Petty Harbour Generating Station
| Petty Harbour Generating Station | |
|---|---|
Image of Petty Harbour Generating Station | |
Petty Harbour Generating Station Location of Petty Harbour Generating Station in Newfoundland and Labrador | |
| Official name | Petty Harbour Hydroelectric Development |
| Location | Canada Newfoundland and Labrador |
| Coordinates | 47°27′55″N 52°42′44″W / 47.465395°N 52.7122622°W |
| Purpose | Power |
| Status | Operational |
| Construction began | 1898 |
| Owner | Newfoundland Power |
| Dam and spillways | |
| Type of dam | Earth fill dam |
| Power Station | |
| Operators | Newfoundland Light and Power Company Ltd. |
| Hydraulic head | 57.9 m (190 ft) |
| Turbines | 3 |
| Installed capacity | 5.3 MW |
| Annual generation | 18 GWh |
The Petty Harbour Hydro Electric Generating Station is a hydroelectric generating station in Petty Harbour–Maddox Cove, Newfoundland and Labrador. It was constructed in 1898 and it was the first hydroelectric generating station in Newfoundland.[1] It was built by the St. John's Street Railway Company, a company established by Robert Reid. Operation commenced on 19 April 1900.[2]
In 1920 Reid renamed the company the St. John's Light and Power Company. On 7 February 1921, an avalanche destroyed 23 m (75 ft) of the wooden penstock that carried water from the dam to the generating station, cutting off all electrical power to St. John's for almost five days.[2] Then, in 1924, St. John's Street Railway Company was bought by Newfoundland Light and Power Company Ltd therefore changing ownership of the dam.
On 1 May 1978, the plant was entered in the Canadian Engineering Heritage Record as a model reflecting progressive adaptation to emerging technology, and as of 2012, it remains as one of the few plants of its type still in active service.[3]
Technical Information
Equipment
Source:[4]
Turbines
Unit 2
Originally installed in 1900
Victor type (early Francis turbine): 1.4 MW, Manufactured by Stillwell, Bierce & Smith Vaille Co.
Replaced in 1908 with: Horizontal Francis, 1.57 MW, Manufactured by Voith
Unit 1
Originally installed in 1902
Inward-flow Girard type (impulse turbine):1.4 MW, Manufactured by Stillwell, Bierce & Smith Vaille Co.
Replaced in 1912 with:
Horizontal Francis: 1.57 MW, Manufactured by Voith
Unit 3
Installed 1926
Horizontal Francis: 2.05 MW, Manufactured by Armstrong Whitworth
Generators
Unit 2
Installed in 1900: 3-phase: 60 Hertz, 550 volts
Manufactured by Westinghouse
Replaced in 1926 with: 3-phase, 60 Hertz, 2,300 volts
Manufactured by General Electric
Unit 1
Installed in 1902: 3-phase, 60 Hertz, 550 volts
Manufactured by Westinghouse
Rewound in 1926 to 2,300 volts
Unit 3
Installed in 1926: 3-phase, 60 Hertz, 2,300 volts
Manufactured by General Electric
Construction
Powerhouse
48.8 metres long by 7.3 metres wide by 4.9 metres high Masonry construction[4]
Penstock
Original:
1,057 metres long, 2.4-meter by 2.4-meter cross-section wooden flume
112.2 metres long, 2.4-meter by 2.4-meter cross-section rock tunnel
115.2 metres long, 2-meter-diameter steel penstock
Replacements:
1926: 975-metre-long, 2.3-meter-diameter wood stave penstock
1953: Steel penstock (surge tank riser) replaced with 2.3-metre-diameter steel pipe
1999: Lower 740.7 metres of penstock replaced with 2.3-metre-diameter steel pipe
2021: Remainder of penstock replaced with 2.3-metre-diameter steel pipe
Intake Structure:
Concrete with steel gate and lift (integral to forebay dam)[4]
Dams & Reservoirs
Forebay
In 1900, rockfill with timber facing. Replaced in 1926 with concrete gravity. Steel anchors added in 1992. 9.1-meter maximum height.[4]
Bay Bulls Big Pond
Zoned earthfill (rebuilt 1998–1999) Concrete outlet conduit.[4]
Cochrane Pond
Earthfill with concrete overflow spillway and timber crib outlet.[4]
Tailrace
Unlined canal excavated in rock 37 metres long.[4]
References
- ^ McBride, Michelle. "Hydro Development in Newfoundland and Labrador". Memorial University of Newfoundland. Retrieved 2009-01-21.
- ^ a b "HistoricPlaces.ca - HistoricPlaces.ca". www.historicplaces.ca. Retrieved 2025-12-30.
- ^ Ascroft, Sheila (2012). "The Heritage of Power Generation" (PDF). nationaltrustcanada.ca.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ a b c d e f g Evans, John G.; Kerr, Ian R (2003). Petty Harbour: Bringing Hydroelectricity to an Island Community. HCI Publications. pp. 1–3.