Menihek Hydroelectric Generating Station
| Menihek Hydroelectric Generating Station | |
|---|---|
| Country | Canada |
| Location | Newfoundland and Labrador |
| Coordinates | 54°28′16″N 66°36′45″W / 54.47111°N 66.61250°W |
| Status | Operational |
| Construction began | 1951 |
| Opening date | 1954 |
| Owner(s) | Newfoundland and Labrador Hydro |
| Dam and spillways | |
| Type of dam | Barrage dam |
| Impounds | Ashuanipi River |
| Length | 228.6 m (750 ft) |
| Elevation at crest | 451.10 m (1,480 ft) |
| Width (crest) | 6 m (20 ft) |
| Spillway capacity | 4,247 m3/s (150,000 cu ft/s) |
| Reservoir | |
| Creates | Lake Menihek |
| Active capacity | 423.8 hm3 (1.5×1010 cu ft) |
| Catchment area | 19,166 km2 (7,400 sq mi) |
| Normal elevation | 449.59 m (1,475 ft) |
| Menihek Hydroelectric Generating Station | |
| Hydraulic head | 10.4 m (34 ft) (units 1-2) 12 m (40 ft) (unit 3) |
| Turbines | 2 × 4,400 kW (1954); 1 × 9,900 kW (1960) |
| Installed capacity | 17.2 MW 18.7 MW (max. planned) |
| Capacity factor | 26% |
| Annual generation | 47 GWh |
| Sources: RSW Inc. 2001, pp. 24–25; Cloutier et al. 2002, p. 30 | |
The Menihek Hydroelectric Generating Station is a conventional hydroelectric generating station at Menihek Lake in Labrador. The dam and powerhouse are located in the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador, 40 km (25 mi) south of the isolated town of Schefferville, Quebec and two First Nations communities: Matimekosh-Lac-John and Kawawachikamach. The generating station, two 69 kV power lines and the distribution networks in each community form an independent electricity network, off the main North American grid.