BC Hydro launches battery storage hub and expands EV charging network in British Columbia

The province’s Crown utility, BC Hydro, announced two major infrastructure projects. On July 20, 2026 it unveiled a 100‑megawatt utility‑scale battery energy storage facility to be built in North Cowichan, the first of its kind in the province. The site will be adjacent to an existing substation on Bell McKinnon Road near Duncan and is intended to improve grid reliability and accommodate growing electricity demand on Vancouver Island.

A day later, BC Hydro revealed a $700‑million plan to triple its public electric‑vehicle charging network by 2035, adding 3,500 new charging ports across the province. The expansion will bring the total of BC Hydro‑operated ports to roughly 4,400, with fast‑charging units of 200 kW and ultra‑fast units of 400 kW at high‑traffic locations. Both initiatives were presented by BC Hydro President and CEO Charlotte Mitha and Energy and Climate Solutions Minister Adrian Dix, highlighting the utility’s role in supporting clean‑energy growth and reducing consumer costs.

The battery project, expected to be operational by 2030, and the EV‑charging rollout together aim to strengthen British Columbia’s electricity system, foster electrification, and generate economic opportunities for local businesses and First Nations partners.