Specialized Documentation

Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Hydroelectric Reservoirs

Impoundment of hydroelectric reservoirs induces decomposition of a small fraction of the flooded biomass (forests, peatlands and other soil types) and an increase in the aquatic wildlife and vegetation in the reservoir.

The result is higher greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions after impoundment, mainly CO2 (carbon dioxide) and a small amount of CH4 (methane).

However, these emissions are temporary and peak two to four years after the reservoir is filled.

During the ensuing decade, CO2 emissions gradually diminish and return to the levels given off by neighboring lakes and rivers.

Hydropower generation, on average, emits one-thirty-fifth of the GHGs that a natural gas generating station does and about one-seventieth the GHGs that a coal-fired generating station does.

Many years ago, Hydro-Québec decided to make use of the province's water resources to meet the demand for electricity. This policy has contributed greatly to Québec's excellent record on greenhouse gas emissions.

In partnership with universities, research centres and other electric utilities, Hydro-Québec has conducted an extensive greenhouse gas research program since 1993.

The overall objectives of this program are as follows:

  • Improve understanding of the impacts of our reservoirs on GHG emissions
  • Compare GHG emissions from hydropower with those from other energy sources
  • Obtain potential CO2 emissions credits in the future Canadian carbon market

Specific program objectives

  • Determine the net GHG emissions from Eastmain 1 reservoir
  • Learn about the processes that cause greenhouse gas emissions
  • Monitor changes in GHG emissions in new projects
  • Develop automated measurement methods

Information on greenhouse gases

Technical and scientific reports
  • Blais, A.-M. 2004. Synthèse des connaissances sur l'impact des feux sur la balance en carbone des forêts boréales (Summary of knowledge about the impact of fires on the carbon balance in boreal forests). Report submitted to Hydro-Québec by Environnement Illimité inc. 96 p. and apps. (Report in French)
  • Blais, A.-M., S. Lorrain, C. Morissette and I. Saucier. 2003. Synthèse des connaissances sur les émissions de gaz à effet de serre des milieux terrestres (Summary of knowledge about greenhouse gas emissions from land environments). Report submitted to Hydro-Québec by Environnement Illimité inc. and Tecsult inc. 112 p. and app. (Report in French)
  • Therrien, J. 2003. Revue des connaissances sur les gaz à effet de serre des milieux aquatiques. Le gaz carbonique, l'oxyde nitreux et le méthane. (Review of knowledge about greenhouse gas emissions from aquatic environments. Carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide and methane). Report submitted to Hydro-Québec by GENIVAR. 144 p. and apps. (Report in French)
  • Plourde, Y. 2003. Revue des connaissances sur les émissions de gaz à effet de serre des milieux aquatiques. Le cycle du carbone (Review of knowledge about greenhouse gas emissions from aquatic environments. The carbon cycle). Report submitted to Hydro-Québec by GENIVAR. 93 p. and apps. (Report in French)
Monograph
  • Tremblay, A., L. Varfalvy , C. Roehm and M. Garneau. 2005. Greenhouse Gas Emissions: Fluxes and Processes, Hydroelectric Reservoirs and Natural Environments. Environmental Science. New York: Springer. 732 p.

    This book is available for consultation at the Environment Documentation Centre.

    It can also be purchased from amazon.ca or directly from the publisher.

Scientific papers
  • Tremblay, A. 2007. Les réservoirs et les gaz à effet de serre (Reservoirs and greenhouse gas). Revue Pêche à la Mouche Destinations, April-May 2007, p. 48-52.
  • Roehm, C. and A. Tremblay. 2006. Role of turbines in carbon dioxide emissions from two boreal reservoirs, Québec, Canada. Journal of Geophysical Research, Vol. 111, D24101, 9 p.
  • Tremblay, A. and R. Schetagne. 2006. The relationship between water quality and greenhouse gas emissions in reservoirs. International Journal on Hydropower & Dams, 13(1): 103-107.
  • Tremblay, A., L. Varfalvy, C. Roehm and M. Garneau. 2004. The issue of greenhouse gases from hydroelectric reservoirs: from boreal to tropical regions. In: Proceedings of the United Nations Symposium on Hydropower and Sustainable Development, Beijing, China,
    October 27-29, 2004.
  • Tremblay, A. and M. Lambert. 2003. Developing a new technique for measuring greenhouse gas emissions in reservoirs. HRW, 11(5): 37-38
  • Guertin, G., M. Lambert and A. Tremblay. 2002. Development of in situ analysis technique for greenhouse gas samples collected by floating chambers and a hydroplane. In: International Symposium on Reservoir Management in Tropical and Sub-Tropical Regions, Iguassu, Brazil, Sept. 26, 2002. ICOLD 70th annual meeting. Vol. 1, p. 488-497.
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