Stantec, a global leader in sustainable design and engineering, has been selected by Manitoba Hydro to serve as Owner’s Engineer for the utility’s High Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) Reliability Program. The aim of the program is to support the continued reliability of Manitoba Hydro’s electricity supply for communities across the province.
Consisting of three bipole transmission lines and five converter stations, Manitoba Hydro’s HVDC System has been the backbone of the utility’s transmission system in Manitoba since the early 1970s. The HVDC system converts electricity generated in the north—at Manitoba Hydro’s Nelson River stations—and efficiently transmits the electricity to the south, where it is once again converted and fed into Manitoba Hydro‘s grid.
The original equipment on Bipoles I and II, which entered service in 1971 and 1978 respectively, is now nearing or at the end of its operational lifespan, and Manitoba Hydro must renew these aging systems to maintain the reliability of the overall energy network.
Manitoba Hydro’s HVDC Reliability Program will replace or refurbish the aging equipment connected to Bipole I and Bipole II. The work will be completed in a sequence that aligns with environmental, technical, and economic standards, with the goal of supporting continued reliability and providing energy well into the future.
As Owner’s Engineer, Stantec will initially provide overall project scoping and front-end engineering and design support services. The firm’s later Owner’s Engineer work will include performing design reviews, witnessing tests for major equipment, monitoring site construction and commissioning, and providing decommissioning and project close-out support. Stantec’s scope may also include supporting buildings and mechanical systems, civil/structural, geotechnical, plant electrical, environmental, and project delivery services.
Building foundational partnerships
Stantec and Manitoba Hydro have worked together on power delivery projects in the province for more than 50 years. Recently, Stantec served as Owner’s Engineer for Manitoba Hydro’s Bipole III HVDC Project, improving overall system reliability and security in the province.
"Our power delivery teams are pleased to continue supporting Manitoba Hydro in their initiatives to enhance energy reliability within the province,” said Clayton Bock, executive vice president of Energy & Resources at Stantec. "HVDC technology is playing an increasingly important role in grid modernization globally, and our teams are committed to advancing industry standards."
Grid modernization experience in North America
Stantec’s Energy & Resources team is an industry leader in power delivery services and solutions designed to support the changing needs of global communities. The global firm’s work involves evaluating, designing, and commissioning generation, transmission, substation, distribution, energy storage, and grid modernization projects.
In 2024, Stantec signed a C$186-million master services agreement with BC Hydro, providing transmission and distribution engineering as well as project delivery services for the electrical infrastructure in British Columbia, Canada. The firm was also selected by the Los Angeles Department of Water & Power (LADWP) for a five-year, US$104-million master services agreement to upgrade, expand, and modernize the electrical infrastructure in greater Los Angeles.
