53-752: The Niagara Tunnel Project was part of a series of major additions to the Sir Adam Beck hydroelectric generation complex in Niagara Falls, Ontario , Canada . Water delivered by the major new tunnel complements other upgrades to the Sir Adam Beck Hydroelectric Generating Stations , resulting in more efficient use of the Niagara River 's hydro power. The project's new 12.7 metres (42 ft) diameter, 10.2 kilometres (6.3 mi) long tunnel
106-558: A small modular reactor (SMR) at the Darlington new nuclear site, the only site in Canada currently licensed for a new nuclear build. The project is expected to be completed as early as 2028. OPG has made some investments in alternative electricity generation. By 2014, OPG had stopped burning coal to generate electricity. Thermal electricity-generating stations were traditionally coal-fired, creating problems caused by pollution. While
159-473: A complete scope analysis before starting on the project. Due to the uproar over the large cost overruns and delays, an independent review committee was commissioned to examine the future role of OPG in the electricity sector; the future structure of OPG; the appropriate corporate governance and senior management structure; and the potential refurbishing of Pickering A Units 1, 2, and 3. Former federal Finance Minister and Deputy Prime Minister John Manley chaired
212-429: A diverse fleet that includes 65 hydroelectric stations and two nuclear stations, OPG's power is more than 99 per cent free of smog and greenhouse gas emissions." Prior to shutting down its coal-fueled generating stations, OPG attracted considerable controversy for the operation of coal-fired generating stations, which ranked among Canada's largest individual air pollution sources. This was mostly because Nanticoke housed
265-692: A major blackout created by a series of cascading failures which affected over 30 million people for up to 12 hours. The open cut Chippawa-Queenston Power Canal diverts water from the Welland River to the stations. Upstream of the International Control Dam there are three tunnel intakes which run under Niagara Falls, Ontario, and surface 2 km (1.2 mi) upstream of the Sir Adam Beck Generating Stations. All three tunnel intakes are upstream of
318-479: A massive 3,900 MW of generation capacity in one site: it produced "the most pollution in one site" despite being a reasonably clean plant per megawatt of power. Nanticoke Generating Station was North America's largest coal-fired generating station and the single largest air pollution source for southern Ontario and northern New York state, attracting considerable criticism from environmentalists and legislators in both jurisdictions. OPG's Lambton Generating Station
371-537: A new corporate campus would be built in Clarington , Ontario, that will also house Ontario Power Generation's headquarters. On 13 February 2023, OPG announced they completed a deal to purchase the former head office building for General Motors of Canada in Oshawa , Ontario, for their new headquarters, with plans to open in 2024. Original plans called for a new building to be constructed in Clarington , Ontario, at
424-685: A reliable, clean source of base load electricity during refurbishment of the Darlington Nuclear Generating Station and the initial Bruce Nuclear refurbishments. Any plan to extend Pickering's life requires approval from the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC). OPG is currently working on a licence application to the CNSC for approval in 2018. On 2 December 2021, OPG announced a partnership with GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy to deploy
477-471: A second generating station, SAB 2, to be constructed in 1954. SAB 2 derives its water supply from two diversion tunnels, each about 9 kilometres (5.6 mi) in length. In 1958, a reservoir and the SAB Pump Station were constructed in order to make better use of available water by storing it during periods of low demand and using it in periods of greater demand in order to maximize the efficiency of
530-433: Is a Crown corporation and "government business enterprise" that is responsible for approximately half of the electricity generation in the province of Ontario , Canada. It is wholly owned by the government of Ontario . Sources of electricity include nuclear , hydroelectric , wind , gas and biomass . Although Ontario has an open electricity market , the provincial government, as OPG's sole shareholder, regulates
583-563: Is flowing over the falls, states that during daylight time during the tourist season (1 April to 31 October) there must be 2,832 m /s (100,000 cu ft/s) of water flowing over the falls, and during the night and off-tourist season there must be 1,416 m /s (50,000 cu ft/s) of water flowing over the falls. This treaty is monitored by the International Niagara Board of Control. Ontario Power Generation Ontario Power Generation Inc. ( OPG )
