Generation

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Generating stations

Nearly all of the electricity we produce each year is generated at 16 hydroelectric generating stations. Our total generating capability is approximately 6,100 MW.

We also operate a thermal generating station in Brandon, and 4 small remote diesel generating stations (Brochet, Lac Brochet, Shamattawa, and Tadoule Lake). The Selkirk generating station was taken offline in April 2021.

Brandon

Brandon was originally powered by 4 coal-fired generators. A fifth 105-MW coal-fired unit was added in 1970. The original 4 units were taken offline in 2001 and 2 combustion gas turbines were added. These 140-MW turbines use diesel fuel as a backup.

The last coal-fired unit was decommissioned in 2018. It now runs most of the year as a synchronous condenser which regulates our grid’s voltage in southwest Manitoba, but does not create any electricity of its own.

It is our fifth largest generating station.

The Brandon generating station is located on the south bank of the Assiniboine River in the City of Brandon.

• Capacity 280 MW;
• Construction started in 1958, upgrades added in 1969 and 2001;
• 2 combustion gas turbines;
• 1 synchronous condenser.

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Grand Rapids

Grand Rapids is the first hydroelectric generating station that we built in northern Manitoba to produce electricity for the provincial power system after the Winnipeg River had been fully developed.

The Grand Rapids generating station is located on the Saskatchewan River, about 145 km southeast of The Pas.

• Capacity 479 MW;
• Cost $117 million;
• Construction started in January 1960 and completed in November 1968;
• 4 turbine generators;
• Transmission lines (all 3-phase): 230 kV to Winnipeg, Thompson, Overflowing River (The Pas), and Dauphin.
• 4 spillway gates and 8 intake gates.

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Great Falls

Great Falls is our second-oldest hydroelectric generating station and is still in service today. It has an average annual generation of 750 million kWh.

The station was developed by the Winnipeg Electric Railway Company, an early forerunner of Manitoba Hydro. In 1923, the first generator went into service.

The Great Falls generating station is located on the Winnipeg River, about 25 km north of Lac du Bonnet.

• Capacity 129 MW;
• Construction started in 1914 (halted due to World War I and restarted 1919) and completed in 1928;
• 6 turbine generators;
• Transmission lines: 115 kV to Pine Falls, Selkirk, and Winnipeg; 66 kV to nearby mines;
• Powerhouse 116 metres long;
• Waterfall drop 17.7 metres;
• 4 spillway gates.

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Jenpeg

Jenpeg was the first generating station in North America to use bulb-type turbine generators. These units sit horizontally so excavation is not as deep as conventional vertical units. In 1977, the first generator went into service.

Jenpeg’s powerhouse and spillway structures are also used to regulate about 85% of the water flowing out of Lake Winnipeg. This helps reduce shoreline flooding on Lake Winnipeg and supports reliable power generation along the Nelson River. Learn more about our Manitoba Water Power Act license and its terms and conditions.

The Jenpeg generating station is located where the west channel of the Nelson River flows into Cross Lake, about 135 km south of Thompson.

• Capacity 174 MW;
• Cost $310 million;
• Construction started in 1972 and completed in 1979;
• 6 turbine generators;
• Transmission line: 230 kV to Ponton;
• Powerhouse 169 metres long;
• 5 spillway gates.

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Keeyask

Keeyask is the newest generating station and was developed as a collaborative effort between Manitoba Hydro and four Manitoba First Nations – Tataskweyak Cree Nation and War Lake First Nation, York Factory First Nation, and Fox Lake Cree Nation – who are owners under the Keeyask Hydropower Limited Partnership (KHLP). Manitoba Hydro operates the station on behalf of the KHLP.

Construction started in 2014 and the final unit of Keeyask’s seven units was put into service March 9, 2022.

The Keeyask generating station is located between Thompson and Gillam, 725 kilometres northeast of Winnipeg on the lower Nelson River in the Split Lake Resource Management Area, and within the traditional territories of all four partner First Nations.

The Keeyask generating station is a source of virtually carbon free energy producing an average of 4,400 gigawatt hours of electricity each year, enough energy to power approximately 400,000 homes.

The hydroelectric energy produced is integrated into Manitoba Hydro’s electric system for use in Manitoba and for export until Manitoba demand for energy grows.

• Capacity 695 MW;
• Transmission line: 138 kV lines between Keeyask switching station and the Radisson converter station;
• Powerhouse and service bay 242 metres long;
• 7 spillway gates and 21 intake gates.

For more information on the Keeyask project, visit the Keeyask Hydropower Limited Partnership website.

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Kelsey

Kelsey was the first generating station we built on the Nelson River. It supplied electricity to Thompson, and mining and smelting operations in the Moak Lake and Mystery Lake areas. The generating station was linked to the province’s electrical system 6 years after completion.

