Molly Ayala
British Columbia (BC) is known for its abundant and varied supply of clean, low-cost, predominantly hydroelectric power. BC Hydro, a provincial Crown corporation, generates most of the province's electricity, which comes from a variety of sources, including river water, forest biomass, wind, landfill gas, and natural gas. In recent years, BC has focused on promoting energy conservation and investing in renewable energy sources, with over 95% of its electricity generated from clean or renewable sources. The province also has a growing biofuel industry, with most of Canada's biofuel energy being produced in BC, and it continues to explore other renewable energy sources such as geothermal heat.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Main electricity provider | BC Hydro |
| Percentage of electricity from clean or renewable sources | 95% (2014) |
| Total electricity generated in 2019 | 64.3 TWh |
| Total electricity generated in 2021 | 71.7 TWh |
| Percentage of electricity from hydroelectricity | 87% |
| Percentage of electricity from natural gas | 31% |
| Percentage of electricity from biomass | 5% |
| Percentage of electricity from wind | 4% |
| Percentage of electricity from biofuels | 16% (2018) |
| Percentage of energy from hydroelectricity | 18% (2018) |
| Ranking in Canada for wind capacity | 4th |
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What You'll Learn
Hydroelectricity
British Columbia generates most of its electricity from renewable sources, with river water being the most prominent. The province has a large hydropower infrastructure, with most of its hydroelectric capacity located on the Columbia River in southeastern BC and the Peace River in the northeast.
BC Hydro, a provincial Crown corporation, generates most of the province's electricity and operates 30-32 hydroelectric facilities. It was created in 1961 when the government of British Columbia passed the BC Hydro Act, leading to the expropriation of the BC Electric Company and its merging with the BC Power Commission. BC Hydro's facilities generate between 43,000 and 54,000 gigawatt-hours of electricity annually, depending on water levels.
Hydropower has been essential to British Columbia's economy and energy supply since the late 19th century. The geography and climate of the province have made it ideal for hydroelectric power generation. The development of hydropower facilities has drawn people, commerce, and industries, contributing to the growth of towns and cities.
The Site C Dam, a controversial new hydroelectric project, began construction in 2016 on the Peace River. It is the first major project of its kind in British Columbia in decades and is expected to provide 1,100 MW of hydroelectric capacity. BC Hydro ratepayers are funding the project through increased electricity rates.
In addition to large hydropower projects, British Columbia also has smaller hydroelectric plants operated by independent power producers. These plants contribute to the province's clean and renewable energy supply, with hydropower accounting for 87% of BC's electricity production as of 2020.
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Biomass
The processes used to create bioenergy from biomass include direct combustion, gasification, fast pyrolysis, fermentation, and gas collection. When configured as cogeneration, or the simultaneous production of heat and electricity, biomass energy systems can achieve energy efficiencies exceeding 80%. The most common technology used today is conventional boilers in combination with steam turbines, which produce electricity through back-pressure, condensing, or extraction turbines.
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Wind
BC has abundant wind resources, particularly in the Peace River region in the province's northeast and at the northern tip of Vancouver Island. These regions have average wind speeds greater than 6 metres per second, which is suitable for wind farm development. The Canadian Wind Energy Association has identified sites in BC that could generate 5,250 MW of power at reasonable rates.
The first wind farm in BC opened in 2009, and as of 2016, the province had five wind farms in operation. In December 2024, the province announced plans for nine new wind energy projects, expected to boost the province's hydroelectric grid by eight percent annually and provide almost 5,000 gigawatt-hours of energy, or enough to power 500,000 homes. These projects will attract $5-6 billion in private investment and are expected to aid in the development of new sources of clean energy.
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Natural gas
BC also imports natural gas from other regions. Most of the gasoline consumed in BC, for instance, comes from Alberta through the Trans Mountain Pipeline. Additionally, gasoline may be imported via ship or barge from the US Pacific Northwest.
In terms of exports, BC has several natural gas export projects. In November 2023, the Coastal GasLink (CGL) Pipeline was completed to supply gas to LNG Canada's export facility in Kitimat. Additionally, Canada's first LNG export to China occurred in 2017, with LNG transported from Fortis BC's Tilbury plant in Vancouver.
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Solar
The cost of installing a solar system in British Columbia is approximately $2.88 per watt. The total cost of the system depends on several factors, including the system size, the quality of equipment, and the complexity of the job. For instance, installation prices can go as high as $3.00+/watt for premium equipment and high-quality installers. The size of the solar power system needed can be calculated with the following equation: Size of the system needed (kW) = yearly energy use (kWh) / annual equivalent full sunlight hours (h). The average solar panel is approximately 18 sqft in size and produces about 350 watts of power.
British Columbia is ranked 8th in the country for installing solar power systems, scoring as one of the best provinces for installation costs. BC Hydro, a provincial Crown corporation, generates most of the province's electricity, including solar power.
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Frequently asked questions
Most electricity in British Columbia is generated from a clean and renewable source. Most comes from river water, but a lot also comes from forest biomass, wind and landfill gas.
The main source of electricity in BC is hydroelectricity, with 87% of its production derived from this source.
BC Hydro, a provincial Crown corporation, generates most of British Columbia's electricity.