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#1732771736101636-626: Is the owner of four nuclear power plants . It directly operates Pickering Nuclear Generation Station in Pickering , Ontario and Darlington Nuclear Generating Station in Courtice , Ontario. OPG also owns the two nuclear power plants that make up the Bruce Nuclear Generating Station on Lake Huron in western Ontario, which are operated by Bruce Power under a long-term lease. OPG also operates three facilities for
689-734: The Nanticoke Generating Station , on Lake Erie in Haldimand County, Ontario, and the Lambton Generating Station were shut down, OPG did convert two other coal-fuelled power plants. Atikokan Generating Station in Atikokan , Ontario, was converted in 2012 to burning steam-treated wood pellets or "biomass" as OPG refers to it. "Biomass wood pellets are a sustainable fuel recognized as beneficial to climate change mitigation , as identified in
742-515: The Northeast blackout of 2003 . The problem was that all but one of the reactors were tripped and allowed to poison out , preventing an early reconnection to the electricity grid . Once shut down, all nuclear reactors take several days to return to service. Another source of criticism was the extended and expensive refit to the reactor Unit 4 at the Pickering A Nuclear Station. In late 2003,
795-652: The Ontario Power Generation Corporation (OPG) and the Ontario Government officially placed the new Niagara tunnel into service with a formal opening ceremony and tour. The OPG reported that the project will be financially rewarding despite being completed four years later than planned and about $ 500M over its originally estimated cost. OPG's president and CEO Tom Mitchell stated: "This was a large, complex project that will serve Ontario for more than 100 years". The tunnel project
848-573: The Sir Adam Beck Pump Generating Station are all owned by Ontario Power Generation . Following the development of several smaller generating stations around Niagara Falls in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the Province of Ontario authorized the construction of the first major publicly owned generating station in the province. At the time it was built, it was the largest hydroelectric generating station in
901-655: The Biomass Sustainability Analysis Report by the Pembina Institute ", according to OPG. The company says that this generating station is "North America's largest 100 per cent biomass-fuelled power plant". Thunder Bay Generating Station in Thunder Bay , Ontario, was converted to using "advanced" biomass in 2014. "It is a solid biomass fuel ... has higher energy density and is hydrophobic (repels water) allowing it withstand
954-533: The Control Dam, however one of the three tunnels is unseen, under the water, located directly in front of the Control Dam, Control Tower. The open cut canal and the tunnel canal cross at the "Cross Over" where there is a third channel feeding the 174 MW pump generating station 43°08′40″N 79°03′36″W / 43.14444°N 79.06000°W / 43.14444; -79.06000 ( Sir Adam Beck Pump Generating Station ) which pumps water up into
1007-698: The Federal Minister of the Environment and Climate Change delayed a decision on OPG's DGR, causing a pause in the timeline for the EA decision to be issued. While the JRP had recommended to the federal government the project move forward based on the strong technical safety case, the Minister requested OPG provide further information. OPG has committed to provide the requested studies and additional information by
1060-693: The Niagara Tunnel Project and the Sir Adam Beck complex as integral to its efforts to close all of the province's coal-fired generating plants as part of its clean and green energy program . Upon the project's formal opening the Honourable Bob Chiarelli , M.P.P., Ontario's Minister of Energy , stated that "This project is a source of pride as an engineering feat and as a practical solution for meeting Ontario's energy needs through clean sources". The Niagara Tunnel
1113-752: The Sir Adam Beck generating complex to produce power for approximately 160,000 homes. The Niagara Tunnel Project was selected by International Water Power & Dam Construction as the North American Project of the Year for 2013. 43°04′10.72″N 79°03′33.77″W / 43.0696444°N 79.0593806°W / 43.0696444; -79.0593806 Sir Adam Beck Hydroelectric Power Stations Sir Adam Beck Hydroelectric Generating Stations are two hydroelectric generating stations in Niagara Falls, Ontario , Canada. Sir Adam Beck Generating Station I , Sir Adam Beck Generating Station II and
