Energy Wonders of The World: Quebec's James Bay Hydroelectric Power Project

Up in Northern Quebec, the James Bay Project (also known as the La Grande Complex) stands as the largest electricity generator in all of North America, with a generating capacity of 16 Gigawatts.

While construction on its core stations was completed by 1981, additional upgrades have continued to expand its reach, ensuring that nearly 50 years later, it remains the continent's largest generator.

Context: The James Bay Project Compared To Record Setting Energy Infrastructure Projects and The Stargate AI Datacenter

To put its size into perspective, the largest in-development natural-gas generating plant in the U.S. is the $10 billion Homer City Gas Plant in PA, featuring 4.5 Gigawatts of capacity. Meanwhile, solar developments are underway that will surpass 2 GW, and data centers—including the OpenAI Stargate Project are being planned with a staggering 5 GW required for its primary campus.

At its core is the Robert-Bourassa station (also referred to as La Grande-2), an engineering feat that houses the world’s largest underground powerhouse. It features a spectacular 10-step spillway nicknamed the "Giant’s Staircase," standing beside a dam as tall as a 53-story building. Pictured below.

The James Bay Project provides roughly 50% of Quebec's total electricity and approximately 12% of all energy produced in Canada. With the build-out of HVDC (High-Voltage Direct Current) lines from Quebec to NY State (especially New York City) and across New England, the James Bay Project is also on pace to become an increasingly major source of electricity in the northeast region of The United States.