In Northern Manitoba, Canada, the Nelson River has long been harnessed for its hydroelectric potential. With a 400,000 square mile (one and a half times the size of Texas) drainage basin, the Nelson and its sources are ripe for further hydro development, especially in the carbon concerned world of today. In 2021, Manitoba Hydro completed the new 695-megawatt Keeyask Power Generating Station, the largest project in this area in decades.

The Station features 16 miles of dam structures, a switching station, and hundreds of miles of transmission and distribution lines. Even more surprising, in this age of environmental consultation, COVID-19, and labor shortages, it opened months ahead of schedule – thanks in part to hot-dip galvanizing.

With experience gathered from previous projects many changes were made, including direct ownership participation with the four local Indian tribes and state-of-the-art forming systems that shaved off time and cost. Experience also proves what not to change, which is why hot-dip galvanizing was used for all exposed steel. This includes everything from transmission towers, railings, anchor rods, scaffolding, cables, guardrail, fencing and pole line hardware of supporting access roads. All benefitting from the unbeatable economic advantage and durability of hot-dip galvanizing.

With this incredibly inhospitable climate and extremely remote location, long service life and high reliability are a must. Hot-dip galvanizing has proven its viability in the power industry for a century and a half. As a matter of fact, in Canada there are still 19th century galvanized transmission towers in service with their original zinc coating protecting them a century longer than expected! This proven durability is matched by modern galvanizing plants providing lower than ever (in constant currency) costs, and better than ever quality, traceability and capacity. This ensures hot-dip galvanizing is never the cause of overruns in either time or cost.

While newer sources of renewable energy like solar make the news nothing compares to the cost, practicality, and scale of renewable hydroelectricity. It represents 16% of world electric production – greater than all other renewable sources combined and four times its closest competitor – and all at unbeatable cost per KW/H. Hot-dip galvanizing has been part of this inexhaustible energy source from the beginning and surely will continue to be an important factor in hydroelectricity’s future growth.

Manitoba Hydro has added the equivalent of 400,000 households worth of additional low cost, renewable, climate protecting electricity to its American and Canadian consumers ahead of schedule – thanks in part to the superb ability of hot-dip galvanizing to extend the service life of such projects for decades.