From the commissioning of Canada’s first hydroelectric generating facility in 1891 to the now more than 500 facilities stretching coast to coast to coast, waterpower can be found flowing through the course of our nation’s history.
Powering our economy
The Canada we know today would not be the same without waterpower. Waterpower’s influence has included developing remote regions, bringing various other industries to Canada, driving economic growth, fostering innovation, and developing home-grown, world-class expertise. Not only powering our communities, waterpower also energises our economy, with over 130,000 jobs in Canada linked to waterpower and the industry contributing over C$35 billion to our GDP annually
Each day, the lives of many Canadians are powered by waterpower. As the nation’s single largest source of electricity, six out of ten Canadian homes and businesses are powered by the reliable, clean, and renewable energy produced by waterpower. Consumers also benefit from waterpower’s cost-competitiveness, as Canadians who have the greatest access to waterpower tend to pay the least for their electricity. Additionally, Canadian hydroelectricity helps power many regions of the US, including New York, New England, the Midwest, and the Pacific Northwest.
Waterpower plays a leading role
WaterPower Canada members are stepping up to the challenge, with all Canadian operators evaluating options for greenfield development and capacity expansion at existing facilities. Some of the major commitments in Canada include:
• Hydro-Québec announcing plans to invest C$160 billion in the Québec electricity system over the coming decade. Hydro-Québec’s plan includes the development of 4000MW of additional hydropower capacity – including 2000MW through capacity increases at existing facilities and a 1000MW pumped storage facility.
• BC Hydro announcing plans to invest C$30 billion in the British Columbia electricity system and issuing an RFP for 3TWh annually of renewable power to meet increasing demand. This work is in addition to BC Hydro’s 1100MW Site C Project in northern British Columbia.
• Ontario Power Generation committing over C$2 billion to refurbish the existing R. H. Saunders and Sir Adam Beck facilities and evaluating a 400MW pumped storage hydropower project with Northland Power.
• TC Energy advancing pumped-storage hydropower projects in Alberta and Ontario, including the proposed 1000MW project in Meaford, Ontario.
The increased attention on pumped storage hydropower is in response to growing needs for high-capacity storage to integrate variable renewables. Historically, the role for pumped storage hydropower in Canada has been limited. However, a recent study commissioned by WaterPower Canada indicates a potential for over 80,000GW of pumped-storage potential in Canada, with the best resources in British Columbia, Québec, and Newfoundland and Labrador.
The future is bright for waterpower
Investments in waterpower projects are catalysts for development in rural Canada. For indigenous communities, participation in project development is an essential element of Indigenous reconciliation, where local communities have a direct say in all aspects of a project lifecycle – from development through to operations. These projects also enrich quality of life, generate employment, and business opportunities, while also providing a revenue stream for local communities.
During operations, waterpower’s combination of reliable service and dispatch flexibility make it an essential component of our energy transition, and the long service life of waterpower assets make them valuable for decades to come.
