Have you ever wondered how a hydro plant in rural Newfoundland has provided reliable electricity for the island of Newfoundland for over 50 years?

Speaking of Engineering
April 25, 2019

[View Lecture Poster]

In this presentation, Jennifer Williams, president of Newfoundland and Labrador Hydro, will explain how the Bay d'Espoir plant – located 170 kilometres from the Trans Canada Highway in Central Newfoundland – helped pave the way for electrification of the island over 50 years ago, and uses water, rain and snow to provide highly reliable electricity supply to this day.

Ms. Williams will discuss how the utility managed some significant repairs and upgrades at the plant in the past few years and how this critical electricity generator will continue to play a big role as the system drastically changes in the coming years.

Ms. Williams was appointed president of Newfoundland and Labrador Hydro in February 2019. Prior to becoming president, she served as vice-president of production with Hydro, a position she held since August 2016. She was also general manager of hydro production and manager of regulatory engineering with Hydro. Prior to joining Hydro in 2014, Ms. Williams worked with Newfoundland Power and the St. John’s International Airport Authority. She graduated from Memorial University with a bachelor of civil engineering. She is a member of the Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of Newfoundland and Labrador, where she has been an active volunteer, including past member of its board of directors. In 2016 Ms. Williams was awarded the Fellow of Engineers Canada.

Speaking of Engineering is hosted by the Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science at Memorial University and the Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of Newfoundland and Labrador.

A full-length recording of the lecture can be viewed below.