Hydro-Quebec seals new PPA on C$30bn drive to triple wind capacity on system by 2035
Canadian utility giant's 30-year deal with Pattern Energy-led JV is part of ambitious plan to add 8GW of capacity this decade and 2GW in subsequent five years
Commercial terms were not made public. Broughton, scheduled to come fully online in 2029, will be located 40 miles (64 km) from the provincial capital Quebec City.
“With 11 facilities and counting, Pattern is leading Canada's renewable energy industry, building new ties with our Indigenous partners and supporting local communities,” said CEO Hunter Armistead. The developer operates 1.98GW of wind capacity in Canada.
Hydro Quebec, owned by the province, last November issued an Action Plan that calls for up to C$185bn investment through 2035 to add clean generating capacity and bolster system reliability.
It forecasts that electricity demand in the province forecast will double by then, while the planned expansion will reduce greenhouse gas emissions and lessen dependence on hydro. Abnormally low rainfall and snow melt in parts of Quebec have forced hydro dams to reduce electricity output for local use and available for export to the US.
The plan’s wind component calls for the utility to integrate more than 8GW of capacity into the grid by 2030 and 2GW more by 2035. There are now about 4GW of wind on its system, although no projects came online in Quebec last year.
In January, Hydro-Quebec awarded 1.55GW of wind capacity including Pattern’s bid for Broughton. The other seven projects will be developed by Boralex, Innergex, Invenergy, and Kruger Energy.
EDF Renewables is also developing three Quebec projects totaling 570MW, and Boralex and partner Innu Nation expect to have their 200MW Apuiat facility in commercial operation this year.
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