Ontario government committed to building a clean, reliable energy system through the completion of The Niagara Tunnel Project.

The Ontario government is now harnessing more clean, renewable electricity from Niagara Falls through the completed Niagara Tunnel Project.

The new tunnel, which is more than 10 kilometers (6 miles) in length, is channelling additional water from the Niagara River to flow to the Sir Adam Beck Generating Station at a rate of 500 cubic metres (132,086 gallons) per second. This will supply Ontario with enough clean, renewable electricity to power 160,000 homes.

The largest hydroelectric project to come into service in Ontario for the past 50 years, the Niagara Tunnel Project is a significant provincial achievement.

Building a clean, reliable energy system is part of Ontario's plan to ensure we have the electricity we need to power the province's homes, schools, hospitals and economy.

QUICK FACTS

•When under construction, the Niagara Tunnel Project was the largest renewable energy project of its type anywhere in the world.
•The Niagara Tunnel is as high as a four-storey building, and will propel water at a rate of 500 cubic metres (132,000 gallons) per second, fast enough to fill an Olympic-sized swimming pool in a matter of seconds.
•When under construction, the Niagara Tunnel Project was the largest renewable energy project of its type anywhere in the world.
•The Niagara Tunnel is as high as a four-storey building, and will propel water at a rate of 500 cubic metres (132,000 gallons) per second, fast enough to fill an Olympic-sized swimming pool in a matter of seconds.
•About 500,000 cubic metres (653,000 cubic yards) of concrete was used to line the tunnel – enough to build a 1000 kilometer (621 mile) sidewalk.
•The tunnel liner wall is 60 centimetres (2 feet) thick and made of cast-in-place concrete.
•Since 2003, more than 360 megawatts of new, upgraded and refurbished waterpower projects have come online in Ontario, enough to power an estimated 240,000 households.

QUOTES

"This project is a source of pride as an engineering feat and as a practical solution for meeting Ontario's energy needs through clean sources. The completion of this project will provide Ontario with a source of clean energy for the next 100 years."

Bob Chiarelli, Minister of Energy