Whatever the Legault government has been saying for nearly a year to defend its decision to invest hundreds of millions of dollars in Northvolt, the construction of the Swedish company’s industrial complex is not a key element of Quebec’s “energy transition,” say experts consulted by The Duty.
Since the announcement of the multinational’s factory project in September 2023, the CAQ government has repeatedly said that Northvolt would be a major asset in the transition to a Quebec society that is in line with the desire to limit global warming.
According to what can be read on the Coalition avenir Québec website, the company’s project should help “advance the energy transition in Quebec.” What’s more, Environment Minister Benoit Charette has said on several occasions that the future Montérégie plant, which has already received $510 million in public funds, is important for achieving Quebec’s greenhouse gas emission reduction targets.
The ministry was, however, unable to provide any data, report or analysis that would support the theory that the project would be beneficial in achieving climate objectives.
In this context, would a possible abandonment of the megaproject risk compromising Quebec’s commitments in terms of transitioning to more low-carbon development? “It would in no way call into question the desired energy transition,” emphasizes Pierre-Olivier Pineau, holder of the Chair in Energy Sector Management at HEC Montréal.
The circular economy involves reducing the number of objects consumed, increasing reuse and more recycling. […]. The Northvolt plant was not significant in any of these elements.
The shift to be made “requires above all sustainable mobility, therefore a reduction in transport needs, but also a priority for public and active transport, in addition to more efficient buildings and a more circular economy”, he argues.
“This circular economy implies a reduction in the number of objects consumed, greater reuse and more recycling when there are products at the end of their life that cannot be repaired. The Northvolt factory was not important in any of these elements,” adds the man who has signed the annual report every year for the past 10 years.State of energy in Quebec.
A document published earlier this month by Recyc-Québec demonstrated that the Quebec economy has a “relatively low level of circularity.” Result: in terms of climate, Quebec’s greenhouse gas emissions are currently 1,041% above the “limit” that would allow us to fight global warming in order to maintain a viable climate.
In order to reduce the climate footprint of Quebecers, the report proposed in particular reducing the role of solo cars, even if they are electric vehicles.
Megawatts available
A member of the Research Chair on Ecological Transition at UQAM’s Institute of Environmental Sciences, Éric Pineault also believes that the future industrial complex for manufacturing vehicle battery components is not a key element of the transition in Quebec. “That’s the position of the Quebec government, but it’s not that of the specialists,” he says, emphasizing the need to review the layout of our cities to reduce our dependence on individual vehicles.
He also points out that Northvolt has not yet specified where its potential production from the plant to be built near the Richelieu River would be sold. However, the company has indicated that it wants to sell it on the North American market, without giving further details.
Éric Pineault and Pierre-Olivier Pineau are also categorical: the 360 megawatts promised to the company would be better used if they were offered to companies that would use this energy directly to reduce our consumption of greenhouse gas emitting sources. “We need this energy, especially since we have deprived Quebec companies of energy blocks that could have had an immediate impact on reducing our dependence on fossil fuels,” recalls Mr. Pineault.
However, Energy Minister Christine Fréchette said last week that there was “no question of reducing the energy blocks reserved for Northvolt.”
“No, Northvolt is in no way essential to Quebec’s energy transition,” says Philippe Dunsky, energy analyst and president of the Canadian Electricity Council. He adds, however, that the project would be a gain for the province. “This is a great opportunity for Quebec’s economy to benefit from the global energy transition, which is a major economic transition, it must be said.”