Energizing Ottawa’s transformational transit future

Hydro Ottawa Group is powering the city of Ottawa’s transition to a 100 per cent electric bus fleet, demonstrating our commitment to a smarter energy future. At Hydro Ottawa Group, innovation drives us toward a cleaner, smarter, and more electrified city. We’re proud to play a key role in Ottawa’s energy evolution.

In recent years, we have been pivotal in enabling Ottawa’s transportation transformation, delivering projects that advance sustainability and improve urban infrastructure.

In 2024, we completed the first phase of EV charging infrastructure for 30 electric buses, laying the groundwork for a transit system that will eventually include more than 300 battery electric buses by 2028. This transformation rethinks how transit connects with energy. To meet this demand, Envari Energy Solutions, a Hydro Ottawa Group subsidiary, has installed initial charging systems and is moving forward with the Hydro Road municipal transformer station project.

The Hydro Road municipal transformer station, set for completion in 2027, will supply the increased power needed to charge the city’s expanding electric bus fleet. Aligned with our sustainability commitments, subsidiary Hydro Ottawa Limited, is developing Hydro Road as a low-carbon substation. We are undertaking a full project review, using innovative design, procurement and construction techniques that include using lower Global Warming Potential (GWP) materials, and equipment to address embodied carbon.

The project includes:

  • Strengthening the electricity system to support Ottawa’s growing electrical needs.
  • Installing new steel towers and two overhead 230 kilovolt (kV) power lines connecting to Hydro One’s existing transmission network.
  • Conducting a comprehensive environmental assessment under Ontario’s Class EA for Transmission Facilities, ensuring responsible development with environmental safeguards.

This transformer station will provide the backbone for the Zero-Emission Buses (ZEB) project, approved by Ottawa City Council in 2021.

A multi-modal commitment to electrification

Hydro Ottawa’s commitment to innovative transportation extends beyond buses. In 2023, we invested $3.2 million to support Stage 2 of Ottawa’s Light Rail Transit (LRT) program, further supporting the city’s clean mobility future. By supporting both road-based and rail-based electric transportation, Hydro Ottawa Group is helping to create an integrated and low-carbon transit network for the National Capital Region.

Innovation in action

These initiatives represent how Hydro Ottawa Group enables city-wide innovation. From installing smart infrastructure for public transit to building resilient transformer stations and investing in clean power for rail systems, Hydro Ottawa Group is defining what it means to be a 21st-century energy utility.

Ottawa’s electrified future is already being built, with Hydro Ottawa Group energizing innovation one project at a time.