Sir Adam Beck Hydroelectric Generating Stations
| Sir Adam Beck Hydroelectric Generating Stations | |
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The Adam Beck stations as seen from the air; the northern dam (nearest) is Adam Beck I and the southern is Adam Beck II.
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 Location of Sir Adam Beck Hydroelectric Generating Stations in Ontario
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| Country | Canada |
| Location | Niagara Falls, Ontario |
| Coordinates | 43°08′51″N 79°02′41″W / 43.14750°N 79.04472°WCoordinates: 43°08′51″N 79°02′41″W / 43.14750°N 79.04472°W |
| Status | Operational |
| Commission date | Adam Beck I 1922, Adam Beck II 1954 |
| Owner(s) | Ontario Power Generation |
| Power generation | |
| Units operational | 26 (Adam Beck I 10, Adam Beck II 16) |
| Nameplate capacity | 1,997 MW (2,678,000 hp) |
| Official name | Queenston-Chippawa Hydro-Electric Development National Historic Site of Canada |
| Designated | 1990 |
Sir Adam Beck Hydroelectric Generating Stations are two hydroelectric generating stations in Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada. Sir Adam Beck Generating Station I, Sir Adam Beck Generating Station II and the Sir Adam Beck Pump Generating Station are all owned by Ontario Power Generation. Following the development of several smaller generating stations around Niagara Falls in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the Province of Ontario authorized the construction of first major publicly owned generating station in the province. At the time it was built, it was the largest hydroelectric generating station in the world.
The stations divert water from the Niagara and Welland Rivers above Niagara Falls which is then released into the lower portion of the Niagara River, and together produce up to 1,997 MW (2,678,000 hp).
Adam Beck I contains 10 generators and first produced power in 1922. It was originally called the Queenston-Chippawa Hydroelectric Plant and was renamed after Adam Beck in 1950 on the twenty-fifth anniversary of his death. The water is diverted through the Chippawa-Queenston Power Canal from the Welland River.
As the first large-scale hydroelectric generation project in the world, Adam Beck I was designated a National Historic Site of Canada in 1990.
Adam Beck II contains 16 generators and first produced power in 1954. The water was first diverted from the Niagara River by two five-mile tunnels under the city of Niagara Falls, Ontario, that start above the falls. A reservoir was created that permits the holding of water, diverted during the night, for use during the day.
Between 2006 and 2013, Adam Beck II underwent major civil engineering projects with the addition of a major underground water supply tunnel built by the Niagara Tunnel Project in order to improve its generation output. Water delivered by the major new tunnel complemented other upgrades to the Sir Adam Beck generating complex, resulting in a significant increase to the efficient use of the Niagara River's hydro power.
The project's new 12.7-metre (42 ft) diameter, 10.2 km (6.3 mi) long tunnel was officially placed into service on 21 March 2013, helping to increase the generating complex's nameplate capacity by 150 MW, able to provide the power for about 160,000 homes. A CAD 60 million refurbishment was started in 2016.
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