B.C. Hydro is moving ahead with upgrades at the W.A.C. Bennett Dam, part of a broader plan to increase electricity capacity across the province.
The Crown corporation says it is optimizing existing infrastructure to add more than 1,000 megawatts of power to its system, a roughly seven per cent increase, as demand for electricity continues to grow.
At the W.A.C. Bennett Dam, work will focus on modernizing generating units 1 through 5 at the G.M. Shrum Generating Station, which is expected to add about 100 megawatts of capacity.
The upgrades are part of a wider strategy aimed at improving efficiency at existing facilities, rather than building entirely new ones. Officials say the approach allows for more reliable power at a lower cost, while limiting environmental impacts.
Energy and Climate Solutions Minister Adrian Dix says the project is one of several underway to “unlock more power from the system we already have,” including improvements at dams, substations and transmission infrastructure.
The work at the Bennett Dam comes alongside other projects across the province, including upgrades at Revelstoke and Mica generating stations. Together, the improvements are expected to strengthen B.C.’s publicly owned electricity system for decades to come.
B.C. Hydro says the investments are part of its “Powering Growth, Fueling Opportunity” strategy, designed to help meet rising demand tied to population growth and industrial development, while maintaining a supply of clean energy.
While the largest single increase in capacity will come from a new generating unit at the Revelstoke Dam, officials say upgrades at major sites like the W.A.C. Bennett Dam remain a key piece of the overall plan to expand B.C.’s energy supply.