POWER January 2014 - 46

POWER QUÉBEC
Global Business Reports
www.gbreports.com
Where hydro power
is king
La Belle Province's Energy Mix: a task
made easy by nature
A land of lakes and rivers, Québec benefits today from an abundance
of clean and green energy, vastly generated by means of hydro
power, which is increasingly complemented by the province's
eastern wind energy farms. Government owned Hydro-Québec
rules over power generation, transmission and distribution in the
province, and, over the years, the utility has decisively contributed
to the establishment of a world-renowned cluster of hydro
actors across the supply chain. The hydro industry's tradition contrasts
with the wind sector's youthfulness, whose expansion was
prompted by the recent liberal governments and their 4,000 MW
wind power RFPs. With its energy surplus estimated to last until
2027, Québec and its players are now looking inwards to optimize
the province's aging hydro infrastructure, while properly integrating
Gaspésie's wind sector contribution. More importantly, they
are looking at foreign markets, where their expertise could shape
many developing countries' energy infrastructures.
Boralex's Ocean Falls hydroelectric dam. Photo courtesy of Boralex
Québec's Dominant Hydro Power
Boasting more than a million lakes and 4,500 rivers that represent
over 40% of Canada's water resources, Québec's choice for energy
generation was destined to be hydroelectricity. At the end
of 2012, the province had an installed capacity of 35,829 MW, but
that figure should reach 40,000 MW by 2015, as outlined in the
government's Energy Strategy. With 60 generating stations, 26
large reservoirs, 664 dams and 97 control structures, hydro power
currently accounts for roughly 96% of Québec's power supply;
moreover, it represents over 50% of Canada's total hydro energy.
All this impressive portfolio falls under the management of HydroQuébec,
the government owned utility, whose history dates back
to 1944. After the development of the gargantuan 15,000 MW
James Bay complex in the 1970s and 1980s, Hydro-Québec was
not involved in any major projects for several years. However, that
changed over the last decade: between 2005 and 2013, HydroQuébec
commissioned a series of large hydro power generating
units: Eastmain 1 (480 MW), Eastmain 1-A (768 MW), Sarcelle (150
MW), Toulnustouc (526 MW), Peribonka (385 MW), and Chute-Allards
and Rapides-des-Couers (138 MW). Furthermore, by 2020,
Hydro's new chef-d'oeuvre, La Romaine (1,550 MW), comprising
four units, will also come online. La Romaine 2 is scheduled for
commissioning in 2014, while La Romaine 1 will follow suit in 2016.
The nature of hydro power has also allowed for a healthy diversification
of Québec's energy landscape over the last 10
years, with the government deciding to create a wind power
sector in the province. " Québec has the best energy mix
people can hope for, with wind and hydro power. We can use
wind power in winter, when the output is good, and store
precipitation in the dams. Then, during summer, when wind is
low, we can use that winter precipitation to smoothen output: it
is the ideal scenario, " added Daniel Laplante, president of AIEQ,
Québec's Electric Industry Association.
Hydro-Québec's activity over the years has led to the formation
of a tremendous hydro knowledge base in the province. Companies
across the hydro supply chain have flourished in Québec
and their expertise has become sought-after worldwide. Exp is
a diversified engineering firm with presences across the US and
Canada. In Québec, the company employs over 1,000 people. In
recent years, Exp has been involved in the La Romaine, La Sarcelle,
and the Chute Allard and Rapide-des-Coeurs projects, as2
Global
Business Reports // POWER QUÉBEC
January 2014
http://www.gbreports.com
POWER January 2014

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