Quebec faces a historic challenge today. We must decarbonize our economy, which represents an electricity need equivalent to approximately 50% of the existing capacity of Hydro-Québec (HQ), while supporting economic growth and powering new projects: factories, housing, hospitals , RPA (private residences for seniors), etc.
To support decarbonization, according to HQ, it will be necessary to add 10,000 MW of power by 2035. This is equivalent to six times the Romaine (1550 MW), the design and construction of which took 20 years. Optimization of dams, wind or solar production, storage and self-production are all solutions considered.
However, simply increasing electricity production will not be enough. Priority must be given to energy efficiency. The unconsumed kilowatt hour costs less to produce and is accessible more quickly. HQ estimates the reduction potential by 2035 at 21 TWh and 3,500 MW, or more than a third of the objective!
We must also ensure a planned transition from natural gas to renewable energy sectors, because the Énergir network represents 17,000 MW, or eleven times the Romaine complex.
It would be wise to legislate and invest massively in reducing our energy consumption.
Minister Fitzgibbon’s bill on regulating renewable energy production is eagerly awaited. Public hearings on the bill on the environmental performance of buildings (PL41) took place this week. It discusses, among other things, a rating system for the energy performance of buildings. We support this idea.
For the future, we could draw inspiration from France, where the implementation of the energy performance diagnosis led to a ban on the rental of the least efficient buildings.
Technical and financial support programs must also be reformed to facilitate the deployment of the required actions. They must be completely rethought in order to rely on long-term solutions, a more agile decision-making process, technological innovation and flexible financing.
The government and Hydro-Québec are committed to consulting stakeholders and strengthening ties with the industry. Let’s take advantage of this opening to provide the energy efficiency and decarbonization site with a structured and ambitious roadmap.
All of Quebec will benefit.