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There are two types of hydroelectric power plants: reservoir and run-of-river.
'Reservoir' refers to power plants that store water upstream by building a dam. This allows the flow of water to be regulated and increased during times of high demand. Most reservoir power plants have large capacities and are efficient sources of power, approaching 96 per cent.
'Run-of-river' refers to hydroelectric generation with zero or minimal storage of water. Instead, water is diverted from a river, through a tube called a penstock, to produce electricity. The water is later diverted back into the river. The amount of electricity that can be produced by this type of plant varies with the flow of the river.
Hydro potential in Saskatchewan exists in the Saskatchewan River and its north and south branches, the Churchill River, and the Fond du Lac River. Preliminary studies of inventory and hydrology in Northern Saskatchewan have determined that there are 30 potential sites within 25 kilometres of a market.
- 13 have a potential installed capacity of 10 MW or more at 80 per cent efficiency
- 7 have a potential installed capacity of 2-10 MW
- 10 have a potential installed capacity less than 2 MW
