The long-awaited list of 11 companies whose projects were selected to obtain a connection with a power of 5 megawatts (MW) and more was finally revealed on June 6.
The North Shore gets a good share of the pie, having only obtained one project during the first unveiling at the end of 2023.
In total, five companies are granted megawatts to carry out their development (see the table below).
Company | Location | Sector of activity |
Aluminerie Alouette | Sept-Îles | Aluminium |
ArcelorMittal | Port-Cartier | Mines and metals |
Hy2gen | Baie-Comeau | Green chemistry |
Minerai de fer Québec | Fermont | Mines and metals |
Shango Canada | Port-Cartier | Mines and metals |
Source : Gouvernement of Québec
“In the coming weeks, Hydro‑Québec will communicate with representatives of the selected projects in order to agree on the precise parameters and conditions of connection to the network,” mentions Quebec in a press release.
The selection of projects was carried out according to the analysis criteria of the Ministry of the Economy, Innovation and Energy, which include the technical connection capacities and the impacts on the Quebec electricity network, the impact on the economy and regional development, the environmental and social impact as well as consistency with government orientations.
“The projects selected here, on the North Shore, were chosen according to rigorous selection criteria and demonstrate, once again, the exceptional contribution of our region to Quebec’s GDP. […] The entire north-coastal entrepreneurial ecosystem will be able to grow thanks to these initiatives,” says the minister responsible for the North Shore, Kateri Champagne Jourdain, who announced the selected companies with her fellow MP. by René-Lévesque, Yves Montigny.
Note that the six other companies whose projects were selected are located in Thurso, Rouyn-Noranda, Shawinigan, Bécancour and Sorel.
Other projects identified as promising for the energy transition and economic development of Quebec could be added to this list, which totals more than 14,800 MW, depending on connection possibilities, we mention in the press release.