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Site C Dam

Site C Clean Energy Project

Project at a Glance

  • Cost: ~$16 billion
  • Capacity: 1,100 megawatts (MW)
  • Annual Energy Production: 5,100 gigawatt-hours (GWh)
  • Homes Powered Annually: ~450,000
  • Location: Peace River, Fort St. John, Northeast B.C.

Powering British Columbia’s Future

The Site C Clean Energy Project is the third dam and hydroelectric generating station on the Peace River in northeast B.C.

Project Description

The Site C dam is a significant infrastructure project designed to provide a long-term, reliable source of clean and renewable electricity for British Columbia. It is the third in a series of dams on the Peace River, working in conjunction with the W.A.C. Bennett and Peace Canyon dams.

The project includes an earth-fill dam approximately 1,050 metres long and 60 metres high, a generating station with six turbine-generator units, and an 83-kilometre-long reservoir. It is designed to produce approximately 5,100 gigawatt-hours (GWh) of electricity annually, which is enough to power the equivalent of about 450,000 homes per year in B.C.

Timeline & Status

  • 2010: Project announced by the B.C. government.
  • 2014: Environmental approvals received from federal and provincial governments.
  • 2015: Construction began in the summer.
  • 2024: Reservoir filling commenced, and the first generating unit came online in October.
  • August 2025: The sixth and final generating unit came online, making the dam fully operational.
  • The dam is now fully operational. Remaining work includes completing the powerhouse, paving access roads, and site restoration. The reservoir is not yet open to the public, with an expected opening in spring 2026.

Construction Sequence

Participating Companies

A project of this magnitude involves several key contractors responsible for different components. The two largest contracts were for the main civil works and the generating station.

Main Civil Works Contractor

This contract, which included the construction of the earth-fill dam and diversion tunnels, was awarded to Peace River Hydro Partners. This consortium included:

  • ACCIONA Infrastructure Canada Inc.
  • Samsung C&T Canada Ltd.

Generating Station and Spillways (GSS) Contractor

This contract covered the civil works for the powerhouse, penstocks, and spillways. It was awarded to the AFDE Partnership, a joint venture composed of:

  • Aecon Constructors
  • Flatiron Constructors Canada Limited
  • Dragados Canada, Inc.
  • EBC Inc.

Many other contractors and suppliers have been involved in various aspects of the project, including engineering and design, construction, and environmental monitoring.

Benefits to Canadians

  • Clean Energy: Provides a significant source of clean, renewable electricity, helping B.C. meet its climate targets and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
  • Energy Security: Enhances B.C.’s energy security by providing a reliable source of power for over 100 years, meeting the province’s growing demand for electricity.
  • Economic Growth: The project has created thousands of jobs during construction and contributed significantly to B.C.’s GDP.
  • Rate Affordability: As a long-life asset, Site C is expected to provide low-cost electricity for generations of British Columbians.
  • Support for Renewables: The dam’s consistent power output can support the integration of intermittent renewable energy sources, like wind and solar, into the provincial grid.

Citations and Further Reading

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