2009 Scenario Reliability Assessment - NERC

Scenario Reliability Self-AssessmentsQuébecExecutive SummaryFor Québec Area, NERC 2009 Long-Term Reliability Assessment Reference Case is identical tothe Scenario Case with renewable resources integration. This is because all future resources tobe placed in service are renewable (Hydro, Wind and Biomass Power).IntroductionHydro-Québec is the main generator, transmission provider and load-serving entity in Québec.Its only shareholder is the Québec government. It mostly uses renewable generating options ─particularly hydropower ─ and supports wind energy development as a logical complement tohydro power through purchases from independent power producers in Québec. Hydro-Québechas an interest in other renewable sources such as biomass, geothermal and solar energy. HQalso contributes to research on new generating options such as hydrokinetic power, salinitygradient power and deep geothermal energy. It also conducts research in energy-related fieldssuch as Energy Efficiency.Hydro-Québec is one of the largest power producers in North America. Close to 94 percent ofthe generation capacity is hydroelectric. Generally, hydroelectric projects must meet threecriteria before they can proceed: they must be profitable, environmentally acceptable andfavourably received by host communities.All electricity generation methods have environmental impacts. One way to limit these impactsis to control demand. HQ works closely with the “Agence de l’efficacité énergétique” (EnergyEfficiency Agency) to encourage customers to use energy more wisely, as part of our EnergyEfficiency Plan. 77Hydro-Québec reiterates its commitment to sustainable development by focusing on renewableenergy. New resources to be put on line would be renewable resources (wind, biomass andhydropower). Therefore, the Scenario Case (Renewable resources integration scenario) isidentical to the NERC Long-Term Reliability Assessment 2009 Reference Case.Compared to the NERC Long-Term Reliability Assessment 2008 Reference Case there are 5 newitems in this assessment:• Call for tenders A/O 2009-02 for two blocks of 250 MW of wind-generated capacity, oneresulting from First nations projects and one resulting from community projects. 78• Call for tenders A/O 2009-01 for 125 MW of biomass cogeneration. 7977 With a focus on sustainable development, the Agence de l’efficacité énergétique’s mission is to promote EnergyEfficiency and the development of new technologies for all forms of energy in every sector of activity. Its Englishweb site address is: http://www.aee.gouv.qc.ca/en/home/.78 An English description of this call for tenders can be found at this web address:http://www.hydroquebec.com/distribution/en/marchequebecois/ao-200902/index.html79 An English description of the call for tenders can be found at this web address:http://www.hydroquebec.com/distribution/en/marchequebecois/ao-200901/index.html;Page 1062009 Scenario Reliability Assessment