Monday, June 16, 2025
BC Hydro is making history with a pioneering upgrade to its Anahim Lake Station, seamlessly integrating solar energy from Ulkatcho’s Anahim Lake Solar Farm into its microgrid.
“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.
The Government of Canada also announced an additional $4.9 million in funding to support the Anahim Lake Solar Project, bringing its total contribution to nearly $17 million. This new solar energy project set to reduce the need for diesel generation in the remote community by about 64 per cent — equal to a reduction of 1.1 million litres of diesel a year.
“This is what bold, community-led action looks like. The Anahim Lake Solar Project – now Canada’s largest off-grid solar initiative – marks a major step forward in reducing emissions, strengthening local economies, and advancing economic reconciliation. With construction now underway, we’re proving that Canada has what it takes to lead in the global clean energy transition – and that we’re doing it in partnership with Indigenous Peoples,” said Tim Hodgson, federal Minister of Energy and Natural Resources.
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.
To facilitate the seamless integration of solar energy from the project, BC Hydro is launching the Anahim Lake Station Microgrid Upgrade – an initiative that will bring state-of-the-art technology to the region. 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. Moreover, this cutting-edge new system will also allow storage of surplus daytime energy and ensure reliable power supply even after the sun goes down.
“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.
“This solar project in Anahim Lake marks a new path for the Ulkatcho First Nation, creating significant lasting environmental and economic benefits. We look forward to the future opportunities that this project will help create – and value the strong partnerships that we have developed with both the public and private sectors in this process,” said Stephen James, CEO, Ulkatcho Group of Companies (UGoC).
Featured image: (BC Hydro)
