Taltson Hydro Expansion

Taltson Hydro Expansion Project

Building a Grid to Connect Communities and Industry to Clean Power

The Taltson Hydro Expansion Project is a transformative clean energy initiative that will double the Northwest Territories’ hydro capacity by connecting the Snare hydro system (north of Great Slave Lake) with the Taltson hydro system (south of Great Slave Lake) through a 320-kilometre transmission line.

This unified hydro grid will link 11 communities and serve over 70% of the NWT’s population with 120 megawatts (MW) of reliable, renewable energy—supporting the electrification of communities, transportation, and industry across the mineral-rich Slave Geological Province.

The Power of Partnership

The project is being advanced collaboratively The Deninu Kųę́ First Nation, Fort Resolution Métis Government, Fort Smith Métis Council, Łutsel K’e Dene First Nation, NWT Métis Nation, Salt River First Nation, Yellowknives Dene First Nation, and the GNWT, under a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed in 2021.

This partnership model reflects a shared commitment to sustainable energy development, Indigenous participation, and long-term economic growth for Northerners.

Project Highlights

  • Adds 60 MW of new capacity to the existing 22 MW Taltson hydro system and integrates 38 MW from the Snare system.
  • Connects 11 communities, providing clean and stable power to 70% of the NWT population.
  • Reduces greenhouse gas emissions by up to 240,000 tonnes annually, advancing the NWT's climate goals.
  • Minimizes environmental impacts, no new flooding is anticipated.
  • Supports Indigenous partnerships, employment, and business opportunities. 
  • Reduces reliance on diesel and stabilizes energy costs north and south of Great Slave Lake.
  • Provides clean power for industrial development, transportation, and resource projects in the Slave Geological Province.
  • Enhances grid reliability and resilience, especially during periodic drought conditions in the Snare system.

Current Status

  • The Government of Canada has contributed $48 million in funding since 2019 to advance planning, engineering, and environmental work.
  • Collaboration continues under the 2021 MOU to define commercial agreements, ownership structures, and the final project footprint.
  • Technical planning is focused on refining the route for the 320-km transmission line, which includes both overhead and submarine segments.

Why It Matters

The Taltson Hydro Expansion Project represents a generational opportunity to build a clean, integrated northern power grid that connects people, communities, and industries to sustainable energy. By linking the NWT’s hydro systems and reducing reliance on diesel, the project will help stabilize energy costs, strengthen energy security, and power a more resilient and sustainable future for the North.