If we trust Pierre Fitzgibbon, there could be more and more companies producing their own electricity.
• Also read: Green hydrogen: A $4 billion factory is being built in Shawinigan
• Also read: Wind turbines in Mauricie: Citizens still have many questions
• Also read: Green Hydrogen Village in England: How does it work?
The TES company’s green hydrogen mega-project in Shawinigan, where a major company produces its own electricity, could be the first in a series if we rely on the words of Minister Pierre Fitzgibbon.
According to an email first obtained by Radio-Canada and then by Le Journal, Pierre Fitzgibbon reiterates that the TES project is “just the beginning.”
Remember that Hydro-Québec will provide this project with an electricity block of 150 megawatts (MW) and that TES will also produce its own electricity, that is, 800 MW with a wind farm and 200 MW with solar energy.
A break of the monopoly?
Environmental groups such as Greenpeace and the Regroupement des organisms Environnementales en Énergie are concerned about Hydro-Québec’s monopoly and believe that the TES project does not comply with the law, particularly because it is being carried out in an area where Hydro-Québec is a Monopoly has exclusive distribution rights.
However, in making the announcement, Minister Fitzgibbon mentioned that Hydro-Québec’s regulatory framework “allows for in-house production at the location where a company can have its wind turbines.” [ou] its solar panels, which are directly connected to the factory,” adding that the TES project is “fully in line with current regulations.”
A necessary contribution
Other experts see this as an interesting solution to meet the province’s electricity needs.
“As Hydro-Québec lacks the capacity to meet the demand for economic development projects, it is normal for entrepreneurs to find other solutions,” explains Gabriel Giguère, public policy analyst at the Montreal Economic Institute (IEDM).
“We must recognize that Hydro-Québec’s capacity is becoming an obstacle to our development and that independent power generation is becoming more and more necessary,” he adds.