Our Actions in Six Areas
Environmental Protection and Quality of Life
- Our commitment to the future
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- Reduce the environmental footprint of our projects and activities
- Integrate our facilities with the environment
- Improve our sustainable practices
Hydro-Québec takes every possible step to control the environmental impact of its major construction projects and day-to-day operations. We strive to reduce atmospheric emissions, preserve soil and water, protect biodiversity, integrate our facilities with their surroundings and promote sustainable consumption.
Ten years ago, Hydro-Québec made a commitment to implement ISO 14001 environmental management systems (EMS) to govern the aspects of its operations that might have an impact on the environment. As of December 31, 2008, 18,200 employees were covered by an EMS.
Our main achievements in 2008
Greenhouse gases (GHGs)
- We educate our employees in the principles of sustainable driving. We recently raised the CO2 emission reduction target for our vehicle fleet from 5% to 10% by 2010. In 2008, vehicle emissions were 2,423 tonnes lower than in 2005, even though there were 189 more vehicles.
- Every year, we produce a data sheet on the atmospheric emissions related to our electricity generation and purchases (excluding generating stations not connected to the grid).
- To make a careful comparison of energy options, we monitor life cycle analyses conducted worldwide, covering all the impacts of each option: facility construction, resource extraction, processing and transportation, etc. Through this monitoring, we are able to compare different generating, heating and transportation options.
Nuclear power
- In August 2008, we announced that we would refurbish Gentilly-2 generating station to extend its service life until 2040. The only nuclear facility in Québec, Gentilly-2 has the dual advantage of contributing to system stability without producing greenhouse gas emissions.
| Production of low- and intermediate-level radioactive waste | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | |
| Total volume of low-level radioactive waste sent to storage (m3) | 21 | 27 | 12 | 32 |
| Total volume of intermediate-level radioactive waste sent to storage (m3) | 9 | 13 | 4 | 7 |
| Rate of production of low- and intermediate-level radioactive waste (m3/reactor – note that Gentilly-2 has only one reactor) | 30 | 40 | 16 | 39 |
Biodiversity
- Our research institute is involved in surveying and protecting the western chorus frog (designated vulnerable in Québec) on the site of its Varennes laboratories. In 2008, posters were put up to indicate and protect the species' breeding grounds in five different areas.
- We have set up a Web site that provides a wealth of useful information on controlling vegetation along power distribution lines.
Soil and water
- Hydro-Québec has adopted an emergency response plan for accidental contaminant spills to limit the extent and severity of environmental damage. In 2008, 583 spills were reported to the authorities (624 in 2007).
| Accidental spills (%) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | |
| Percentage of spills responded to in less than 12 hours | 69 | 74 | 75 | 73 |
| Percentage of spills involving less than 100 litres | 89 | 89 | 91 | 91 |
| Percentage due to equipment breakage | 67 | 55 | 54 | 49 |
Land use
- Montérégie loop: we published a summary of the lessons learned from the 11 environmental follow-up studies for the 735-kV Des-Cantons–Hertel line and 735/120-kV Montérégie substation project; these studies were carried out between 1999 and 2008 to fulfill the commitments made as part of the permitting process.
- For more information on the summary of lessons learned from the environmental follow-up [PDF – 6 Mb – In French only]
- Hydro-Québec encourages multipurpose use of its properties as long as its own operations are not affected. In 2008, we signed 25 agreements allowing the rights-of-way of some facilities to be used for various purposes.
- A total of 9.3 km of lines were undergrounded in heritage, cultural and tourist sites, under 10 projects carried out as part of the government program for overhead distribution systems.
Sustainable practices
- We cut our consumption of fine paper by 87 tonnes, from 592 tonnes in 2007 to 505 tonnes in 2008.
- Residual hazardous materials (RHMs) are processed according to the 4R-D program criteria (reduction at the source, reuse, recycling, reclamation, then disposal). In 2008, we recovered 10,857 tonnes of RHMs (9,730 in 2007) and diverted 95.3% from landfill (89.1% in 2007).
| RHMs recovered under the 4R-D program | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Type of RHM recovered (tonnes) | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 |
| Hazardous liquids | 5,245 | 4,478 | 3,854 | 3,821 |
| Hazardous solids | 982 | 1,251 | 1,335 | 1,191 |
| Electrical equipment | 6,475 | 5,101 | 4,541 | 5,845 |
| Total recovered | 12,702 | 10,830 | 9,730 | 10,857 |
| Proportion of RHMs diverted from landfill (%) | 97% | 89% | 89% | 95% |
- In 2008, 93% (91% in 2007) of the insulating oil used in some types of equipment, such as power transformers, was reclaimed for internal reuse.
- Sustainable Development Action Plan 2009–2013 (p. 8 and 9)
Heritage
- In an exciting discovery, digs conducted near the site of the future Kuujjuaq generating station revealed traces of the Saqqaq culture that may date back nearly 4,000 years; very little has been documented about this culture.
- The interpretation centre at Rivière-des-Prairies generating station presented an exhibit on the subject of electricity from the power station to the home, as it was in 1929; some 20 artifacts from the Hydro-Québec historical collection were featured.
