Main Civil Works Begin at British Columbia’s Site C Clean Energy Project

Site C is one of Canada’s largest infrastructure projects and will provide a solution to British Columbia’s long-term energy needs, producing enough energy to power the equivalent of 450,000 homes per year. 

The main civil works encompass the majority of earthworks required for Site C, including:

The construction of an earthfill dam

• The dam will be approximately 1,050 metres in length and 60 metres high above the riverbed
• This also includes the construction of two temporary cofferdams across the main river channel to allow for construction of the earthfill dam.

 Two diversion tunnels

• This includes river diversion works, including construction of two 10.8 metre diameter concrete-lined tunnels between 700 to 800 metres in length.

 A concrete foundation for the dam’s generating station and spillways

• This includes an 800-metre roller-compacted-concrete buttress to enhance seismic protection. The buttress will reach a maximum height of 70 metres.

This project will create approximately 8,000 person-years of employment over the eight-year contract, and will see over 1,500 people working on the site during its peak phase. The Site C dam marks ACCIONA’s third major infrastructure project in B.C., following the successful completion of hospitals in Fort St. John and Victoria.  ACCIONA brings decades of experience building hydro infrastructure across the globe to the project.

About Site C:

BC Hydro’s Site C Clean Energy Project will be a third dam and hydroelectric generating station on the Peace River in northeast B.C., about seven kilometres southwest of Fort St. John. Site C will provide 1,100 megawatts of capacity, and produce about 5,100 gigawatt hours of electricity each year — enough energy to power the equivalent of about 450,000 homes per year in B.C. Once completed in 2024, Site C will be a source of clean, reliable and cost-effective electricity in B.C. for more than 100 years.