Frequently asked questions

The Projet Mauricie aims to build and commission a large-scale electrolyzer in Shawinigan. The green hydrogen produced there will supply the Quebec market exclusively, in particular sectors that are hard to electrify, such as heavy transport and heavy industry.

The project promoter is TES Canada, a renewable energy producer with headquarters in Montreal. It is owned by Canadian investors and Tree Energy Solutions.

Tree Energy Solutions is a green hydrogen producer offering zero-emission alternatives primarily to the transport, industry and energy sectors.

Its head office is in Brussels, Belgium.

According to the socio-economic study undertaken by Malette LLP, the Projet Mauricie will generate $5.6 billion in economic spinoffs, 3,750 direct and indirect jobs during construction and 585 permanent direct and indirect jobs during operation. What's more, 70% of the spending will go to Quebec businesses, which will supply the labour, materials and tools to build the project, creating a multiplier effect in our economy.

An annual sum of around $12 million is also earmarked for stakeholders hosting wind turbines on their territory, such as property owners, neighbours and municipalities. This sum will be indexed and does not include the benefits of the solar farm and hydrogen production facilities.

Finally, the green hydrogen produced by the Projet Mauricie will be used exclusively in Quebec. It will therefore play a complementary role in the electrification of industrial processes and the transport sector (particularly for heavy and long-distance transport) and will increase the competitiveness of Quebec businesses.

We are working with various stakeholders in Shawinigan and the Mauricie region to define the parameters of the project. Our experts are active throughout the region as they finalize environmental studies and prepare documentation for the Bureau d'audiences publiques sur l'environnement (BAPE).

At this stage, we can confirm that the current project will include the following elements:

• The plant will be built in Shawinigan, in the Saint-Georges-de-Champlain sector.
• The solar farm will also be located in the Shawinigan and Grandes-Piles area.
• The wind turbines will be installed close to the plant in the RCMs Mékinac and des Chenaux.

New maps of wind turbine siting areas are also available, showing the number of potential turbines per municipality and the distances between turbines and homes.

Discover the wind turbine siting maps

Right from the start of the project, our teams went out to meet the local population to present the details of the project, its benefits for Quebec and its impact on the fight against climate change.

Public information sessions were held in November 2023 to allow the general public to find out more, ask questions and express their views on the project. This approach also enabled the teams to involve the various stakeholders and adjust the project to make it easier to implement. Channels were also set up with municipal players to take account of local issues and ensure that the project was developed in a way that respected the realities of local communities.

However, a project of this scale takes time to develop. We have every intention of continuing to develop it in collaboration with elected representatives and the public, with a view to promoting constructive dialogue and improvements. Our experts are actively working throughout the region to carry out environmental studies and prepare documentation for the Bureau d'audiences publiques sur l'environnement (BAPE).

can find out more on the "Working with communities" page.

According to the socio-economic study undertaken by Malette LLP, the Projet Mauricie will generate $5.6 billion in economic spinoffs, 3,750 direct and indirect jobs during construction and 585 permanent direct and indirect jobs during operation. What's more, 70% of the spending will go to Quebec businesses, which will supply the labour, materials and tools to build the project, creating a multiplier effect in our economy.

An annual sum of around $11 million is also earmarked for stakeholders hosting wind turbines on their territory, divided into the following three categories:

• Landowners who agree to receive a wind turbine on their land will receive more than $27,000 per turbine, per year, for at least 20 years (based on wind turbines with a capacity of 6 MW).
• Residents living near the wind turbines will share one third of the planned compensation, i.e. almost $80 million over 20 years.
• With a capacity of 800 MW planned for the wind farm, the final third of the planned compensation, also totalling $80 million over 20 years, will be handed over to the municipalities.

All these amounts will be indexed over the next few years and do not include the benefits of the solar farm and hydrogen production facilities.

Our team is actively working with landowners and environmental experts to identify locations for the project's infrastructure that will minimize the impact on farming activities. It's important to remember that only those landowners who wish to have wind turbines on their land will do so, and that they will be able to benefit from long-term income to complement their farming activities.

At present, it's estimated that the wind farm will occupy a total of 70 hectares (0.5 hectares per turbine) of agricultural land. At the end of the project's lifetime, the wind turbines will be dismantled and the land will be restored to agricultural use. In total, almost 70% of the project's wind turbines will be built outside cultivated areas, and over 83% of the wind turbines are located outside high-potential cultivated farmland.

