Clean energy at a discounted rate now available to more greenhouse growers

MONTREAL, Dec. 1, 2020 /CNW Telbec/ - The Régie de l'énergie has approved a new rate option for Québec greenhouse growers.

Last July, Hydro-Québec submitted an application regarding this new option to the Régie in order to extend the terms and conditions of its Additional Electricity Option to a greater number of growers and to make it available for a new type of energy use. More specifically, the enhanced option will allow all greenhouse growers with a power demand of at least 50 kilowatts (kW) to benefit from a discounted rate of 5.59¢ per kilowatthour (kWh) for photosynthetic lighting as well as space heating to raise crops.

Here are the highlights of the enhanced rate option, available immediately:

• The power demand threshold has been lowered from 300 kW to 50 kW.
• Electricity consumption for space heating to raise crops now qualifies in addition to that used for photosynthetic lighting.
• Contracts at large-power Rate LG (for uses other than industrial activities) are now also eligible.

"This new rate option is a major step towards Québec's food self-sufficiency," stated Éric Filion, President of Hydro-Québec Distribution et Services partagés. "The public health crisis we've been grappling with for the past several months has highlighted the importance of being able to rely on a locally-sourced food supply, produced using our own clean energy."

Currently, annual electricity sales related to greenhouse production total about 250 gigawatthours (GWh). Hydro-Québec estimates that, with the new rate option, they could increase by some 450 GWh over the next 10 years.

The new option will also have a significant impact on the environment, since it will help avoid 48,000 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions by 2030, which is equivalent to taking 14,000 vehicles off the road in Québec. It therefore ties in perfectly with the 2030 Plan for a Green Economy (2030 PGE) recently launched by the Québec government.

SOURCE Hydro-Québec