The Dam Update: Fourth generating unit online

BC Hydro announced earlier this month that the fourth generating unit is now online at Site C, achieving another key milestone.

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Photos from inside Site C during construction.

With the projects generating capacity two-thirds operational, BC Hydro has reached another key milestone at Site C which which significantly bolsters the energy supply in British Columbia.

“Congratulations to all the workers at Site C for reaching this important milestone in construction,” said Adrian Dix, Minister of Energy and Climate Solutions. “Another generating unit in operation is another step forward as we work to build a secure supply of clean, affordable, reliable electricity to power British Columbia into the future.”

The dam brought the first generating unit online in October 2024, while the second unit saw life in December, the third in February and now the fourth is operational.

These units are capable of producing more than 180 megawatts of electricity each, that’s around the same amount of power needed to power 80,000 homes.

Testing and commissioning of the fifth unit has begun since the fourth unit was deemed fully operational by BC Hydro, and the project continues to remain on track to have all six operational this fall.

Site C will be capable of providing clean electricity to almost 500,000 homes once the project is fully operational, effectively increasing the electricity supply of BC Hydro by eight percent according to a media release.