Muskrat Falls Generation Station | |
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Location of Muskrat Falls in Newfoundland and Labrador | |
Location | Labrador, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada |
Coordinates | 53°14′44″N 60°46′22″W / 53.24556°N 60.77278°W |
Construction began | 2013 [1] |
Opening date | September 23, 2020 |
Construction cost | $12.7 billion |
Owner(s) | Newfoundland and Labrador Hydro |
Dam and spillways | |
Type of dam | Roller compacted concrete |
Impounds | Churchill River |
Elevation at crest | 39.5 m[2] |
Spillways | 2 |
Spillway type | 1 overflow spillway and 1 spillway with submerged radial gates[3]: 87–88 |
Spillway capacity | 5930 m3/s [2]: 21 |
Reservoir | |
Normal elevation | 39 m [2]: 20 |
Power Station | |
Turbines | 4 x 206 MW Kaplan turbines [2]: 23 |
Installed capacity | 824 MW[3]: 86 |
Capacity factor | 62.3% |
Annual generation | 4.5 TWh[3]: 86 |
The Muskrat Falls Generating Station is a hydroelectric generating station in the Labrador region of Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. It comprises part of the remaining 35 per cent of the Churchill River that was not developed by the Churchill Falls Generating Station. The station at Muskrat Falls has a capacity of over 824 MW and provides 4.5 TWh of electricity per year.[4]
A $6.2 billion deal between Newfoundland and Labrador's Nalcor Energy and Halifax, Nova Scotia-based Emera to develop the project was announced in November 2010.[5] On November 30, 2012, a federal loan guarantee deal for financing of the project was signed by Prime Minister Stephen Harper, Newfoundland and Labrador Premier Kathy Dunderdale and Nova Scotia Premier Darrell Dexter.[6][7][8][9] On December 17, 2012, the provincial government announced project sanction.[10][11] Emera received approval to proceed with the Maritime Link from the Nova Scotia Utility and Review Board in 2013.[12] Financial close for the loan guarantee occurred in late 2013.[13] On September 23, 2020, the first unit at Muskrat Falls was synced to the electricity grid in Labrador. Power from the remaining three units was originally expected to come online in the fall of 2021.[14] However, there were delays in construction, including on the corresponding Labrador–Island Link which will transmit generated power to a converter outside St. John's.[15]
On June 23, 2021, Premier Andrew Furey announced Nalcor Energy would be dismantled and folded into Newfoundland and Labrador Hydro.[16]
In April 2023, Jennifer Williams, CEO of Newfoundland and Labrador Hydro, announced the completion of the final successful test of the 1100 km transmission link to Newfoundland. Commissioning by the federal government will be announced following the completion of paperwork. Originally approved in 2012 with an anticipated price tag of around $7.4 billion, the costs of the project increased to more than $13 billion.[17]