BC Hydro has announced plans to install a sixth generating unit at the Revelstoke Dam, a move expected to boost capacity by 500 megawatts — enough to power 200,000 homes across British Columbia. Construction is slated to begin in spring 2026, with the seven-year project running through to 2032.
Currently, Revelstoke Dam provides around 15 per cent of BC Hydro’s annual electricity, with the facility producing more than 7,800 gigawatt hours on its own. Together with the Mica and Hugh Keenleyside dams, it supplies about a quarter of the utility’s power.
“This addition will support electrification, meet peak demand, and allow us to add more renewable sources to the system,” BC Hydro said in a statement. The new Francis-style turbine and supporting infrastructure will mirror the fifth unit already in operation, while raising overall capacity from 2,500 to 3,000 megawatts.
Stakeholder engagement advisor Susan Edgell highlighted that dams are considered a clean source of power, producing no greenhouse gases and using only the flow of water to generate electricity. “The energy we generate is 98 per cent clean and renewable,” she noted.
The Revelstoke expansion comes as BC Hydro pursues additional procurement of up to 5,000 gigawatt hours of clean energy per year to meet growing provincial demand.
To inform and engage the local community, BC Hydro will host an open house on Oct. 1 at the Revelstoke Community and Aquatic Centre, followed by a virtual session on Oct. 6.
