This hydroelectric earthfill dam on the Peace River includes several components: an earthfill dam 1,050 metres long and 60 metres high, a 1,100-MW generating station and associated structures, an 83-kilometre-long reservoir, realignment of six sections of Highway 29, and two 77-kilometre transmission lines along an existing transmission line right-of-way, connecting Site C to the existing provincial power grid.
Once complete, Site C will provide 1,100 megawatts of capacity, and produce about 5,100 gigawatt hours of energy per year – enough to power the equivalent of 450,000 homes per year in British Columbia.
Construction on the Site C project began in July 2015. Site C is now more than 65 per cent complete and remains on schedule to have to have all six generating units fully in-service in 2025.
The Site C project hit peak construction in 2022, with more than 5,000 people working on the project in the busier summer months. Construction continues to advance on all aspects of the project, including the earthfill dam, powerhouse, approach channel and work to realign Highway 29. The final segment for the last penstock unit was achieved in early July. The project’s second and final 500-kilovolt, 75-kilometre transmission line was completed and energized in March 2022.
In the coming year, work will continue on the earthfill dam in preparation for reservoir filling, which could occur as early as fall 2023.
