La Grande-1 generating station

The La Grande-1 is a hydroelectric power station on the La Grande River that is part of Hydro-Québec's James Bay Project. The station can generate 1,436 MW and was commissioned in 1994–1995. A run of the river generating station, it is one of only two generating stations of the James Bay Project that use a reservoir without any major water-level fluctuations (the Laforge-2 generating station is the other). Thus, the amount of electricity generated by the station depends almost entirely on the water-flow of the river, which is largely controlled by upstream reservoirs and generating stations.[1]

La Grande-1 generating station
Location of La Grande-1 generating station in Quebec
Official name	Centrale La Grande-1
Country	Canada
Location	Baie-James, Quebec
Coordinates	53°44′04″N 78°34′25″W
Status	Operational
Construction began	1989
Opening date	1994-1995
Construction cost	C$2.5 billion
Owner(s)	Hydro-Québec
Dam and spillways
Type of dam	Barrage
Impounds	La Grande River
Height	25 m (82 ft)
Length	2,584 m (8,478 ft)
Dam volume	1,070,000 m3 (38,000,000 cu ft)
Spillways	1
Spillway type	Parabolic
Spillway capacity	16,280 m3/s (574,923 cu ft/s)
Reservoir
Total capacity	1,228 hm3 (4.34×1010 cu ft)
Active capacity	98 hm3 (3.5×109 cu ft)
Surface area	70 km2 (27 sq mi)
Maximum length	75 km (47 mi)
Normal elevation	32.0 m (105.0 ft)
Power Station
Type	Run-of-the-river
Hydraulic head	27.5 m (90 ft)
Turbines	12 × fixed-blade propeller-type turbines General Electric (8); GEC Alsthom (4)
Installed capacity	1,436 MW
Capacity factor	57%
Annual generation	7,500 GWh
Source: Société d'énergie de la Baie James 1996