Hydroelectricity in Canada

Canada is the world's third largest producer of hydroelectricity after China and Brazil.[1] In 2014, Canada consumed the equivalent of 85.7 megatonnes worth of oil of hydroelectricity, 9.8% of worldwide hydroelectric consumption. Furthermore, hydroelectricity accounted for 25.7% of Canada's total energy consumption (37.3% of non-oil sources). It is the third-most consumed energy in Canada behind oil and natural gas (30.9% and 28.1% of total consumption, respectively).[2]

Some provinces and territories, such as British Columbia, Manitoba, Newfoundland and Labrador, Quebec and Yukon produce over 90% of their electricity from Hydro. All of the dams with large reservoirs were completed before 1990, since then most development has been run-of-the-river, both large and small. Natural Resources Canada calculates the current installed small hydro capacity is 3,400 MW, with an estimated potential of 15,000 MW.[3] A report on the future of hydroelectricity, suggests the remaining 78% potential will remain undeveloped up to 2050, citing a lack of public acceptance.[4] The widespread usage of hydroelectricity, including being incorporated into electric utility names such as Toronto Hydro or BC Hydro, has led to "hydro" being used in some parts of Canada to refer to electricity in general, regardless of source.[5][6]

Canada has 81 GW of installed hydroelectric capacity, producing 400 TWh of electricity in 2019.[7]

By region

Installed hydroelectric capacity by province/territories in 2018[8]
province/territory	installed capacity (MW)
Alberta	943
British Columbia	14,210
Manitoba	5,701
Newfoundland and Labrador	7,775.8
New Brunswick	950.1
Northwest Territories	56
Nova Scotia	365
Ontario	7,480
Prince Edward Island	0
Quebec	38,400
Saskatchewan	868
Yukon	95

British Columbia

BC Hydro owns and operates the majority of hydroelectric installations in British Columbia. A second crown corporation, Columbia Power Corporation and two companies also own large dams in BC, Alcan's Kemano Project and FortisBC.

90% of BC Hydro's generation is produced by hydroelectric means. Natural gas and biomass thermal power round out the generation portfolio.[9]

Over 80% of BC Hydro's installed in generating capacity is at hydroelectric installations in the Peace and Columbia river basins. The GM Shrum and Peace Canyon generating stations are on the Peace River produced 29% of BC Hydro's electricity requirements. In the Columbia River Basin, Mica and Revelstoke hydroelectric plants together contributed 25%, while Kootenay Canal and Seven Mile generating stations together supplied 10%.[10]

The remaining 25 hydroelectric generating stations supplied 14% of electricity production. BC Hydro also operates thermal power plants. The Burrard Thermal Generating Station contributes 7.5% and the remaining 14.5% of the electricity requirement was supplied by purchases and other transactions.[10]

BC Hydro's last dam was completed in 1984, since then run-of-the-river projects with private partners have been built. Power production without reservoirs varies dramatically through the year, so older dams with large reservoirs, retain water and average out capacity. As of 2012, there were approximately 40 small hydro sites generating 750 MW.[11] By 2014 various companies have built a total of 100 run of the river projects under 50 MW. In 2014 they produced 18,000 GWh from 4,500 MW of capacity.[12]

Manitoba Hydro

As of March 31, 2018, Manitoba Hydro serves a peak Manitoba electrical load of 5,648 megawatts.[13] Electrical supply to Manitoba customers was 22.5 terawatt-hours in fiscal 2017, with total revenue due to electricity of $1.464 billion CAD. Extraprovincial sales totaled $437 million in 2017-18 and were at 9.448 terawatt-hours, with normal water flows.[14] The company also delivered 2.048 billion cubic metres of natural gas in 2017–18, which contributed $346 million CAD to revenues.[15] As of early 2020, around 97% of the electricity generation in Manitoba comes from hydroelectricity.[16]

Newfoundland and Labrador

Newfoundland and Labrador Hydro's installed generating capacity, 7289 megawatts (MW), 92 percent hydroelectric, is the fourth largest of all utility companies in Canada.