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#17327717361011166-423: The board include John Herron, Selma Lussenburg, Scott McDonald, Jill Pepall, Jim Reinsch, James Sheppard, Anju Virmani, Tracy Primeau and Mary Filipelli. The financial situation at Ontario Power Generation has improved significantly since 2003. Its profits for 2005 were $ 366 million, and its credit rating was upgraded. In July 2006, Liberal Energy Minister Dwight Duncan described OPG's turnaround as "[o]ne of
1219-490: The city of Niagara Falls, Ontario, that start above the falls. A reservoir was created that permits the holding of water, diverted during the night, for use during the day. Between 2007 and 2013, Adam Beck II underwent major civil engineering projects with the addition of a major underground water supply tunnel built by the Niagara Tunnel Project in order to improve its generation output. Water delivered by
1272-582: The efficient use of the Niagara River's hydro power . The new 10.2 kilometres (6.3 mi) long tunnel is 12.7 metres (42 ft) in diameter, or about four storeys in height, and allows an additional diversion of a distant part of the Niagara River to reach the SAB plant complex at a rate of about 500 cubic metres (18,000 cu ft) of water per second, a flow rate that can fill an Olympic-sized swimming pool in seconds. The Ontario Government considers
1325-454: The electricity in Ontario or 74.0 terawatt hours (TWh). Roughly 60 percent of Ontario's electricity is accounted for by three nuclear power plants: Pickering , Darlington and Bruce . No fatal accidents related to nuclear power have occurred in Ontario. Large Small Altogether there are 29 plants producing 127 MW of power. Defunct On 25 June 2019, Ontario Power announced
1378-721: The elements while being stored outside," according to OPG. In March 2016, OPG and partners SunEdison Canadian Construction LP and Six Nations Development Corporation were selected by the Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO) to develop the Nanticoke Solar Facility , a 44 megawatt (MW) solar farm on and near the Nanticoke Generating Station site on Lake Erie. The company is proud of its achievements in reducing pollution. "Now, together with
1431-477: The end of 2016. OPG has also begun the process of building up to four new nuclear units at the site of its Darlington Nuclear Generating Station but in October 2013, the province of Ontario declared that the Darlington new build project would not be part of Ontario's long-term energy plan, citing the high capital cost estimates and energy surplus in the province at the time of the announcement. In January 2016,
1484-588: The existing Darlington Energy Complex. The decision was made to retrofit the empty building for economic and sustainability reasons. Clarington Mayor Adrian Foster issued a statement, saying he was "deeply disappointed" with the decision not to build in Clarington. Oshawa Mayor Dan Carter welcomed the news, saying he was "thrilled to welcome" OPG to Oshawa. OPG owns and operates generating plants that draw from nuclear, hydro-electric, combined gas, biomass, solar and some wind. In 2018, it generated about half of
1537-484: The incoming Liberal government fired the three most senior executives at OPG on the heels of a report that the retrofit of a single reactor at the Pickering nuclear plant had come in significantly over budget and three years behind schedule. The government also accepted the resignation of all remaining board members. Management underestimated the amount of work and complexity of the Unit 4 refurbishment project and failed to do
1590-468: The interim management of nuclear waste generated by OPG's 10 nuclear reactors and Bruce Power's eight nuclear reactors. The company is proposing to construct and operate a deep geologic repository (DGR) on the Bruce Nuclear site , adjacent to its present Western Waste Management Facility. The repository would provide permanent storage of low- and intermediate-level radioactive waste produced from
1643-423: The major new tunnel complemented other upgrades to the Sir Adam Beck generating complex, resulting in a significant increase to the efficient use of the Niagara River 's hydro power. The project's new 12.7-metre (42 ft) diameter, 10.2 km (6.3 mi) long tunnel was officially placed into service on 21 March 2013, helping to increase the generating complex's nameplate capacity by 150 MW, able to provide
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1696-644: The man-made reservoir at night and generates electricity during the day, feeding the water back to the Sir Adam Beck Generating Complex. The International Control Dam, operated by Ontario Power Generation , controls the water diversions from the Niagara River and dispatches the water between the New York Power Authority and Ontario Power Generation in accordance with the terms of the 1950 Niagara Treaty . This treaty, designed to ensure an "unbroken curtain of water"
