While Hydro-Québec will considerably increase the power from the wind power sector to meet the increase in electricity demand, the promoters of wind farms will have to reassure the agricultural community in the coming years to settle in the backyard of Quebecers. .
“When a wind turbine is installed on agricultural land, approximately one hectare disappears. Obviously, it depends on each project and each wind turbine, but that’s the general estimate we make,” says Daniel Habel, president of the Union des producteurs agricole (UPA) for Centre-du-Québec.
Claiming to be “well aware that these projects have a green connotation” and that Quebec will have to increase its production capacity in the coming years, he adds: “We will not hide. The development of these projects, in wind power, is done in competition with agriculture. »
First of all, there are the temporary effects during construction, to which is added, in the long term, the establishment of passageways to the wind turbines and a safety space at the foot of the towers. Each wind turbine taken separately, the impact may seem negligible, says Mr. Habel, who specifies that when they are “put together, aligned, the surface area eaten up becomes significant”.
In Centre-du-Québec, the challenge of cohabitation is essential, while Boralex wants to build a wind farm with a power that would oscillate between 200 MW and 400 MW. The latter could include up to 67 wind turbines.
Three towers used to measure the strength of the winds will be installed in the coming weeks. “It will allow us to refine our knowledge of the wind in the field,” explains Jordan Longchamps, head of public affairs and communications at Boralex. The Kingsey Falls company wants to participate in one of Hydro-Québec’s next calls for tenders.
Aware of the challenge of cohabitation with the agricultural community, he adds: “The power of the project has not yet stopped, because it will depend on the evolution of the project and what will come out of the discussions with the community. We had an information session this week. »
Boralex claims to be in contact with the UPA from the start. “She is the one who knows the agricultural community and the farmers. And also, we speak with each farmer and each landowner who is in the project area,” says Jordan Longchamps.
Why not favor a mountainous region with high wind potential? “The first thing we look at is the potential of the wind. The second thing is how we can integrate into the Hydro-Québec network. This is one of the advantages of the Arthabaska project [dans le Centre-du-Québec], that there is a line that passes there. »
Tenders
The cohabitation challenges will only increase over the years, as Hydro-Québec must substantially increase its green electricity production capacity. Two tenders — 300 MW of wind energy and 480 MW of renewable energies — are underway. In the coming days, two other calls for tenders will be launched for the acquisition of new supplies: 1000 MW from wind power and 1300 MW from renewable sources.
“Others are to be expected over the next few years to meet all of Quebec’s forecast needs” over the decade, Hydro-Quebec says in its Supply Plan published in November. The state corporation also plans to develop by 2026, with partners, a set of wind projects totaling an additional 3,000 MW.
“There is a general signal [de la part d’Hydro-Québec] that there could be other calls for tenders, without there being a precise timetable or the quantity of megawatts requested. As a company that does development, at Boralex, we look at what can be achieved across Quebec,” says Mr. Longchamps.
It is in this context, according to Daniel Habel, that the Government of Quebec must take “a certain share of responsibility” to ensure good cohabitation of the various industries: “Do we come to install this in the middle of the eating Quebecers while supporting the message that food self-sufficiency is extremely important? »
“Because whatever the project, if it is in an agricultural zone, it ends up having an impact on the territory. We have the responsibility, entrusted by the legislator, to protect the garden of Quebecers,” says Mr. Habel.