Two BBA projects honoured at the ACEC National Awards gala
Our teams’ ingenuity has made a name for itself on the national stage. Mangrove Lithium’s lithium refining plant in British Columbia and the Saa/Se solar farm in Yukon each received an Award of Excellence and a special award at the ACEC National Awards gala. Mangrove Lithium received the Catalyst Award, while Saa/Se received the Engineering a Better Canada Award.
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Scaling up a technology to commercial size with Mangrove Lithium
In Delta, British Columbia, BBA helped Mangrove Lithium commission the first commercial electrochemical lithium refining facility in North America. With an annual capacity of 1,000 tonnes of battery-grade lithium, the facility can support the production of roughly 25,000 electric vehicles per year.
Our teams helped turn an emerging technology into a safe and operational industrial facility, ready for commercial deployment. The project helps strengthen a Canadian supply chain for battery materials.
In addition to an Award of Excellence, the project received the Catalyst Award. The jury recognized the project as leading-edge and vital to the Canadian economy, highlighting how innovative engineering delivered under tight timelines can accelerate emerging clean technologies and lay the groundwork for future commercial facilities.
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“This award recognizes how far we've taken an emerging technology: all the way to a commercial facility. It highlights our teams’ expertise and commitment, as well as the trust Mangrove Lithium placed in us to help achieve a significant milestone for the battery supply chain.”
Stéphane Charest, Vice-President, Energy and Chemicals
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Accelerating the shift to renewable energy in the North with the Saa/Se solar farm
In Beaver Creek, Yukon, the Saa/Se project is led by the White River First Nation and Copper Niisüü Limited Partnership. The 1.9 MW solar power plant, combined with battery storage, now supplies more than half of Beaver Creek’s annual electricity needs, saving from 320,000 to 350,000 litres of diesel each year.
In the summer of 2025, the community even went 56 consecutive days without generating electricity from diesel. Designed for northern realities, the system must withstand temperatures as low as -55°C and permafrost-affected ground, among other challenges.
Beyond its technical and environmental performance, the project is a community-owned energy asset that helps strengthen the White River First Nation’s energy sovereignty.
Saa/Se received the Engineering a Better Canada Award for its transformative impact on the community. The jury highlighted the project as a leading example of Indigenous-led efforts to move First Nations communities away from diesel power and toward greater ownership of their electrical infrastructure, while creating a model for future projects.
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“This award highlights a project that shows, in concrete terms, what renewable energy can bring to northern and remote communities. Saa/Se is, above all, the result of a vision spearheaded by the White River First Nation and close collaboration to develop a solution tailored to the realities of Beaver Creek.”
François Vitez, Vice-President, Power and Renewables
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These four new awards add to the national recognition the projects have already received. They highlight our teams’ expertise once again, but above all, the strength of the collaborations that bring such ambitious projects to life.
About BBA
BBA Consultants has been a trusted partner in the energy and natural resources sector for more than 45 years. With over 2,000 professionals in 30+ offices across Canada, the U.S. and Latin America, the firm delivers engineering, strategic advisory, environmental and field services. Our experts work closely with clients to quickly assess their needs and deliver innovative, practical and sustainable solutions. Recognized for its high-level expertise and collaborative approach, BBA combines technical excellence with strong field presence to rapidly mobilize the right experts wherever they are needed.
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Roseline Simard
Director - Marketing and Communications
+1 450 464-2111 | roseline.simard@bbaconsultants.com