Northwest Territories

The Northwest Territories has an installed hydroelectric generating capacity of 55 MW, supplying electricity to the North Slave and South Slave electricity grids. Each grid operates independently and is not connected to the electrical grid in the rest of Canada.

Ontario

Ontario Power Generation Produces 50% of the electricity used in the province, 40% from hydroelectric, and 60% from nuclear-powered facilities. They're also thermal plants that burn biomass and natural gas with a generating capacity of 2,458 MW; these plants were not used in 2015.[17]

After a provincial government commitment to phase out all coal generating plants, two units at Nanticoke were shut down in fall 2010.[18] Another two were shut down in 2011.[19] The final four were shut down on December 31, 2013.[20]

Quebec

Hydro-Québec's extensive network of 61 hydroelectric dams have a combined capacity of 38,400 megawatts,[21] accounting for over half of the Canadian total. Hydropower accounts for 95.73%[22] of the supply sold by the Quebec state-owned utility. Five of Hydro-Québec's hydroelectric facilities are rated above 2,000 MW — the Manic-5, La Grande-4, La Grande-3 La Grande-2-A and Robert-Bourassa stations — while 7 others have a capacity of over 1,000 megawatts.[23]

New projects

The Lower Churchill Project is a planned hydroelectric project in Labrador and includes the Muskrat Falls Generation Facility with a total generating capacity of 824 MW in 2021. The proposed Gull Island facility would consist of a generation station with a capacity of 2,250 MW after 2023.[24]

Romaine River project in Quebec started construction in 2009 and will have a capacity of 1550 MW by 2020.

Site C dam on the Peace River in British Columbia will have a capacity of 1100 MW in 2024.

Keeyask on the Nelson River, Manitoba is under construction and expecting completion of a 695 MW station in 2021.[25]

International comparison

Population, area, water resources, and GDP for selected countries[26]
	Population (thousands)	Area (km²)	Renewable freshwater resources				Total water withdrawal (km³) per year	Gross Domestic Product (millions of $ U.S.)	Gross Domestic Product ($ U.S.) per capita
	Population (thousands)	Area (km²)	Volume (km³)		Volume (m³) per capita	Volume (m³) per unit area (m²)	Total water withdrawal (km³) per year	Gross Domestic Product (millions of $ U.S.)	Gross Domestic Product ($ U.S.) per capita
Brazil	188,158	8,514,880	8,233	1	43,756	0.967	59.3	1,089,398	5,790
India	1,147,746	3,287,260	1,892	9	1,648	0.576	645.9	911,376	794
France	63,236	549,190	204	43	3,226	0.371	40.0	2,266,137	35,836
Canada	32,628	9,978,904	3,472	3	¹109,837	0.348	42.0	1,278,682	39,189
United States	305,697	9,632,030	3,051	4	9,980	0.317	473.6	13,116,500	42,907
China	1,297,847	9,598,090	2,830	6	2,181	0.295	630.4	2,779,871	2,142
Russian Federation	142,530	17,098,240	4,508	2	31,628	0.264	66.2	989,428	6,942
Mexico	106,411	1,964,380	457	25	4,295	0.233	78.2	945,644	8,887
Australia	20,628	7,741,220	492	21	23,851	0.064	23.9	787,418	38,172
South Africa	48,639	1,219,090	50	95	1,028	0.041	12.5	257,728	5,299

Gallery

The Robert-Bourassa (LG-2) spillway, on Quebec's La Grande River.
Inside the Robert-Bourassa generating station powerhouse, the largest in North America with an installed capacity of 5,616 MW.
The Daniel-Johnson Dam, on Quebec's Manicouagan River (1968)
The 230-MW Rocher-de-Grand-Mère station, on Quebec's Saint-Maurice River (2004)
The 204-MW Rapide-Blanc generating station, on Quebec's Saint-Maurice River (1934)
A hydroelectric dam on the Arrow Lakes in British Columbia.