Hydroelectric Generating Stations

A hydroelectric generating station is a plant that produces electric power by using water to propel the turbines, which, in turn, drive the alternators.

These power stations generate about a quarter of all the electricity used in the world. With access to vast water reserves, Hydro-Québec uses water to generate almost all of its energy output. In this way, the company helps reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Name	Watersheds	River or other watercourse	Type	Installed   capacity   (MW)1	Number   of units	Head2 (m)	Commissioning   date3	Tours
Robert-Bourassa	La Grande	Grande Rivière	Reservoir	5,616	16	137.16	1979– 1981	Yes
La Grande-4	La Grande	Grande Rivière	Reservoir	2,779	9	116.7	1984– 1986
La Grande-3	La Grande	Grande Rivière	Reservoir	2,417	12	79	1982– 1984
La Grande-2-A	La Grande	Grande Rivière	Reservoir	2,106	6	138.5	1991– 1992
Beauharnois	Fleuve Saint-Laurent	Lac Saint-François and canal de Beauharnois	Run-of- river	1,853	36	24.39	1932– 1961	Yes
Manic-5	Manicouagan	Manicouagan	Reservoir	1,596	8	141.8	1970– 1971	Yes
La Grande-1	La Grande	Grande Rivière	Run-of- river	1,436	12	27.5	1994– 1995	Yes
René-Lévesque    (Manic-3)	Manicouagan	Manicouagan	Run-of- river	1,326	6	94.19	1975– 1976
Jean-Lesage    (Manic-2)	Manicouagan	Manicouagan	Run-of- river	1,229	8	70.11	1965– 1967	Yes
Bersimis-1	Betsiamites	Betsiamites	Reservoir	1,178	8	266.7	1956– 1959
Manic-5-PA	Manicouagan	Manicouagan	Reservoir	1,064	4	144.5	1989– 1990
Outardes-3	Aux Outardes	Aux Outardes	Run-of- river	1,026	4	143.57	1969
Sainte-Marguerite-3	Sainte-Marguerite	Sainte-Marguerite	Reservoir	882	2	330	2003
Laforge-1	La Grande	Laforge	Reservoir	878	6	57.3	1993– 1994
Bersimis-2	Betsiamites	Betsiamites	Run-of- river	869	5	115.83	1959– 1960
Outardes-4	Aux Outardes	Aux Outardes	Reservoir	785	4	120.55	1969
Eastmain-1-A	La Grande	Rivière Eastmain	Reservoir	768	3	63	2011- 2012
Carillon	Outaouais (lower)	Outaouais	Run-of- river	753	14	17.99	1962– 1964	Yes
Romaine-2	Romaine	Romaine	Reservoir	640	2	156	2014
Toulnustouc	Manicouagan	Toulnustouc	Reservoir	526	2	152	2005
Outardes-2	Aux Outardes	Aux Outardes	Run-of- river	523	3	82.3	1978
Eastmain-1	La Grande	Rivière Eastmain	Reservoir	480	3	63	2006
Brisay	La Grande	Caniapiscau	Reservoir	469	2	37.5	1993
Péribonka	Péribonka	Péribonka	Run-of- river	385	3	67.6	2007– 2008
Laforge-2	La Grande	Laforge	Run-of- river	319	2	27.4	1996
Trenche	Saint-Maurice	Saint-Maurice	Run-of- river	302	6	48.47	1950– 1955
La Tuque	Saint-Maurice	Saint-Maurice	Run-of- river	294	6	34.75	1940– 1955
Beaumont	Saint-Maurice	Saint-Maurice	Run-of- river	270	6	37.8	1958– 1959
Romaine-1	Romaine	Romaine	Run-of- river	270	2	61.5	2015
McCormick4	Manicouagan	Manicouagan	Run-of- river	235	7	37.8	1952
Rocher-de- Grand-Mère	Saint-Maurice	Saint-Maurice	Run-of- river	230	3	24.3	2004
Paugan	Outaouais (lower)	Gatineau	Run-of- river	226	8	40.54	1928– 1956
Rapide-Blanc	Saint-Maurice	Saint-Maurice	Reservoir	204	6	32.92	1934– 1955
