Anahim Lake Station Upgrade

We’re modernizing our microgrid in Anahim Lake, B.C. We're upgrading our Anahim Lake Station with a battery energy storage system, microgrid control system, and other associated equipment to integrate the solar power generated by Ulkatcho Energy Corporation’s Anahim Lake Solar Farm.
This solar energy will offset diesel usage and will eventually account for up to 64% of the community’s energy needs.
We’re proud to partner with the Ulkatcho First Nation and Ulkatcho Energy Corporation on this historic project, the largest of its kind in British Columbia.
Powering a Cleaner future at Anahim Lake
Anahim Lake is one of 14 non-integrated areas (NIA) served by BC Hydro. We first became service providers to Anahim Lake in the 1970’s, and the community is currently powered by diesel-generated electricity.
We recently signed a 20-year Community Electricity Purchase Agreement with Ulkatcho Energy Corporation to purchase their solar energy. This will reduce diesel use in Anahim Lake by 64%, which is an approximate reduction of 1,000,000 litres of diesel per year.
To integrate the solar energy, we're upgrading the Anahim Lake Station, marking a major step toward a more sustainable energy future for the community. This innovative project will reduce reliance on diesel-generated electricity for decades to come.
To support this transition, we’re installing:
- Battery energy storage system: Stores excess solar energy during the day and delivers it when needed, like at night or during cloudy periods.
- Microgrid control system: Coordinates the flow of solar and stored energy with existing infrastructure to ensure a stable, reliable power supply.
- Supporting equipment: Includes inverters, transformers, and communication systems to enable efficient energy management and monitoring.
BC Hydro is upgrading the Anahim Lake Station to integrate the solar power generated by Ulkatcho Energy Corporation's Solar Farm. This solar energy will eventually support a significant portion of the community's energy needs.
This is the largest project of its kind in British Columbia and sets a new standard for renewable energy integration in remote communities.
Key Dates | Activity |
---|---|
Spring 2024 | Community Energy Purchase Agreement signed between BC Hydro and Ulkatcho Energy Corporation. |
Spring 2025 | BC Hydro station upgrade construction work begins. Construction workers and contractors for BC Hydro station work will be staying in the community over the duration of work. |
Winter/Spring 2026 | Equipment testing, commissioning and integration fo solar farm and BC Hydro station. To interconnect and integrate the Anahim Lake Solar Farm to the BC Hydro microgrid, there’s a period of testing and commissioning required between the two systems. During this time there may be planned and unplanned outages in the community. We’ll work with the community on any planned outages and how to prepare. |
Summer 2026 | Project complete and solar energy offsetting diesel in Anahim Lake. |
Contact us
If you'd like to learn more about the project, please contact us at:
Email: projects@bchydro.com
Phone: 604 623 4472
Toll free: 1 866 647 3334