not considered a provincial heritage property of provincial significance. A Cultural Heritage Impact Assessment will be completed to identify any required mitigation measures to address potential impacts.
Or contact
Gillian MacLeod Phone: (416) 592-3481 | Kyle Hunt Phone: (647) 228-2918 |
