Refurbishing, innovating and meeting growing demand

Robert-Bourassa: Last generating unit back in service

Micoua–Saguenay line

Innovation in control structures

For Hydro-Québec, ensuring our control structures are working properly is a priority. It is crucial for us to be able to count on the gates being able to open fully at all times, whether to release flood waters or to regulate the flow of a river. As a result, this equipment is tested and inspected regularly. Using a new method based on an innovation in ensuring control structures’ functional safety, we are now able to evaluate control gate operations and make an accurate assessment of their condition. In turn, this has enabled us to better diagnose the functional safety of these structures, guide repair-related investment decisions, detect anomalies promptly and reduce the number of annual opening tests. Work is currently under way to automate this new approach.

Work on the eighth generating unit at Robert-Bourassa generating station got under way in April 2022. It included refurbishing several major components and replacing the turbine runner and all the wicket gates. Some equipment not part of the generating unit, such as the speed control and static excitation systems, were also upgraded. As part of a research project carried out in cooperation with IREQ, the poles of the unit’s rotor were fitted for continuous temperature readings to provide a comprehensive diagnostic of the condition of the generator rotors. The genset was put back into service in November, before the winter peak. The project to rehabilitate 8 of the station’s 16 units, a major undertaking, had been under way since 2013.

La Vérendrye–Parent line: A team success story

Designed to ensure reliable service for the residents of Parent, in the Haute-Mauricie region, this project involved replacing the 99 wooden H-frames on the La Vérendrye–Parent line. It kicked off in fall 2021 was completed in April 2022. To learn more about the use of energy storage systems and the expanded capacity to integrate distributed energy sources into our transmission system, at Parent substation Hydro-Québec will install (has installed) an energy storage system from its subsidiary EVLO, which will be able to take over in the event of an outage or planned interruption.

Construction of the Micoua–Saguenay line continues, with a view to commissioning in 2023. In fall 2022, 650 workers were on the job to advance our largest ongoing transmission project. The new line will strengthen the Manicouagan–Québec corridor while boosting the system’s operational flexibility and reducing electrical losses. Here are a few fast facts about this transformative project, a great source of pride for the region:

• Length of 262 km

• Nearly 600 towers and more than 3,000 km of conductors

• Collaboration of local communities in project development

• Participation of three Indigenous communities (Essipit, Mashteuiatsh and Pessamit)

• Substantial economic spinoffs for the Côte-Nord and Saguenay–Lac-SaintJean regions.

Commissioning of Le Corbusier substation

Constructed in Centre industrial park in Laval, the 315/25-kV Le Corbusier substation will help meet the growing demand for electricity in the region, particularly for industrial and urban development. The substation’s connection line is about 450 m long and passes over three 120-kV lines. A drone was used to run the conductors a safe distance from the existing lines. The project includes more than 10 km of underground conduits carrying 25 km of distribution cables.