Largest off-grid solar project underway in B.C.
BC Hydro is upgrading its Anahim Lake Station and integrating solar energy from Ulkatcho’s Anahim Lake Solar Farm into its microgrid. A first-of-its-kind initiative in B.C., this project sets a new benchmark for renewable energy integration in remote communities across the province.
“I am honoured to be involved in this great initiative. Since my first meeting with BC Hydro five years ago, this project has come a long way and will have a very positive impact on our community,” says Chief Nelson (Charlie) Williams of the Ulkatcho First Nation. “Through our Ulkatcho Group of Companies, we are giving our people a cleaner environment and preserving our lands through reducing greenhouse gas emissions on our Traditional Territory. The Ulkatcho First Nation is proud to be a leader in the future of green energy in British Columbia.”
BC Hydro currently serves 14 remote areas that include many First Nations communities through isolated microgrids that are not connected to the main provincial grid. Ulkatcho First Nation and Anahim Lake are entirely reliant on diesel. To reduce this dependency and advance clean energy solutions, BC Hydro will integrate solar power from the Ulkatcho First Nation-owned 3.8-megawatt Anahim Lake Solar Farm, which is currently under construction and set to be Canada’s largest off-grid solar farm.
In April 2024, BC Hydro signed its first-ever Community Electricity Purchase Agreement with Ulkatcho Energy Corporation, marking a major milestone in Canada’s renewable energy landscape. Through this agreement, BC Hydro will purchase solar energy generated at Anahim Lake Solar Farm for the next 20 years, helping reduce the BC Hydro’s use of diesel to power the community by nearly two-thirds.
This upgrade includes the installation of a Battery Energy Storage System and a Microgrid Control System, transitioning operations from analog to digital. By bringing this leading-edge technology into the station, BC Hydro will enable efficient storage and distribution of solar power from the Anahim Lake Solar Farm to homes and businesses, reducing diesel dependency and significantly cutting carbon emissions, while also ensuring improving reliability.
“BC Hydro is driving renewable energy innovation in remote communities by bringing leading-edge technology into the Anahim Lake Station and investing in advanced battery storage and microgrid technology,” says Chris O’Riley, president and CEO of BC Hydro. “Our collaboration with Ulkatcho Energy Corporation not only sets the foundation for future partnerships with First Nations across the province, but also underscores BC Hydro’s commitment to supporting Indigenous-led clean energy initiatives, ensuring reliable, sustainable power for generations to come.”
Work to upgrade the Anahim Lake Station is already underway and is expected to be completed by early 2026. Once construction is complete on both the Anahim Lake Solar Farm and BC Hydro’s station, testing and integration will begin. The entire project is slated to be complete and in service by summer 2026.
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