The generating station has a potential capacity of 464 MW, and a total dam and dike volume of 130,408 m³.

The Kelsey generating station is located on the Nelson River, just over 90 km northeast of Thompson. It is about 137 km upstream from the Kettle generating station.

• Capacity 286 MW;
• Cost $50 million;
• Construction started in 1957 and completed in 1961;
• 7 turbine generators;
• Transmission lines: 138 kV AC lines to Thompson, Gillam, and Split Lake;
• Powerhouse 202.5 metres long;
• 9 spillway gates.

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Kettle

Kettle is our second largest hydroelectric generating station.

The Kettle generating station is located on the lower Nelson River, about 150 km west of York Factory.

• Capacity 1,220 MW;
• Cost $240 million;
• Construction completed in 1974;
• 12 turbine generators;
• Transmission lines: 138 kV AC to Radisson Converter station; ±450 kV DC to Winnipeg;
• Powerhouse 380 metres long;
• 8 spillway gates and 36 intake gates.

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Laurie River I & II

The Laurie River generating stations originally went into operation in 1952 and 1958 respectively to support Sherritt Gordon mining operations. We purchased them in 1970 and officially took over on June 1 of that year.

Laurie River was named after a nearby lake, which was named after Patrick Laurie, publisher of the Saskatchewan Herald – the first newspaper published west of Winnipeg.

The Laurie River generating stations are located about 60 km south of Lynn Lake. Laurie II generating station is operated by remote control from Laurie I generating station.

• Capacity 10 MW (5 MW at Laurie I, and 5 MW at Laurie II);
• Construction completed in 1952 and 1958 (respectively);
• 3 turbine generators (2 at Laurie I and 1 at Laurie II);
• Transmission lines: 138 kV to Thompson; 230 kV to Thompson and Birchtree;
• Powerhouse at Laurie River I 21 metres long, at Laurie River II 17.5 metres long;
• Waterfall drop at Laurie River I 16.75 metres, at Laurie River II 19 metres;
• 5 spillway gates each and 2 intake gates each.

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Limestone

Limestone is the fifth generating station built on the Nelson River and is the largest one in the province. In September 1990, the first generator went into service.

It has a total dam and dike volume of 2,900,000 m³.

The Limestone generating station is located on the Nelson River, about 230 km south of Churchill.

• Capacity 1,350 MW;
• Cost $1.43 billion;
• Construction started in 1985 and completed in 1992;
• 10 turbine generators;
• Transmission lines: 230 kV AC to Henday converter station;
• 500 kV DC to Winnipeg;
• Powerhouse 299 metres long;
• 7 spillway gates and 30 intake gates.

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Long Spruce

Long Spruce was our fourth generating station to be built on the Nelson River. The station is on a stretch of the Nelson known as the Long Spruce Rapids.

The Long Spruce generating station is located on the Nelson River, about 100 km west of York Factory.

• Capacity 980 MW;
• Cost $508 million;
• Construction completed in 1979;
• 10 turbine generators;
• Transmission lines: 230 kV AC to Radisson and Henday converter stations; ±450-kV DC to Dorsey converter station;
• Powerhouse 300 metres long;
• 6 spillway gates and 30 intake gates.

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McArthur Falls

McArthur Falls is the smallest and newest of the 6 generating stations operating on the Winnipeg River. It has an average annual generation of 380 million kWh. In 1954, the first generator went into service.

The McArthur Falls generating station is located on the Winnipeg River, about 120 km northeast of Winnipeg.

• Capacity 56 MW;
• Cost $24 million;
• Construction started in 1952 and completed in 1955;
• 8 turbine generators;
• Transmission lines: 115 kV to Pine Falls and Seven Sisters generating stations;
• Powerhouse 177 metres long;
• Waterfall drop 7 metres;
• 8 spillway gates.

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Pine Falls

Pine Falls is the last generating station to use the Winnipeg River’s abundant waters before reaching Lake Winnipeg at Traverse Bay. In 1952, the first generator went into service.

Construction began in the late 1940s to keep the supply of electricity ahead of the demand, which was exceeding all earlier provincial power planner’s estimates – industry and agriculture were rapidly expanding.

The generating station has an average annual generation of 620 million kWh.

The Pine Falls generating station is located on the lower stretch of the Winnipeg River, next to the town of Powerview–Pine Falls.

• Capacity 84 MW;
• Cost $23.5 million;
• Construction started in 1949 and completed in 1952;
• 6 turbine generators;
• Transmission lines: 115 kV to Great Falls and McArthur generating stations, and Parkdale; 66 kV to Grand Beach and Lake Winnipeg;
• Powerhouse 151 metres long;
• Waterfall drop 11.3 metres;
• 6 spillway gates.

