Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energies

• After two years of difficult economic conditions which limited customers' participation in some of our programs, Hydro-Québec now plans to work with commercial and institutional customers to speed up their implementation of energy efficiency measures. New programs designed for business customers have already been submitted to the Régie de l'énergie. According to this proposal, Hydro-Québec will remain responsible for developing and updating the energy efficiency programs, but will rely heavily on business partnerships to optimize project completion.
  Programs and tools to be energy wise

• RECYC-FRIGO Environnement^TM program: Over 104,500 energy-guzzling refrigerators and freezers were collected and recycled in 2010, for a total of 290,600 appliances since the launch of the program in 2008. The program has generated cumulative energy savings of 207 GWh, enough to power approximately 11,700 households for a year. In addition, 95% of the appliances are recycled; recovering the refrigerant also helps protect the ozone layer.
  RECYC-FRIGO Environnement^TM Program

• Empower Program for Industrial Systems: We received 468 project proposals in 2010, the most since 2004. The 349 projects accepted yielded 70.9 GWh in energy savings, a 65% increase from 2009.

• Energy Savers' Circle: Five new members were named to Hydro-Québec's Energy Savers' Circle. This group is made up of companies that have taken steps to cut their electricity consumption by at least 5% or to save at least 50 GWh per year through energy efficiency programs.
  Energy Savers' Circle

• Sustainability Report 2010, p. 12-13
• Sustainable Development Action Plan 2009–2013, p. 5

• a) Actual results include the programs of the Agence de l'efficacité énergétique.
  May have been adjusted following program evaluation.
• b) Overall total and sum of subtotals may differ due to rounding.

Hydropower

• Work continued on the Eastmain-1-A/Sarcelle/Rupert jobsite. The project includes the construction of Eastmain-1-A (768 MW) and Sarcelle (150 MW) powerhouses, as well as the diversion of part of the Rupert's waters to these generating stations and on to Robert-Bourassa, La Grande-2-A and La Grande-1. An environmental monitoring and follow-up program has been under way since 2007 and will continue until 2023. The goal of the program is to monitor changes in the environment and determine the effectiveness of mitigation measures.
  Eastmain-1-A/Sarcelle/Rupert project

• Work proceeded at the Romaine jobsite as well. Once completed, the Romaine complex (1,550 MW), which got under way in 2009, will have four reservoir generating stations and a 150-km road. It is part of Hydro-Québec's portfolio of hydropower projects totaling 4,500 MW referred to in the company's Strategic Plan and Sustainable Development Action Plan. In conjunction with the construction of the complex, we have also set up an ambitious environmental monitoring and follow-up program that will run until 2040. The goal of the program is to monitor environmental changes, determine the effectiveness of mitigation and compensation measures, and make any necessary adjustments.
  Romaine project (in French only)

• The value of renewable energy surpluses

  Québec's energy surpluses contribute to the preservation of our global environment. For example, in the 1980s, surpluses from the La Grande complex facilitated the construction of aluminum smelters in Québec. For the past 20 years, these companies have used a clean, renewable energy source to produce aluminum; this would not have been the case if the plants had been built elsewhere. Moreover, Hydro-Québec exports its hydropower surpluses to neighboring markets, where they replace local output, which is mainly thermal. Between 2008 and 2010, Hydro-Québec's exports helped avoid the emission of 41 million tonnes of GHGs, while significantly contributing to the company's net income.

• Purchase of complementary renewable energies: We selected 13 projects totaling 149.7 MW under a program for the purchase of electricity generated by small hydro (facilities rated 50 MW or less). Ten of these projects will be carried out entirely by Aboriginal or other local communities, and three will be built in partnership with the private sector.
  Electric Power Purchases – Québec Market



• Study of GHG emissions from reservoirs: Hydro-Québec completed a study of net GHG emissions from Eastmain 1 reservoir (i.e., reservoir emissions less the GHGs that would have been emitted or absorbed by natural lakes and rivers over a 100-year period). Carried out in collaboration with McGill University, the Université du Québec à Montréal and Environnement Illimité, the study lasted seven years and involved more than 80 specialists and researchers who recorded over 100,000 measurements. The conclusion: a hydroelectric generating station located in a boreal region is one of the lowest-emitting generation options. In Québec, average GHG emissions from hydropower are comparable to those from wind power, and the level of gross emissions from reservoirs is similar to that of natural lakes.
  EM-1 Project

• Sustainability Report 2010, p. 14, 16-19
• Sustainable Development Action Plan 2009–2013, p. 3-4

Wind power

• Wind farms in operation in Québec

  Hydro-Québec purchases all the output from nine privately owned wind farms with a total installed capacity of 659 MW. As a result of the three tender calls issued since 2003, the company will boost its wind power capacity to over 3,500 MW by 2015. Thanks to hydropower–a renewable, constant and controllable source of energy–Hydro-Québec can offset variations in wind power output to provide balancing for the system.
  Wind energy in Québec

• Call for wind power generated in Québec: Hydro-Québec selected 1 bid (24.0 MW) in connection with the block for Aboriginal projects and 11 bids (267.4 MW) in connection with the block for community projects, for a total of 291.4 MW.
  Electric Power Purchases – Québec Market

• Sustainability Report 2010, p. 15
• Sustainable Development Action Plan 2009-2013, p. 3

Other renewable energies

• Solar power: Photovoltaic cells transform sunshine into electricity. In Quebec, however, this type of energy is not available during winter peak periods (morning and evening) and the costs associated with this technology are not competitive at the moment. Nonetheless, Hydro-Québec is closely monitoring the evolution of solar power which may, in the medium term, experience the same kind of growth wind power has seen in the past few years.

• Hydrokinetic power: A submerged hydraulic turbine can use the kinetic energy of sea or river currents to generate electricity, with greatest output achieved from turbines submerged in the sea. In Québec, in addition to river currents, the Baie d'Ungava tides look very promising, and could be used to meet the needs of villages currently supplied by generators. Supplying some of Hydro-Québec's off-grid systems with combined hydrokinetic/diesel power could reduce emissions by 49,500 t CO₂ eq. per year.

• Salinity gradient power: A salinity-gradient power plant uses the pressure created by the natural migration of freshwater to saltwater through a semipermeable membrane to drive a turbine and generate electricity. The Norwegian company Statkraft is the main proponent of this source of energy which may, in time, be an attractive option for Québec. In 2010, Hydro-Québec's research institute joined forces with Statkraft and the two organizations will continue their research on salinity gradient power in tandem.

• Deep geothermal energy: Still rarely used, this technology uses the earth's heat to generate electricity. Hydro-Québec is interested in enhanced geothermal systems, which involve injecting high-pressure water into geothermal reservoirs located a few kilometres below the earth's crust in order to recover the heat to drive turbines. After assessing this option's potential in Québec, the company will study its technical and economic feasibility.

• Biomass: The Régie de l'énergie approved six contracts signed following a Hydro-Québec call for the supply of 52.9 MW of electricity produced by biomass cogeneration facilities. First deliveries are planned for late 2012.
  Electric Power Purchases – Québec Market

• Sustainability Report 2010, p. 15-16
• Biomass, hydrogen and solar