Innergex Renewable Energy Inc.’s Upper Lillooet 81.4 MW run-of-river hydro project has reached commercial operation. The facility, which was officially commissioned on March 31, is located north of the Village of Pemberton in British Columbia’s Sea-to-Sky district.
“This is our biggest hydro generating facility to date, and we are happy to see the culmination of many years of hard work come to fruition" said Michel Letellier, president and CEO at Innergex.
The project is part of the Upper Lillooet River Hydro Project which includes two run-of-river clean energy generation facilities located in the Pemberton Valley: Upper Lillooet River (81.4 MW) and Boulder Creek (25.3 MW).
The Upper Lillooet River facility's average annual production is estimated to reach 334,000 MWh, enough to power approximately 31,850 households in the province.
Innergex said the project is expected to generate revenue of $33 million in its first full year of operation.
All electricity produced will be purchased by BC Hydro under a 40-year power purchase agreement.
Innergex owns 66.7% of the project with the remaining interest held by Ledcor Power Group Ltd.