In fact, it's one of the most water-rich regions in the world. It boasts over 130,000 rivers and streams, and one million lakes. Over 40% of Canada's water resources are in Québec. Surface water reserves in the province (natural lakes and reservoirs) cover approximately 12% of its territory.
In Québec, we use mainly water to generate our electricity.
Atmospheric emissions
Electricity generation and atmospheric emissions in Canada and the United States
Hydropower is clean energy that contributes very little to global warming. Other power sources produce large quantities of pollutants, including greenhouse gases (GHGs). But hydropower is among the least polluting types of power generation; according to this chart, a hydropower station produces 94 times less GHGs than a coal-fired power plant.
This excellent environmental performance makes hydropower an important ally in the fight against climate change and an essential tool for sustainable development.
Sustainable development is development that meets the needs of people today without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.
Greenhouse gases (GHGs) are gases in the atmosphere that keep Earth warm. Overproduction of these gases accelerates the global warming of our natural environment and leads to a "greenhouse" effect, an imbalance that can cause extreme weather events. Carbon dioxide (CO2), one of the main industrial pollutants, is the leading GHG.
Hydropower gives superior energy performance
Hydropower involves fewer energy losses during the generation process. In comparison, the transformation of fossil fuels, such as oil, natural gas and coal, usually leads to substantial losses in the form of heat. For example, when coal is burned to generate power, two-thirds of its energy is wasted. Water, on the other hand, is used to the last drop as it pushes against the blades of a power station turbine.
Hydropower is a renewable source of energy
Water is a renewable source of energy because it is part of the hydrological cycle, shown below.
Hydrographic profile of the La Grande Complex:
Eight generating stations are located along this river. The same water can be turbined by seven of these eight facilities before flowing into James Bay.
The sun heats up the oceans, lakes and rivers, producing water evaporation. The resulting water vapor rises in the atmosphere where it condenses and produces clouds.
When there is excess condensation (humidity), cloud formations release droplets which fall on the ground in the form of rain or snow. In this way, water returns to the earth and flows into lakes, rivers and oceans, and the cycle is repeated.
Water is the most abundant substance on earth, covering three-quarters of the planet.
Saltwater accounts for 97.5% of the total.
Of the remaining 2.5% (freshwater), only a third is harnessable.
GHG emissions by power station type
*Taken from a study presenting typical North American results for the same quantity of power generated. Each of the GHGs under study was converted into its CO2 equivalent. This life-cycle assessment, conducted in 2001 by Hydro-Québec, takes into account all the emissions of an energy system, from construction to removal from service.
There's a lot of water in Québec
Hydropower is clean energy
Hydropower gives superior energy performance
Hydropower is a renewable source of energy
