New hydroelectric development of Niagara Falls

Abstract

The Great Lakes, and the large volume of water flowing out from them has long since been a source of interest to those seeking to exploit the hydroelectric potential of North America. There was a need to improve the existing power stations, with the exception of the recently built «Sir Adam n.1». It was consequently decided to adopt a radical solution and build an entirely new power station, the «Central Robert Moses Niagara», which should absorb all currently available water power. This power station is exceedingly up to date in all respects, and will have a power potential of 2.190.000 kW. The hydrostatic head is about 100 ms. The water is taken at the Falls themselves, and guided along an open canal to the storage reservoir, which will also be utilised for pumping storage purposes. The power station, when fully operational, will have 13 Francis generating units, working at 13.800 V. This voltage will be increased to 345.000 V for its long distance transmission. In order to meet peak hour demands, 12 pumping groups will also be installed, each with a power of 25.000 kW. This project, because of its vastness and complexity, has demanded an enormous coordinating effort, which in practice has meant a subdivision into independent subcontracts, each of them involving highly specialised work. The total cost of the scheme is of the order of 40.000 million pesetas.