Ontario refurbishing hydroelectric station in Cornwall
The Ontario government says it’s spending more than $600 million on Ontario Power Generation’s (OPG) project to refurbish its R.H. Saunders Generating Station in Cornwall, the second largest hydroelectric station in the province.
“The R.H. Saunders Generating Station… has been providing Ontario with clean electricity since 1958, and with today’s investment, we’re extending the life of the station for decades more,” said Todd Smith, Minister of Energy. “This refurbishment program – part of our Powering Ontario’s Growth plan – will create jobs and ensure we have the power we need for the next major international investment, the new homes we are building and industries as they grow and electrify.”
OPG will refurbish 16 units in total at the station. The refurbishment will include major rehabilitation of generating equipment through civil, electrical, and mechanical improvements that will see the station produce more electricity from less water. Once completed, the station is expected to produce up to 160 gigawatt hours of additional clean electricity each year, equivalent to powering over 19,000 homes.
The work will take place over the next 16 years, creating more than 200 jobs, the government says.
The government says the investment is part of its plan to meet growing energy demand and reduce emissions by expanding Ontario’s grid, including nuclear energy, new transmission infrastructure, and the acquisition of 4,000 MW of generation and storage.