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Pointe du Bois

Pointe du Bois is the oldest power plant still in operation on the Winnipeg River. It was built by City Hydro, later known as Winnipeg Hydro, and bought by Manitoba Hydro in 2002.

In 1911, the first unit went into service. The generating station has an average annual generation of 599 million kWh.

The Pointe du Bois generating station is located on the Winnipeg River, approximately 38 km northeast of Lac du Bonnet.

• Capacity 75 MW;
• Cost $3.25 million;
• Construction started in 1909 and completed in 1926;
• 16 turbine generators (15 double horizontal shaft Francis Turbines and 1 Straflo turbine);
• Transmission lines: 69 kV to Winnipeg; 138 kV to Slave Falls;
• Powerhouse 135 metres long;
• Waterfall drop 14 metres.

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Selkirk

Selkirk was powered by coal until 2002 when it was converted to natural gas. In April 2021, the Selkirk generating station was taken offline.

Construction of the Selkirk Generating Stations started in 1957 and completed in 1960. The plant was named after Lord Selkirk, who in the year 1812 brought Scottish settlers to the Point Douglas area close to Winnipeg. It is located near the Red River, on the east side of Selkirk.

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Seven Sisters

Seven Sisters is the largest producer of electricity on the Winnipeg River – it is fondly and respectfully described by engineers who designed and built it as the river’s mightiest generating station.

Seven Sisters was built in 2 stages. The first stage began in July 1929 and with the building of the powerhouse. In August 1931, it was completed and its 3 turbine generators produced a total of 75 MW. The second stage began after World War II in 1948. In 1952, the sixth and final unit went into service. It has an average annual generation of 990 million kWh.

The Seven Sisters generating station is located on the Winnipeg River, about 70 km east of Winnipeg.

• Capacity 165 MW;
• Construction started in 1929 and completed in 1952;
• Transmission lines: 115 kV to Winnipeg;
• 115 kV to Whiteshell area and Kenora, Ontario;
• Powerhouse 128 metres long;
  Waterfall drop 18.6 metres;
• 2 spillway gates and 27 intake gates.

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Slave Falls

The name Slave Falls is derived from an Indigenous legend. While trying to escape across the river from a warrior who enslaved her, a young woman was swept over the falls to her death.

Powerful falls and a natural island divided the river at Slave and made it an ideal location for a power plant. The builders saved huge sums of money by using the island’s granite base as a foundation – earning it the nickname “Million Dollar Island”.

In 1931, the first unit went into service. The generating station has an average annual generation of 499 million kWh. In 1970, $743 thousand was spent to automate the Slave Falls plant, allowing it to be operated by remote control from the Pointe du Bois control room.

The Slave Falls generating station is located on the Winnipeg River, about 35 km east of Lac du Bonnet. The station is only accessible by a private road from Pointe du Bois.

• Capacity 68 MW;
• Cost $8.3 million;
• Construction started in 1928 and completed in 1948;
• 8 turbine generators (vertical propeller type);
• Transmission lines: 138 kV to Winnipeg;
• Powerhouse 180 metres long;
• Waterfall drop 9.75 metres.

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Wuskwatim

Wuskwatim represents the first time we entered into a partnership with a First Nations community on a generating station project. The station is owned by the Wuskwatim Power Limited Partnership (WPLP), a legal entity involving Nisichawayasihk Cree Nation (NCN) and Manitoba Hydro. We operate the station on behalf of the WPLP.

First Nations input was also critical during the design and planning phase of the project, which included combining traditional knowledge with scientific knowledge during the environmental assessment studies. Traditional knowledge will continue to play an important role in monitoring the operation of the project from an environmental perspective.

Wuskwatim’s low-head design meant the project created less than one half of a square kilometre of flooding, all contained within the immediate forebay area.

The Wuskwatim generating station is located on the Burntwood River, in the Nelson House Resource Management Area, approximately 45 km southwest of Thompson and 35 km southeast of Nelson House.

• Capacity 211 MW;
• Cost $1.3 billion;
• Construction started in 2006 and completed in 2012;
• 3 turbine generators (vertical propeller type);
• Transmission lines: 230 kV Thompson and Herblet Lake Station;
• Powerhouse 118 metres long.

View the Wuskwatim project development agreement.

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Generating station renewal

At a number of our older hydroelectric generating stations, some of the units that harness the power of falling water to produce electricity, are reaching the end of their useful life. The requirement to replace these units, either in part or in whole, creates an opportunity to introduce modern equipment and designs that can increase the amount of electricity generated using the same water resource.

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