Kelsey Generating Station
For a high level overview of this and other hydro projects see Hydroelectric Development in Northern Manitoba.
Background
The Kelsey Generating Station (GS) was the first hydroelectric generating station developed on the Nelson River. The requirements for the project were driven by the confirmation in early 1956 by the mining company Vale (International Nickel Company of Canada or INCO) that a world class nickel source was available in the Mystery Lake - Moak Lake area. In August of that year, Vale informed the Manitoba Hydro Electric Board that over 100 MW of power would be needed to service a new nickel mining and smelting operation and associated town site that Vale was planning to develop in what is now the Thompson area. Given the remoteness of the site and abundance of hydroelectric potential in the region, locally-generated hydroelectric power was the logical energy source.
After reaching an agreement with Vale to deliver power by the summer of 1960, the Manitoba Hydro Electric Board initiated survey work on the site in 1956 and moved quickly to complete the project.
Location
The Kelsey GS is located at the site of the former Grand Rapids (Photo 1) on the Upper Nelson River just upstream of the confluence with the Grass River. It is approximately 685 km north of the City of Winnipeg and 90 km (56 mi) northeast of the City of Thompson (Map 1.2.3-1 in Chapter 1.2, Overview of the Phase I and Phase II Reports). The station is not located closely to any other Manitoba Hydro generating station.
File:Kelsey 1.jpg|400px|Grand Rapids on the Upper Nelson River during Construction of Kelsey - 1957
Physical Environment
Future content: description of land, environment, geology, and geography prior to development.
Engineering
Future content: description of how the project was executed, key engineers, and key contractors.
Notable Design Features
Future content: description of unique or key design elements/considerations utilized in the project.
Generating Station Components
Principal Works
The station spans a total of 0.9 mi (1.4 km) across the Nelson River and consists of a close-coupled intake/powerhouse with seven generating units (and two 0.675 MW house units), concrete wing walls, main dam, dyke structures and a nine bay gated spillway (called a sluiceway back then).
File:Kelsey 2.jpg|400px|Kelsey Powerhouse with the Transformers and the Switchyard on the Top
The Kelsey powerhouse was sized for seven turbine generators (called units) with only five units installed to meet the initial expected demand, with room to expand capacity as load increased and was anticipated to go as large as 10 units as indicated by the space to the east of the powerhouse as shown in Map 2A-1.
