| Kettle Generating Station | |
| Location Map: | Manitoba |
| Coordinates: | 56.3842°N -94.635°W |
| Country: | Canada |
| Status: | O |
| Construction Began: | 1966 |
| Opening: | 1973 |
| Cost: | C$240 million |
| Dam Crosses: | Lower Nelson River |
| Spillway Type: | Eight gates |
| Spillway Capacity: | 83490NaN0 |
| Res Name: | Stephens Lake |
| Res Surface: | 3370NaN0 |
| Res Elevation: | Winter: 141.10NaN0 Summer: 140.20NaN0 |
| Res Max Length: | 360NaN0 |
| Plant Hydraulic Head: | 300NaN0 |
| Plant Commission: | 1973-1974 |
| Plant Turbines: | 12 x 102 MW Propeller turbine |
| Plant Capacity: | 1220MW |
The Kettle Generating Station, also known as Kettle Rapids Generating Station, is a run-of-the-river[1] hydroelectric power station on the Lower Nelson River in Manitoba, Canada. It is located 60NaN0 northwest of Gillam. As part of the Nelson River Hydroelectric Project, the power station was completed in 1973 and the last generator commissioned in 1974. It has an installed capacity of and is the second largest power station in Manitoba.[2]
Construction on the station began in the spring of 1966 and it was carried out in several phases. First, the power house was constructed after a circular coffer dam was set on the right side of the river. Second, the spillway was built adjacent and to the left of the power house while the river flowed through the power house in the meantime. Once the spillway was complete the entire the river was diverted through it. At this point, the turbines and generators were loaded into the power house and the earth-fill section on the dam's left bank was completed. The first generator was commissioned in December 1970 and seven generators were operational in June 1973 when the station was officially opened. The last generator was commissioned in November 1974.[3]
Of the river's 8850NaN0 width, the power house covers 3800NaN0 or 43 percent. The spillway covers 22 percent in the center of the dam and the earth-fill dam completes the remaining 35 percent in length. The dam's spillway is controlled by eight floodgates and can discharge up to 83490NaN0 of water. The power house contains twelve 102 MW propeller-type turbine-generators for an installed capacity of 1,220 MW. Each turbine can discharge up to 2700NaN0 and are afforded 300NaN0 of hydraulic head.[3] [4]