Hydro-Quebec anticipates a growth in electricity demand in Quebec of 25 terawatt hours (TWh) within 10 years, which represents an increase of 14%, according to the most recent estimates of the state corporation.
This is what emerges from Supply Plan 2023-2032 that Hydro-Québec filed this Thursday with the Régie de l’énergie. To respond to this growth, Hydro-Québec says it can reduce demand during winter peaks by deploying a range of tools and programs. Optimistic, the state-owned company estimates that its “significant efforts” in terms of energy efficiency would make it possible “to erase 8.9 TWh by 2032”.
At the same time, it plans to increase electricity production. Two tenders – one for 300 MW of wind energy and the other for 480 MW of renewable energy – are underway. To this will be added in the coming months two other calls for tenders respectively for 1000 MW of wind energy and 1300 MW of renewable energy.
These estimates are in line with the trends observed in the most recent Hydro-Québec estimates. In its Strategic Plan published in March 2022, Hydro-Québec forecast demand growth of 20 TWh between 2019 and 2019, an increase of 12%. As a result, Quebec production will not be able to meet peak demand from 2027, predicts Hydro-Quebec.
Hydro-Quebec also indicated that more than 100 additional TWh of clean electricity would be required for Quebec to achieve carbon neutrality in 2050, which represents more than half of Hydro-Quebec’s current capacity.
On Twitter, the Minister of Economy and Energy, Pierre Fitzgibbon, wrote for his part: “Considering the strong demand for energy, the government has asked the Régie de l’énergie by decree to consider withdrawing the 270 MW reserved for blockchain projects. »
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