1749-527: The operation of the Bruce, Pickering, and Darlington nuclear generating stations. In 2005, OPG initiated the regulatory approval process. Following a comprehensive environmental assessment (EA) process and two rounds of public hearings in front of a federal joint review panel (JRP), on 6 May 2015 the JRP issued the EA Report and recommended the approval of OPG's DGR to the federal government. In February 2016,
1802-576: The power for about 160,000 homes. A CAD 60 million refurbishment of the Pump Generating Station reservoir, built in 1957, was started in 2016. The major 1965 Northeast Blackout of Ontario and several U.S. states occurred on 9 November, after maintenance personnel incorrectly set a protective relay on one of the transmission lines from the Sir Adam Beck Station No. II. The faulty relay later tripped open causing
1855-470: The price the company receives for its electricity to be less than the market average, in an attempt to stabilize prices. Since 1 April 2008, the company's rates have been regulated by the Ontario Energy Board . In June 2019, it was announced that a new corporate campus would be built in Clarington , Ontario, that will also house Ontario Power Generation's headquarters. In February 2023, it
1908-607: The project was the Austrian construction company Strabag AG , a large construction group with extensive experience in large tunnel construction. Boring by the Hatch Mott MacDonald Engineering Company started on 15 September 2006 at the north end, located at 43°08′25.2″N 79°03′44.2″W / 43.140333°N 79.062278°W / 43.140333; -79.062278 ( Niagara Tunnel north end ) and ended on 31 March 2011 at
1961-678: The province of Ontario approved plans to pursue continued operation of the Pickering Nuclear Generating Station to 2024. OPG will work with the Ministry of Energy, the Independent Electricity System Operator and the Ontario Energy Board to pursue continued operation of the Pickering Station to 2024. All six units would operate until 2022; two units would then shut down and four units would operate to 2024. Extending Pickering's operation will ensure
2014-593: The review committee. Peter Godsoe , Chairman of the Bank of Nova Scotia, and Jake Epp , a former federal Cabinet Minister, Chair of the Pickering A Review Panel, and interim Chairman of OPG, also sat on the committee. The experience of refurbishing Pickering A Unit 1 was significantly different with a much tighter adherence to schedule and budget. Unit 1 was returned to service in November 2005 providing 542 MW of generating capacity for Ontario's electricity system. It
2067-425: The south end, located at 43°04′10.72″N 79°03′33.77″W / 43.0696444°N 79.0593806°W / 43.0696444; -79.0593806 ( Niagara Tunnel south end ) . Due to slower than projected boring progress caused by constant tunnel roof over-breaks, the project completion date was extended to at least December 2013, with a revised total projected cost of $ 1.6 billion. On 21 March 2013
2120-415: The stations in regards to electricity supply and demand. Between 1996 and 2005, Ontario Power Generation (OPG), which owns and operates the SAB complex, completed a series of major upgrades at the SAB 2 plant, increasing its potential generating nameplate capacity by 194 megawatts . Water delivered through the new Niagara Tunnel Project complements the SAB 2 upgrade, and results in an overall increase to
2173-535: The twenty-fifth anniversary of his death. The water is diverted through the Chippawa-Queenston Power Canal from the Welland River . As the first large-scale hydroelectric generation project in the world, Adam Beck I was designated a National Historic Site of Canada in 1990. Adam Beck II contains 16 generators and first produced power in 1954. The water was first diverted from the Niagara River by two five-mile (8 km) tunnels under
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2226-706: The untold stories of the last two years". On the local public relations side, OPG has won many awards for its performance as a "good corporate citizen". Most recently, OPG was named for the fourth year in a row to the Corporate Knights Top 50 Best Corporate Citizens in Canada. OPG regularly sponsors community events across the province and houses wildlife trails in the exclusion zones around its nuclear stations in Durham Region . The company's annual employee charity campaign has raised millions of dollars for charities across Ontario. In October 2008, OPG
2279-560: The world. The stations divert water from the Niagara and Welland rivers above Niagara Falls which is then released into the lower portion of the Niagara River, and together produce up to 1,962 MW (2,631,000 hp). Adam Beck I contains 10 generators and first produced power in 1922. It was originally called the Queenston-Chippawa Hydroelectric Plant and was renamed after Adam Beck in 1950 on
