Program Co-ordinator: René Roy

Context

• Guarantees Quebec a low-cost, reliable and renewable source of energy.
• A major contributing factor in attracting many major exporting industries, such as aluminum and pulp and paper.
• Represents 5 to 12% of total investment over the past decade.
• Accounts for nearly 40% of Quebec’s energy supply, i.e. about 70% of residential heating.

Resources

• Installed electrical capacity of over 40,000 megawatts (MW), 94% of which comes from hydroelectric generating stations north of the 49th parallel.
• A geographic distinction concerning climate change impacts:
  • In the north : 95% of the installed capacity makes use of the water storage potential of reservoirs to store annual and multi-year supplies.
  • In the south : 95% of the capacity consists of run-of-river generating stations.
                           The resource is shared among different users.

Objectives

• Determine the impact of climate change on hydroelectric generation by existing and future stations.
• Suggest and implement appropriate adaptation strategies to limit adverse effects or take advantage of future climate change opportunities.

Research projects

• Northern hydrological modelling
• Monitoring snow cover
• Adaptation of management practices for Quebec and Manitoba water systems