Shawinigan-2	Saint-Maurice	Saint-Maurice	Run-of- river	200	8	44.2	1911– 1929
Shawinigan-3	Saint-Maurice	Saint-Maurice	Run-of- river	194	3	44.2	1948– 1949
Manic-1	Manicouagan	Manicouagan	Run-of- river	184	3	36.58	1966– 1967
Rapides-des-Îles	Outaouais (upper)	Outaouais	Run-of- river	176	4	26.22	1966– 1973
Chelsea	Outaouais (lower)	Gatineau	Run-of- river	152	5	28.35	1927– 1939
Sarcelle	La Grande	Rivière Eastmain	Run-of- river	150	3	8.7 à 16.1	2013
La Gabelle	Saint-Maurice	Saint-Maurice	Run-of- river	131	5	17.38	1924– 1931
Première-Chute	Outaouais (upper)	Outaouais	Run-of- river	131	4	22.26	1968– 1975	Yes
Les Cèdres	St. Lawrence River	Saint-Laurent	Run-of- river	113	12	9.14	1914– 1924
Rapides-Farmer	Outaouais (lower)	Gatineau	Run-of- river	104	5	20.12	1927– 1947	Yes
Rapides-des-Quinze	Outaouais (upper)	Outaouais	Run-of- river	103	6	25.9	1923– 1955
Chute-des-Chats	Outaouais (lower)	Outaouais	Run-of- river	92	4	16.16	1931
Rapide-des-Cœurs	Saint-Maurice	Saint-Maurice	Run-of- river	76	6	22.69	2008– 2009
Grand-Mère	Saint-Maurice	Saint-Maurice	Run-of- river	67	4	25.61	1916– 1930
Rapide-2	Outaouais (upper)	Outaouais	Run-of- river	67	4	20.43	1954– 1964
Rapide-7	Outaouais (upper)	Outaouais	Reservoir	67	4	20.73	1941– 1949
Chute-Allard	Saint-Maurice	Saint-Maurice	Run-of- river	62	6	17.83	2008– 2009
Bryson	Outaouais (lower)	Outaouais	Run-of- river	56	3	18.29	1925– 1949
Mercier	Outaouais (lower)	Gatineau	Reservoir	55	5	18	2007
Rivière-des-Prairies	St. Lawrence River	Rivière- des-Prairies	Run-of- river	54	6	7.93	1929– 1930	Yes
Hart-Jaune	Manicouagan	Hart-Jaune	Reservoir	51	3	39.6	1960
Chute-Hemmings	Saint-François	Saint-François	Run-of- river	29	6	14.64	1925
Hull-2	Outaouais (lower)	Outaouais	Run-of- river	27	4	11,58	1920– 1969
Sept-Chutes	Sainte-Anne	Sainte-Anne	Run-of- river	22	4	124.97	1916– 1999
Lac-Robertson5	Véco	Véco	Reservoir	22	2	38.5	1995
Drummondville	Saint-François	Saint-François	Run-of- river	16	4	9.10	1919– 1925
Saint-Narcisse	Batiscan	Batiscan	Run-of- river	15	2	44.81	1926
Chute-Bell	Outaouais (lower)	Rouge	Run-of- river	10	2	17.8	1915– 1999
Mitis-1	Mitis	Mitis	Run-of- river	6	2	36.58	1922– 1929
Mitis-2	Mitis	Mitis	Run-of- river	4	1	22.86	1947

1. The installed capacity of Rocher-de-Grand-Mère generating station is the maximum allowed under the operating permit.
2. The head of water shown corresponds to the largest value (greatest height), if there are several values. The head varies with each generating unit. Refurbishment work may therefore change the water head value.
3. Year of commissioning of first and last generating unit in each facility.
4. McCormick generating station is operated by a limited partnership between Hydro-Québec (60%) and Alcoa (40%).
5. Generating station not connected to the Hydro-Québec grid and operated by Hydro-Québec Distribution.

Thermal generating stations | Nuclear generating station | Generating stations under construction | Other sources of supply