This article was published by The Energy Mix on April 18, 2024.
By Christopher Bonasia
Hydro-Québec is seeking bids for 300 megawatts of small solar energy projects to integrate into its grid as the giant utility explores how solar can help meet the province’s growing electricity needs.
“This environmentally-conscious project is intriguing due to its unique approach—eschewing vast solar fields for compact solar parks in city landscapes, demonstrating an innovative method of incorporating renewable energy into the urban environment,” posted The Solar Team on LinkedIn.
“This is more than an eco-friendly initiative,” the post adds. “It’s a game-changer for Quebec’s solar industry.”
On March 26, the Quebec government announced [Fr] a draft regulation to set aside 300 MW for an upcoming solar procurement by Hydro-Québec. It was published [pdf, Fr] in the government’s official journal, giving citizens and organizations 45 days to comment while the regulation is finalized.
The draft proposes two deadlines for the 300 MW to be brought online: 100 MW by the end of 2029 and the remaining 200 MW by the end of 2032.
The request for proposals will favour projects in urban areas that are easier to connect to Hydro-Québec’s transmission and distribution network, and those that can use existing infrastructure to minimize impact on natural and agricultural environments. With projects located closer to the point of power consumption, the province’s transmission network can be reserved for larger projects such as wind farms, the government said.
Quebec has focused on wind and hydropower for its energy balance, with solar’s role left ambiguous in Hydro-Québec’s 2023-2032 supply plan, states an analysis by the McCarthy Tétrault law firm. However, solar—with battery storage—was mentioned in the province’s plan to decarbonize by 2035 as key to the energy balance.
With the RFP, Quebec will start its journey toward integrating solar.
“The objective of these calls for tenders relating to solar energy is to have better knowledge of the market and the speed of deployment of projects,” said Energy and Economy Minister Pierre Fitzgibbon. “In the current context of energy transition, solar energy is an essential complement to hydroelectricity and wind energy.”
Fitzgibbon laid out some of the questions to be answered, like how much solar will cost per kilowatt-hour compared to alternatives, and the feasibility of specific projects.
Some experts, including Pierre-Olivier Pineau, chair of energy sector management at HEC Montréal, question whether solar is suited to Quebec given its low availability in winter, writes La Presse.
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