Artist's Rendering of Proposed Brilliant Expansion

Following more than two years of planning, permitting, project evaluation and public consultation, construction of the 120 MW Brilliant Expansion Project began in the spring of 2003. The Design-Build contract for this $207 million project was awarded to the Brilliant Expansion Consortium following a proposal competition process. The Consortium brought together the engineering and construction expertise of the Canadian companies SNC-Lavalin and Chant Construction, and a Swedish company, Skanska Civil Engineering AB. The turbine, generator and controls were provided under a subcontract by Alstom Canada.

The project consisted of the construction of a short intake channel and powerhouse, and excavations for a power and access tunnel, all on the left bank of the Kootenay River just below the Brilliant Dam. Along the same bank, in-river work realized tailrace improvements. Access to the site is by a new one km road through the Kootenay Quarry, where excavated rock has been stored for future use by the Ministry of Transportation.

To ensure that construction activities were carried out in an environmentally-sound manner, the Contractor implemented a comprehensive Environmental Management Plan consistent with the regulatory approvals obtained for the project. During construction, the public was kept informed of project progress and issues

Commencing commercial operation in September 2007, the Brilliant Expansion will use seasonal flows, previously released through the spillways at the Brilliant Dam, to provide clean, renewable energy—enough to supply 50,000 homes.

At the peak of construction, on-site employment was approximately 400 workers, and over 85% were local residents. The project brought over $50 million in wages into the region, and over $44 million was injected into the local economy through the purchase of goods and services—surpassing the original estimate of $15 million!

Environmentally, the project will reduce excess dissolved gas levels harmful to fish and will offset an estimated 450,000 tonnes per year of climate changing carbon dioxide emissions that would otherwise arise from fossil fuel generation.