Revelstoke Unit 5 Project
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Revelstoke Dam and Generating Station: Unit 5 penstock will be located adjacent to the existing four penstocks located on the face of the concrete dam. |
British Columbia isn't producing sufficient electricity to meet increasing demand, particularly during peak demand periods. Increasing the capacity of existing hydroelectric facilities is one way BC Hydro is helping meet this demand.
In anticipation of increased demand by 2010, BC Hydro is adding a fifth unit to the Revelstoke Dam and Generating Station. Revelstoke Unit 5 is the most cost effective source available to BC Hydro for this additional capacity.
Revelstoke Unit 5 will add approximately 500 megawatts (MW) of capacity, bringing the facility's total generating installed capacity to 2,480 MW. See the detailed overview [PDF, 913 Kb] for more information about the project.The additional capacity will allow BC Hydro to service the equivalent of 40,000 additional homes during peak demand periods such as cold winter nights when lights, stoves, baseboard heaters, televisions and computers are all in use.
The target in-service date for the Revelstoke Unit 5 project is October 2010, with an allowance for an in-service date one year later (October 2011).
Revelstoke Unit 5 construction
As the Revelstoke Generating Station was originally designed to house six generating units, the project will not involve significant changes to the facility.
Construction of the Revelstoke Unit 5 Project includes:
- Installation of a fifth penstock;
- Placement of concrete to form the draft tube and house the generating unit;
- Design, fabrication and installation of the generating unit;
- Electrical work to tie the generating unit into switchgear;
- Upgrades to existing generating station equipment .
Revelstoke 5 employment opportunities
All labour for the project will be hired through Columbia Hydro Constructors under a collective agreement with the Allied Hydro Council.
BC Hydro and its contractors are committed to local hiring. If you are a motivated and skilled tradesperson in the area who wants to find out about employment opportunities, please email us.
Regulatory Process
The B.C. Utilities Commission (BCUC) granted the project a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity (CPCN) in July 2007. The CPCN established that Revelstoke Unit 5 is the preferred option for meeting customer electricity demand. The Commission's 82-page Decision [PDF] is available at the British Columbia Utilities Commission website.
Before the environmental review, BC Hydro convened a 26-member Revelstoke Unit 5 Core Committee consisting of regional stakeholders, First Nations, and government representatives. This Committee reviewed socio-economic and environmental information and made recommendations on how potential project effects could be addressed.
As recommended by the Revelstoke Unit 5 Core Committee, BC Hydro made the following commitments to mitigate/compensate for Revelstoke Unit 5 project effects:
- Adopt Fish Entrainment Strategy to include the effects of the fifth unit at Revelstoke power plant;
- Advance several Columbia River Water Use Plan studies and physical works projects;
- River bank protection/enhancement at specific downstream locations;
- Support local hire and equity hire for First Nations through Columbia Hydro Council Agreement;
- Support local training opportunities/employment through Okanagan College grant;
- Staff a community liaison position;
- Restore Westside Road to pre-project condition at the end of Revelstoke Unit 5 project construction.
The Committee also recommended an addendum to the Columbia Water Use Plan [PDF, 1.2 Mb] that identified and addressed any incremental operational impacts of Unit 5. The addendum was approved by the provincial Comptroller of Water Rights in August 2007.
We would like to hear from you
If you have any questions or concerns about the Revelstoke Unit 5 project please email us.