2332-554: Was announced that OPG would instead purchase the former head office building of General Motors Canada in Oshawa , Ontario, for their new headquarters, planning to open by 2024. Ontario Power Generation was established in April 1999 as part of plans by the Progressive Conservative government of Premier Mike Harris to privatize the assets of Ontario Hydro and deregulate the province's electricity market. OPG
2385-451: Was completed at a total cost $ 100 million lower than its revised $ 1.6 billion budget, and with an in-service date of 9 March 2013. The operational start-of-service date was nine months sooner than the project's revised schedule that was drawn up in 2009 due to unexpected and difficult geological conditions encountered in the soft Queenston Shale Formation during the tunnel boring process. The new tunnel will provide enough additional water to
2438-590: Was constructed using a Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM), affectionately named "Big Becky" in honour of Sir Adam Beck . The TBM machine bored a tunnel about 10.2 kilometres (6.3 mi) long and about 14.4 metres (47 feet) in diameter under the City of Niagara Falls, Ontario , from the Niagara River to the SAB complex. The bored tunnel was subsequently lined with an impervious membrane and a concrete lining, pre-stressed by high pressure grouting. The massive undertaking created about 1.6 million cubic metres of rock and debris, and
2491-520: Was decided that Pickering Units 2 and 3 would not be restarted as the business case could not be made. In early December 2015, Ontario's Auditor General pointed out that OPG was importing wood products from Europe to burn at the Thunder Bay station "pushing the cost of the electricity it generates to 25 times higher than other biomass generators", or $ 1,600 per MWh. Subsequently, Ontario's Development and Mines Minister Michael Gravelle stated that OPG
2544-508: Was designed for a minimum 90-year life span. The HP 471-316 TBM was driven by 15 electric motors totaling about 4.7 megawatts of power (6,375 horsepower), built by the Robbins Company of Solon, Ohio , and was the world's largest hard-rock tunnel boring machine as of 2006. The TBM operated as deep as 140 metres (460 ft) below ground level to avoid the machine's vibrations being felt at surface level. The design-build contractor for
2597-655: Was named one of " Canada's Top 100 Employers " by Mediacorp Canada Inc., and was featured in Maclean's . Later that month, OPG was also named one of Greater Toronto's Top Employers , which was announced by the Toronto Star . OPG regularly reports on its operational, safety and environmental record. The company publishes quarterly reports summarizing its performance in these areas. OPG purchased 9 million shares (1.5%) of former Crown corporation Hydro One , another Ontario Hydro successor company, in April 2016. OPG
2650-429: Was officially placed into service on 21 March 2013, helping to increase the generating complex's nameplate capacity by 150 megawatts , with the extra power produced enough for approximately 160,000 homes. First constructed in 1922, the initial Sir Adam Beck power generating station, now abbreviated as SAB 1, derived its water supply from a hydro canal connected to the Welland River . Increased power demand necessitated
2703-421: Was one of the five successor corporations to Ontario Hydro and assumed ownership of all generating stations. Wendy Kei is the chair of the board of directors. She was appointed as chairman on 27 June 2019. Ken Hartwick is the president and chief executive officer of OPG. He was appointed to this position on 1 April 2019, when the previous president and CEO, Jeffrey J. Lyash, resigned. Other current members of
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#17327717361012756-400: Was seeking a local company to produce the biomass fuel. Considering the ever-increasing cost of electricity to Ontario consumers, the hiring of CEO Jeffrey Lyash in the summer of 2015 created some criticism when it was revealed that Lyash would earn $ 775,000 per annum and that could increase to $ 1.55 million with bonuses if performance targets are met. On 10 June 2019, it was announced that
2809-518: Was the second largest air polluter in the province. The Liberal government of Dalton McGuinty came to power in 2003 with a promise to phase out coal generation by 2007. However, for various operational and demand reasons this was not possible until 2014, when the last coal was burned in OPG's stations. The company also endured significant criticism concerning the slow return to operation of some of its nuclear generating stations which had been shut down by
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