Clean, Renewable Energy

With approximately 98% of its electricity output generated by water, Hydro-Québec is firmly committed to the continued development of sustainable, environment-friendly solutions to meet its customer’s energy needs.

Hydropower: Clean energy

• Thanks to hydropower, Hydro-Québec produces clean, renewable and safe energy, thereby helping to protect our environmental heritage for future generations both in Québec and beyond its borders.
• Compared with other generating options, hydropower emits very few greenhouse gases, contributing significantly to the fight against climate change.
• Annual external audits enable Hydro-Québec to place a power content label on the electricity it supplies. Based on an audit conducted by Intertek in 2008, atmospheric emissions from Hydro-Québec’s generating operations produced 43 times less CO₂, 38 times less SO₂ and 20 times less NO_x than the average for the neighboring provinces and states in Canada and the U.S.

Sustainable development

• Hydro-Québec is a world leader in renewable energy as well as environmental assessment and protection.
• Our hydroelectric development projects meet stringent criteria regarding compliance with sustainable development principles, profitability and acceptance by local communities.
• The company practises rigorous environmental management that complies with ISO 14001 and is based on the principle of continuous improvement.
• To promote sustainable development and the protection of the global environment, Hydro-Québec has undertaken to:
  • give preference to hydropower, other sources of renewable energy and energy efficiency in all solutions developed to meet customer needs;
  • use resources as efficiently as possible and practise reduction at source as well as reuse and recycling.
• Hydro-Québec supports the development of wind energy through purchases from independent power producers. It intends to build on its expertise to set a world benchmark in integrating wind power into large electricity grids. >>>
• For more information on Hydro-Québec’s environmental performance and initiatives, click here >>>