Hydro-Québec sets the table to become co-owner of its first wind farms. The Crown corporation announced that it had signed an agreement with Énergir and Boralex for the development of three projects in the Charlevoix region.
The partnership provides for an equal participation of the three companies in a new expansion of wind power on the territory of the Seigneurie de Beaupré, jointly confirmed Hydro-Québec, Boralex and Énergir, Tuesday morning.
Construction costs and profits will thus be shared equally.
These are wind power projects bearing the name Des Neiges whose deployment is planned in three distinct sectors in the MRCs of La Côte-de-Beaupré, Charlevoix and potentially La Jacques-Cartier. Each of the sectors would include approximately 60 to 80 wind turbines and a capacity of 400 megawatts (MW), for a total of approximately 1200 MW.
Hydro-Quebec would buy the energy produced under three power purchase agreements in order to “be integrated into the volume of energy available to supply its various markets”, one explains in a press release.
Without specifying a figure, the purchase price of electricity by the state company will be “competitive” and “more advantageous” than the Apuiat project, indicated a spokesperson at Hydro-Québec, Caroline Des Rosiers, to The Canadian Press.
The Apuiat park on the North Shore provides that electricity will be purchased at a cost of approximately 6 cents per kWh, according to the contract between a company bringing together the Innu communities, Boralex and Hydro-Québec Production.
Details surrounding the timeline and costs of the Des Neiges projects in Charlevoix are not disclosed, but the three companies are talking about investments of up to $3 billion.
It is specified that the decision to go ahead with each of the projects will rest with Hydro-Québec according to the evolution of its needs. With demand for electricity being strong and the projects being quite advanced in terms of regulations, construction could get under way quickly in the coming years, estimates the state-owned company.
For Hydro-Québec, this partnership is in line with the desire of its Strategic Plan to build a portfolio of 3,000 MW of wind power capacity with partners by 2026. Other calls for tenders are planned to achieve this objective.
“Given the energy transition and the expected growth in electricity needs in Quebec, it is imperative that we have the flexibility required in terms of supply. The wind power sector is one of the tools we have,” said Hydro-Québec President and CEO Sophie Brochu in a press release.
Boralex and Énergir developed and operate the first three wind turbine phases on the Seigneurie de Beaupré. The projects were commissioned between 2013 and 2015, comprising a total of 164 turbines and an output of 364 MW.
Various studies are underway for the Des Neiges wind farm projects. New information sessions are also planned, particularly with Aboriginal communities.
This article was produced with the financial support of the Meta Fellowships and The Canadian Press for News.