Saint-Paulin

The Saint-Paulin facility consists of a run-of-the-river hydroelectric power generating facility with a total installed capacity of 8 MW and an expected annual production of electricity is 41,072 MWh. It is located in the municipality of Saint-Paulin, approximately 20 km north of Louiseville, Québec on the Rivière-du-Loup. It obtains its water from the Rivière-du-Loup, which has its source in the Mastigouche Reserve, north of Saint-Paulin. It benefits from a total drainage area of 1,372 square kilometres. The intake is constructed on the west bank of the river, in a concrete structure equipped with trash racks. The powerhouse, which contains a double-runner horizontal Francis turbine, is architecturally designed to blend with its environment. The plant is fully automated and may be operated locally or remotely. The Saint-Paulin Facility is connected to the Hydro-Québec grid through a short overhead line at 25 kV. The site where the Saint-Paulin facility is located is locally known as the Chute à Magnan. It is named after Augustin Magnan, who was the first person to harness the falls for the operation of a saw and flour mill. This breathtakingly beautiful site is one of the four highest waterfalls in Québec.