Solar panels in Québec
Since solar power generation is intermittent, customer-generators must use energy storage systems or remain connected to the Hydro‑Québec grid, using the net metering option to ensure the power supply is uninterrupted.
The potential of solar power in Québec
When it comes to equivalent sun hours, southern Québec compares favorably to many other regions around the globe. However, snow accumulation is an impediment to solar panel efficiency in Québec.
In southern Québec, every kilowatt of installed capacity can generate up to 1,200 kWh a year. Consequently, solar panels totaling 4 kW can produce up to 4,800 kWh a year.
Solar power generation per year
Number of equivalent sun hours per year for a fixed system (kWh/kW)
- Southern Québec: 1,200
- Southern California: 1,800
- Sahara Desert and Saudi Arabia: 1,900
- Atacama Desert in Chile: 2,300
Source :
Global Solar Atlas
Important tip
The number of hours that photovoltaic panels produce solar energy every year is not equal to the number of hours of daylight. The solar energy generated by photovoltaic panels depends on their orientation, their inclination, the height of the sun and the cloud cover, so it’s imperative not to overestimate the hours your installation will produce energy. Most importantly, discuss your project with a company that specializes in solar energy.
Investing in solar panels in Québec: Is it right for me?
Thanks to the falling costs of solar panels and inverters, the global market for photovoltaic solar power is soaring. What about Québec?
The main obstacle to the widespread use of solar panels in Québec is the substantial upfront costs, combined with limited yearly savings. In Québec, electricity rates are low, so it takes more than 10 years to recover the initial investment through savings on your electricity bill.
Can solar panels help you save?
Enter your information in the calculator to find out!Is there potential value in installing photovoltaic solar panels in Québec? Absolutely! But for most initiatives, the interest shouldn’t be purely financial. Most solar power projects in Québec are carried out for research and innovation purposes or simply out of a desire to achieve a degree of energy independence.
Advantages and disadvantages of photovoltaic solar panels
Advantages
- Little maintenance required and low operating costs
- Long service life (about 20 to 30 years)
- Availability of a stable source of sunlight year after year, estimated at 1,200 kWh/kW
- High site potential (buildings, parking lot sunshades, open spaces, etc.)
- Annual savings of about $500 for a total installed capacity of 5 kW
Disadvantages
- High upfront costs
Example: for an average house, a system composed of 16 300-W panels costs roughly $14,000 - Intermittent output that varies depending on the time of day, weather and season
- Slight deterioration in efficiency over time
The environmental appeal of solar power: Québec’s unique situation
Over its life cycle, solar energy is certainly preferable to energy from fossil fuel. But with more than 99% of Hydro‑Québec’s supply coming from renewables, the energy distributed over the grid compares favourably to energy from solar self-generation in terms of carbon footprint
ACV des filières de production décentralisée d’énergie électrique à petite échelle – Sommaire [PDF 425 kB] (in French only), 2013, 6 p.
Did you know?
The place where solar panel components such as photovoltaic cells are manufactured has a big impact on their environmental footprint, which varies a great deal depending on the power source used in that country.
Solar power in the service of Hydro‑Québec’s off-grid systems
The Îles de la Madeleine and villages in Québec’s far north are too remote to be connected to the Hydro‑Québec grid. They get their electricity from off-grid systems powered primarily by thermal generating stations. This is far more expensive and produces much more greenhouse gas than hydropower.
The pilot project involving the installation of 69 solar panels in the village of Quaqtaq in Nunavik—among Hydro‑Québec’s photovoltaic solar power initiatives—will be crucial in helping to frame future energy transition strategies for off-grid systems.
The photovoltaic modules’ capacity is 2% of that of the thermal generating station that powers the village. This new technology could reduce fuel consumption by 5,000 litres a year, leading to substantial environmental and economic benefits!