Hydro-Québec’s Sustainability Report 2018: Québec electricity, 99.8% clean, is a key advantage for a low-carbon future

Hydro-Québec is proud to present its most recent Sustainability Report, which describes the utility’s performance with respect to its main environmental, social, economic and governance issues. The electricity delivered to our customers comes from 99.8% clean and renewable sources and thus contributes to the decarbonization of Québec’s economy.

Québec long ago opted for hydroelectricity, clean, renewable energy with known, well-controlled environmental impacts. Today, Hydro-Québec is actively engaged in the energy transition and in the fight against climate change in North America.

“Our sustainability vision goes well beyond the environment. We endeavor to see that stakeholders participate in our decisions. We are also determined to contribute to the province’s economic vitality,” said Éric Martel, President and Chief Executive Officer of Hydro-Québec. “By developing hydraulic resources, we contribute to collective wealth and the emergence of a low-carbon economy.”

Some 2018 highlights

• Announcement of a project to connect the Îles-de-la-Madeleine to the main grid by underwater cable, slated for 2025. This link will reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 130,000 tonnes a year, a 94% reduction for this site. We have also begun partially or completely converting other off-grid systems to renewable energy sources.
• Net electricity exports reached 36.1 TWh and helped avoid 7.9 million tonnes of GHG emissions, the equivalent to taking about 2 million vehicles off the road for a year.
• Funding of $3.3 million was allocated to 22 initiatives under the Integrated Enhancement Program. It has granted $130 million toward 1,294 initiatives since its inception in 1985. This voluntary program, which helps us forge links with the communities that host our transmission lines and substations, was revamped in 2018.
• In 2018, 91% of goods and services were procured from Québec-based companies, for a total of $2.6 billion. Hydro-Québec’s operations support thousands of jobs and account for about 4% of Québec’s GDP.

To learn more about our main sustainability challenges as well as our achievements in the various regions of Québec, read our Sustainability Report 2018 or visit our new Sustainable Development website.