Bay d'Espoir Hydro Electric Development

The Baie D'Espoir Hydro Electric Development, built by the Newfoundland and Labrador Power Commission is located on the South Coast of the Island of Newfoundland near the rural community of Bay d'Espoir. It was the first major hydroelectric project undertaken in Newfoundland and Labrador.

The hydroelectric potential of this area was known by the early 1920's but its development was not seriously considered until 1954 when British Newfoundland Development Corporation (BRINCO) became interested in the site. In 1957 a Shawinigan Engineering survey confirmed the feasibility of building a hydroelectric plant. By 1959 BRINCO had set up a subsidiary, Southern Newfoundland Power and Development Corporation, to carry out the project. However, the subsidiary was unable to attract industrial customers to the area; this, it felt, was necessary before undertaking the project, so in 1964 it sold all its rights and assets to the Newfoundland Government.

The government, by taking over the project, became eligible for a $20 million grant from the Atlantic Development Board a Federal Government agency. The engineering and construction work was carried out by ShawMont Newfoundland Engineering, a joint venture company formed by Shawinigan Engineering and Montreal Engineering in 1964.

The headwaters of the Baie d'Espoir system begin at Victoria Lake at an approximate elevation of 320 meters. Through a man-made array of dams and canals, this water is directed to generating plants at Granite Canal, Upper Salmon and, finally, 150 km from Victoria Lake to its final tidewater destination at Baie d'Espoir. Water is collected, stored and diverted from a number of drainage areas between Victoria Lake and Long Pond, the forebay for the two Baie d'Espoir generating stations.

The seven generating units at Baie d'Espoir utilize approximately 176 m of head to produce a rated output of 604 MW with a rated flow of 397 m3/s. The plant produces an average of 2,657 GWh annually, making it the largest hydroelectric plant on the Island.

The Baie D'Espoir Hydro Electric Development was undertaken to provide the province with a large source of low-cost electric power which would allow the Island's utilities to extend their services, stimilate the expansion of the industries already in the province and attract new industries to Newfoundland and Labrador. The Electric Reduction Company of Canada Industries Limited (ERCO), phosphorus plant at Long Harbour and the Come by Chance Oil Refinery at Come by Chance were built partially because of the availability of cheap power.