John Hart Generating Station Replacement Project

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The John Hart Generating Station produces approximately 11% of Vancouver Island’s electricity.
It was originally built in the 1940s, but after six decades in service, the aging 126MW powerhouse needed replacing. The brief called for a more reliable, seismically robust and environmentally friendly facility, and with an increased installed capacity to meet future energy needs.

 

How we made the difference

In early 2014, BC Hydro awarded us a contract to design, build, finance and maintain the John Hart Generating Station Replacement Project.
 
The project made history as Canada’s first Public-Private Partnership (P3) in the hydropower sector. As part of the deal, BC Hydro provided 60% of the approximately $700 million construction capital cost, with SNC-Lavalin Capital Inc. providing the balance through invested equity and arranged debt financing.
 
Sustainability and environmental protection are always major considerations for us, but even more so on this project—approximately 95% of the Campbell River flows through the John Hart Generating Station. That has major implications for the people and the fish downstream. We set out to create a more reliable, safer and environmentally friendly generating station, and increased its installed capacity to 138 MW.

 

 

 

What we built

The John Hart Generating Station Replacement project involved building a new underground tunnel and generating station, removing three penstocks, and demolishing the existing above-ground station to reduce the site’s environmental footprint.
 
At the beginning of the project, the intent was to have a traditional surface powerhouse, but we conducted several comparative assessments on alternative solutions that convinced our client the underground powerhouse would be a more elegant, efficient and environmentally friendly solution. The major benefit was the cost savings that came from not having to line most of the power tunnel with steel. This was possible thanks to the smart placement of the powerhouse underground, at the place where the rock could not withstand the high pressure of the water.
 
The underground powerhouse is as tall as a 10-story building and as long as a football field. It’s an impressive structure. Also underground now is the tailrace and outlet structure, which has allowed the original 1.8km penstock corridor to be restored back to forest.
 
A new water bypass facility protects the downstream fish habitat. Plus, the project also protects the John Hart reservoir, which is the city of Campbell River’s source of potable water.
 
The station became fully operational when the last of the three generating units came into service on November 5, 2018.

 

 

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Why does it matter?

 The new facility powers over 80,000 homes. It’s one more step in our journey towards a world that runs on clean, sustainable energy. 

 
The John Hart project is recognized throughout the hydro industry for its environmentally friendly and sustainable features and will be a case study for technical and innovative solutions for years to come.
 
It has won numerous awards, including the 2018 Canadian Innovation Project of the Year from the Tunnelling Association of Canada and the 2018 Outstanding Project Award from the Canadian Hydropower Association.

 

132 MW
Capacity
1 st
P3 project in North America’s hydro sector
80000
Homes powered
1.8 km
Corridor of forest restored

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