Hydro-Québec - Sustainable Development

Partnering with Business

Supporting Technology and Partnerships

Electricity continues to make inroads in the industrial world. It can be used to advantage in new processes to replace conventional ones, particularly those that use GHG-emitting fuels.

To encourage more widespread use of new technologies based on electric power, Hydro-Québec helps businesses carry out projects to develop their industrial processes.

Hydro-Québec is also a true business partner, working with other businesses or organizations to promote the use of electricity in industry.

To promote technological development in companies, we engage in a wide range of activities:

Exploratory research
Development of innovative products and processes
Consulting services in building energy systems, electric technologies and processes, energy system integration, power quality and electromagnetic compatibility

At our energy technologies laboratory, we carry out many partnering projects to optimize energy use.

More information on Hydro-Québec's research institute and laboratories.

Some Examples

	In 2007, we invested some $100 million in a hundred or so research and technological innovation projects.

	We are helping to develop an efficient technology for artificial greenhouse lighting, which could yield a 22% improvement in photosynthetic and energy efficiency.

	We are among the 15 public- and private-sector partners and 10 universities in the Solar Buildings Research Network, which is designing an integrated solar building with zero net energy consumption and plans to transfer this technology to building designers. Our contribution will be $325,000 between 2006 and 2010.

	Under a joint venture with the Société des Véhicules Électriques and TM4, Hydro-Québec introduced its first Cleanova II into its vehicle fleet in September 2006; today, it has five of them. Over 30 Cleanova vehicles with TM4 engines are currently being market-tested.

	Licence agreements were signed with Merck and IoLiTec (Germany), Solvionic (France) and Valeo Management (Canada) to use FSI molten salts in the manufacture of lithium ion batteries for electric vehicles.

	We are involved in technology innovation projects intended to reduce demand: advanced refrigeration, waste heat recovery, reduction of industrial energy intensity, solar buildings and integrated energy systems. Our work has reduced the power demand of domestic water heaters by 20%.

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