Acciona and its partners have completed the construction of the largest hydroelectric dam in Canada, a 1.8 billion euro project that is one of the most significant of the Spanish group in the region. Once the entire hydroelectric complex is completed in 2025, located in the northeast of British Columbia, it will supply energy to a population equivalent to 450,000 homes (or 1.7 million electric vehicles per year) in the province, according to Acciona. .
The dam, awarded in 2015, rises 60 meters above the Paz River and is over a kilometer long, making it one of the largest infrastructure initiatives in Canada. To divert the river, the consortium in charge of the work built two twin tunnels 800 meters long and 11 meters in diameter. In total, more than 100 million m3 of earth were moved.
The expected capacity of the hydroelectric plant is 1,100 MW, with an expected annual production of 5,100 GWh of electricity. The contract, commissioned by Canadian utility BC Hydro, has spanned eight years and the companies expected its construction to employ around 8,000 people. When fully completed it will be the third of four major dams on the Peace River that were initially proposed in the mid-20th century.
One of Acciona’s largest projects in Canada
Canada is one of the strategic countries for Acciona, where it entered in 2022 to execute one of the most relevant hydraulic projects in the country in Toronto. The company has participated in numerous projects in the country, among which are highways, bridges, hospitals, treatment plants or works to modernize the water distribution system. Currently, the expansion of Vancouver’s Broadway Metro for 1.82 billion is being built. As for Acciona Energía, it has three wind farms and has just announced the start of construction of a 280 MW wind project in Alberta (Canada).
