November 14, 2024, Vancouver, BC, Canada – The Site C Clean Energy Project, located on the Peace River in northeast British Columbia, has reached major milestones as it approaches completion in 2025. BC Hydro recently announced that the project has begun generating electricity and safely filled its reservoir, marking a significant move towards increasing energy supply in the province.

The first 183 MW generating unit started producing electricity after completing testing and commissioning procedures in late October. This development came alongside the completion of reservoir filling in early November. The remaining five generating units are scheduled to come online sequentially in the coming months, with the project expected to be in service by fall 2025.

Once fully operational, the 1,100 MW hydroelectric project will produce about 5,100 GWh of electricity each year, enough energy to power the equivalent of about 450,000 homes annually in British Columbia.

"These milestones are a testament to the collaborative efforts of all parties involved in this large-scale project,” said Sam Mottram, Managing Principal at Knight Piésold Canada. “Our team has been involved with the project for 14 years, and we are excited to see Site C come to fruition, achieving its goal of providing clean, reliable energy to British Columbians."

Knight Piésold began work on the project in 2010, supporting BC Hydro with assessing changes in fluvial geomorphology and sediment transport as part of the environmental effects assessment until 2013. Knight Piésold also designed and installed a suspended sediment and turbidity monitoring network along the Peace River until 2014 that continued through the project construction period.

Construction on the project began in 2015, and since then, Knight Piésold has been the lead designer of all temporary works for the Main Civil Works contractor, Peace River Hydro Partners (PRHP), including cofferdams, starter dykes, access roads, and more.

Along with undertaking the detailed design, Knight Piésold began on-site construction monitoring in 2016, as well as various geotechnical site investigations and instrumentation programs. That same year, Knight Piésold led the preparation of environmental protection plans for all main civil works, both temporary and permanent, and continues to provide environmental support to PRHP until the end of 2024.

Mottram added, “Over the years, many engineers, environmental scientists, and geoscientists from our Vancouver and North Bay offices have contributed to Site C. It has been a huge team effort, and we are incredibly proud of everyone working together to address challenges and deliver innovations for this complex, landmark project.”

As the project moves toward full operation, Knight Piésold continues to support BC Hydro with design and construction monitoring of the diversion closure cofferdam. Knight Piésold looks forward to the successful completion of the Site C Clean Energy Project, a source of renewable electricity for British Columbia for the next 100 years.

Featured Image: Dam site at the Site C Clean Energy Project on November 6, 2024. (BC Hydro)