The growth in electricity production desired by the Legault government is far from being a panacea, according to what emerges from the 10e edition of theState of energy in Quebec. On the contrary, this rush towards new projects risks stimulating our overconsumption of energy, when we should reduce demand by transforming our modes of transport centered on solo cars, but also by revising residential rates.
“In 10 years of work on the energy portrait of Quebec, I see that the situation has not changed at all to match our ambitions. The problem is the expansion of the fleet of vehicles and buildings. Instead of being in a logic of reducing consumption, we are in a logic of electrification,” summarizes Pierre-Olivier Pineau, holder of the Chair of Energy Sector Management at HEC Montréal and co-author of this report. annual which has become a reference tool.
Per capita, Quebec is a very large energy consumer, not far behind the United States, but at a level that represents almost four times the world average. And half of the energy we consume still comes from fossil sources that fuel the climate crisis, according to what we can read in the report, the 2024 edition of which is published Thursday.
“This high consumption is partly explained by industrial consumption linked to hydroelectricity, which has attracted energy-intensive industrial sectors here, but also by energy consumption, in transport and buildings (residential and commercial), higher than that of of European countries whose standard of living is comparable or higher,” specifies the document.
This report also highlights the continued increase in our appetite due in particular to the increase in the vehicle fleet and the surface area of space to be heated in the residential, commercial and institutional sectors. Without forgetting the lack of progress in terms of “energy performance” of industries, where no less than 60% of the energy consumed is lost.
Larger vehicles
Transport, which depends on more than 97% of petroleum products, is particularly revealing of this voracity. Since 1990, the sector’s total energy consumption has increased by 41%, in a context where the fleet of personal vehicles has increased by 57%, “an increase more than twice that of the province’s population growth.” specifies theState of energy in Quebec.
During this period, “the decrease in energy consumption of cars (–41%) was more than offset by a significant increase in the consumption of light trucks (sports utility vehicles, pickups and vans; +174%) due to of the increase in sales of these models. Overall, the number of “light passenger trucks” jumped 332%, and this category has dominated sales since 2015 in Quebec.
In 10 years of work on the energy portrait of Quebec, I have noticed that the situation has not changed at all to match our ambitions.
This serious trend is also a bad omen, even with a view to the electrification of vehicles, affirms Pierre-Olivier Pineau. Not only do larger vehicles consume more energy than cars, but, above all, they require more resources for their construction, in addition to influencing land use.
“With electric light trucks, people’s attachment to the vehicle grows. It is not just a means of transport, but a lifestyle and an image of oneself. We are further anchoring the car paradigm in our lifestyles and moving away from a possible path towards carbon neutrality,” argues Pierre-Olivier Pineau. He underlines at the same time that Quebec is not the climate “leader” portrayed by the government, when compared to other more ambitious states in North America and Europe.
“If we remain in a paradigm of the individual vehicle, even electric, we are not going to reverse the trend towards human sprawl which fragments the territory, impoverishes ecosystems and requires enormous resources (concrete, steel and other materials) to be developed,” adds the expert.
Electricity rates
According to him, reducing energy demand in the transport sector should also be a priority. To achieve this, the recipe is well known: “put in place incentives for teleworking, active transportation, public transportation, carpooling and car sharing.” In short, implement Quebec’s sustainable mobility policy.
In its most recent report, the Intergovernmental Group of Experts on Climate Change also called for a revolution in the transport sector which would involve the planning of cities, in order to “allow travel by collective transport, but also on foot or by bike.
At present, recalls theState of Quebec’s energy, Hydro-Québec is preparing for a marked increase in Quebec’s electricity demand of nearly 20% by 2035, even taking into account planned energy savings. Hence the eagerness to develop wind projects and potentially a new large dam project on the North Shore.
But before thinking of “building controversial infrastructures that would fuel our overconsumption”, Pierre-Olivier Pineau pleads for the implementation of “less expensive” solutions, but possibly more difficult to implement on a social and political level. He cites as an example the need for building renovations for reasons of energy efficiency, but also the need to enable “self-production” for industrial consumers.
Mr. Pineau also highlights the need to address the debate on residential rates head-on. “Residential consumers are those who consume the most and have the greatest power demand. It is time for them to receive a price signal closer to Hydro-Québec’s supply costs. This does not, of course, exclude helping low-income households. But should we help all households, even those with high incomes, when it is the rich households who consume the most? »