Deepening our knowledge and improving our performance

Reducing the emissions of certain power system components

As a responsible company, Hydro-Québec uses every means at its disposal to bring down GHG emissions. We have identified five categories of equipment that contribute primarily to SF⁶ Emissions. The most emissionintensive components will be targeted for action between 2023 and 2025.

In 2023, our teams will perform a detailed analysis of alternative technologies that are currently available in the marketplace or in development.

Environmental commitments and site restoration

Although Romaine 4 generating station, the last in the complex, is now in operation, some restoration work is still required. A significant portion of this work will be carried out by our Indigenous partners. In 2022, Indigenous workers made up approximately 15% of the workforce at Romaine 4. In addition, Hydro-Québec is committed to conducting environmental monitoring of the Romaine complex until 2040 to determine how the surrounding environment is faring and to assess the effectiveness of the mitigation and compensation measures put in place.

Development of grid control systems

The upgrading of Hydro-Québec’s grid control systems is a cornerstone of our technological and strategic development vision and aims to deploy a new, modern and integrated energy system management platform. Several phases were completed in 2022, including the implementation of data acquisition infrastructure for generating and transmission facilities.

Collaboration with McGill University on research into climate-related retrofits

McGill University’s has a new Research Chair in Architecture for mass building climate retrofits, and Hydro-Québec will be working closely with the university and several businesses to develop innovative models for energy management and the conversion of energyintensive systems. We hope to develop a systematic and scalable approach to retrofitting existing buildings and cutting their GHG emissions.

Study in progress at Trenche

Studies for the refurbishment of the Trenche facility, which got under way in fall 2021, will continue through to 2024. We are looking into overhauling the six existing generating units and the need to increase discharge capacity. Discussions are in progress with Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities and relevant stakeholders to ensure our choices are optimal and acceptable to all parties.

Adapting to climate change, emerging risks and technological advances

Efforts are under way to improve our understanding of tomorrow’s climate and its potential impacts on our infrastructure. This should enable us to steer the implementation of effective mitigation measures toward high-risk areas, which are subject to events like ice storms and conductors heating up during consumption peaks. While continuing to take action to ensure our assets’ optimal performance, we must also take account of various emerging risks related primarily to cybersecurity, aging facilities and the strong growth in demand.