Independent power producers in British Columbia

See main article: Run-of-the-river hydroelectricity

The dominant type of IPPs in British Columbia are run-of-the-river, or small hydro, projects. In 2016, there were 114 IPP projects of all types, annually generating 20,000 gigawatt hours of electricity from 4800 megawatts of capacity.[11] Some ecological concerns have been raised over rural areas that may have remained untouched by ranching, logging and mining, now being developed with roads and transmission lines.

Wind Turbine on top of Vancouver's Grouse Mountain.

Example of Ocean Energy: Protean Energy Wave Energy Converter prototype trial being conducted in the ocean off the coast of Western Australia in 2008.

Several Biomass energy projects have been implemented and more are being researched in BC.[12] By 2015 biomass made up about 5% of BCs electricity production.[13] There is a considerable amount of woody biomass from lumber mills, roadside debris, and standing pine which have the potential to generate 2,300 megawatts of energy.[12]

See main article: Wind turbine

Four wind turbine projects were built between 2009 and 2014 in British Columbia and supply almost 2% of the provinces electricity.[13] A prominent producer of this form of energy is Cape Scott Wind Farm, located in Port Hardy, British Columbia, which supplies 2 per cent of the province's overall energy supply.[14] Although a clean source of energy, issues have arisen over the inconsistency of the energy generated and overall appearance of the turbines. Since wind forces vary from time to time, the amount of electricity generated can be inconsistent and therefore unreliable. BC Hydro has shown little interest in this type of producer for this reason. Other critics worry that the aesthetic appearance may be unsightly and deter potential landowners.[15] Supporters of wind energy advocate for wind turbine construction on BC's north coast and Peace River regions, which have been shown to receive constant winds throughout the year.

There is interest in other types of IPP projects and though less recognized in BC, several are gaining popularity.

Ocean wave energy is being proposed as the better alternative to run-of-the-river hydroelectricity for their reliability and sustainability.[16] However, the impact of such projects on fish habitats and marine environments along BC's coast are of concern, and little research is being conducted due to the extremely high costs of implementation.

Geothermal projects are another area of interest for development in BC.[17] These offer a stable source of massive energy with relatively minimal impact on the environment. The fuel source is generated by natural steam or hot water, which gives off almost no air emissions.[17] In BC, a project north of Pemberton is undergoing prospective development.[17] Although geothermal energy is abundant, it is location-specific and only renewable when reservoirs are managed properly. In extremely rare cases, these projects have been known to contribute to earthquakes.

Solar power only has one commercial development even though it has a great deal of public support and fits in well with hydroelectric storage, it is less well supported by the wet northern climate in BC. For regions with similar climate like the UK, solar actually produces electricity 11% of the time.[18]

IPPs can be developed by anyone in the private or public sector. Since the implementation of the 2002 Energy Plan, however, BC Hydro will no longer be authorized to develop its own public IPPs, leaving future projects to be developed by the private sector.[4] The province of British Columbia currently buys from several sources such as Rio Tinto Alcan, Teck Cominco, pulp mills, Columbia Power Corporation, Alberta, and the United States.[15][19]

As of April 2017 BC Hydro was purchasing electricity under contract with private companies which deliver 20,788 gigawatts of power annually.[11] The 2002 policy allows for new projects to be produced at lower costs and spares public expenditure by shifting the financial responsibilities to those operating in the private sector, rather than BC Hydro. Despite these advantages, some argue that this policy does not allow for accountability and transparency of the IPP projects under private ownership. Once the contracts with BC Hydro expire, privately-owned IPPs wills be allowed free export of electricity, which in turn would negatively impact BC's electricity supply.[15]

IPP projects may breach on Aboriginal lands and cause tension in the community. There is a need to consult with Aboriginal groups and discuss regulations in regards to where IPP projects will be established, how they will be managed, and the monetary rights, prior to implementation.[15] Another concern pertains to the ecological impact of installing IPPs throughout the province. Although IPPs produce clean energy, the means of establishing these power projects may not necessarily be environmentally friendly. Construction of infrastructures, such as roads and transmission lines, may negatively impact the surrounding natural environment and wild fish habitats and bird populations.[15]

BC Hydro predicts that the province will be in demand for more electricity in the next 20 years as a result of BC's growing population and increasing use of technologies that require more electrical power, such as heat pumps and electric cars.[15] There is concern for whether this prediction holds credibility, as there are currently few research studies conducted on the increasing need for electricity.[15] Electricity conservation measures need to be conducted in order to provide an adequate indicator for BC's electricity demand. Public opinion will become more important as the provincial government begins to make decisions regarding the future of these projects and assessments on where new IPPs should be located in the province.[15]

In the 2017 BC Utilities Commission final report on the question of whether to continue or cancel the Site C Dam, BC Hydro indicated that if Site C was cancelled and replaced with wind turbines, the project would be done by IPP's.[1]

• Renewable Power Corp. - Narrows Inlet Hydro Project, Tyson Creek Hydro, McNair Creek Hydro
• Island Generating Station - Natural gas - Campbell River
• Veresen - Furry Creek hydro, upper and lower Clowhom hydro, Culliton Creek Hydro
• Cloudworks Energy - In 2011 Innergex Renewable Energy acquired Cloudworks Energy
• Innergex Renewable Energy - Ashlu Creek, Brown Lake, Douglas Creek, Fire Creek, Fitzsimmons Creek, Lamont Creek, Miller Creek, Rutherford Creek, Stokke Creek, Tipella Creek, Upper Stave River
• Alterra Power - Toba Montrose, Dokie wind near Chetwynd
• TransAlta - Upper Mamquam, Bone Creek, Akolkolex
• AltaGas Ltd. - Volcano Creek Hydro, McLymont Creek Hydro, Forrest Kerr Hydro, Bear Mountain Wind Park[20] Near Dawson Creek
• Tla-o-qui-aht First Nations - Canoe Creek Hydro, Haa-ak-suuk Creek Hydro
• Malibu Hydro - Private hydro for the Malibu Club, near the shore of Jervis Inlet
• Watson Lake Solar Project, Yukon - 4.4Kw Solar PV - 11% capacity factor
• SunMine Solar In Kimberley. BC is a $5.3 million dollar project, with a 1.05 MW Solar PV system generating 3,500 MWh annually. It is contracted to sell power to BC Hydro at $110.10 per megawatt hour, and was operational in July 2015.