Finally, the Commission de la protection du territoire agricole du Québec (CPTAQ) will also have to approve the location of each of the wind turbines.

The project will take approximately three (3) years to complete, from 2027 to 2029, and will mainly use existing road infrastructure.

The project area is well served by an autoroute and the rail network. A significant increase in traffic volume is therefore not expected.

We do not anticipate a significant increase in traffic volume during the construction period. However, traffic mitigation measures will be put in place, should they prove necessary, so as not to adversely affect local traffic.

According to the socio-economic study undertaken by Malette LLP, the Projet Mauricie will generate $5.6 billion in economic spinoffs, create 3,750 direct and indirect jobs during construction and 585 permanent direct and indirect jobs during operation. Landowners and residents living close to the project will also benefit from nearly $240 million in compensation over at least 20 years.

The Projet Mauricie will therefore generate demand among local businesses and help boost the economy of the Mauricie region as a whole.

Tourism in the region is not expected to be affected by the project. The region will benefit from this innovative project, which will contribute to the fight against climate change in Quebec by producing renewable energy, and from the dynamism created by the investments linked to the project.

In planning this project, we have made sure we minimize the project's impact on Hydro-Québec's existing grid. The Projet Mauricie will therefore use most of the electricity generated near its facilities (self-generation), in addition to participating in Hydro-Québec's peak management programs. In project facility design, the energy efficiency of buildings will also be a priority.

This model will enable us to return a significant quantity of electricity to Hydro-Québec at times when demand from the public is very high.

The project will develop most of the renewable energy (self-generation) needed for its Shawinigan plant. More specifically, the project will involve the development and commissioning of a wind farm with a capacity of around 800 MW (around 125 wind turbines) and a solar photovoltaic power plant with a capacity of around 200 MW.

We are working with the various stakeholders in Shawinigan and the Mauricie region to define the parameters of the project. Our experts are active throughout the region as they finalize environmental studies and prepare documentation for the Bureau d'audiences publiques sur l'environnement (BAPE).

At this stage, we can confirm that the current project will include the following elements:

• The plant will be built in Shawinigan, in the Saint-Georges-de-Champlain sector.
• The solar farm will also be located in the Shawinigan and Grandes-Piles area.
• The wind turbines will be installed close to the plant in the RCMs of des Chenaux and Mékinac.

New maps of potential wind turbine siting areas are also available, showing the number of potential turbines per municipality and the distances between turbines and homes.

Discover the wind turbine siting maps

Although Quebec has historically done little to develop solar energy, this source of energy will inevitably have to contribute to achieving Quebec's decarbonization objectives. Photovoltaic solar panels are becoming increasingly efficient, and our sunshine levels rival those of countries like Germany and Australia, which are very active in this field. Solar energy production also peaks in summer, at a time that is slightly less favourable for wind power production. Solar energy is therefore an excellent complement to wind power. The use of these two energy sources has therefore been favoured for the Projet Mauricie's self-generation.

Once the project starts operating, it will generate GHG reductions of up to 800,000 tonnes per year. That's nearly 1% of the GHG emissions for the whole of Quebec, and the equivalent of the emissions from nearly 245,000 gas-powered cars a year.

The project will be developed, built and operated using industry best practice to respect the development environment and environmental regulations, working with environmental experts and specialists to ensure minimal impact on local flora and fauna.

The project plans to produce up to 70,000 tonnes of hydrogen annually, requiring 70 cubic metres of water per hour. For reference, the Saint-Maurice River has an average flow rate of 2,600,000 cubic metres per hour. In the electrolysis process, water is separated into hydrogen (H₂) and oxygen (O₂). The hydrogen is then used as a fuel, reacting with the oxygen in the air, releasing large quantities of energy and forming water again. Water thus returns to its original state.

GHG emissions linked to the plant and the electrolysis process will be negligible.

While there will be minimal GHG emissions during the construction period, these will be more than offset by the project's positive impact on decarbonizing Quebec. For each year of operation, the hydrogen produced by the Projet Mauricie will enable Quebec to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by up to 800,000 tonnes of CO₂ equivalent.

The industrial risks for the Projet Mauricie are low. Despite this, environmental safety will be a priority, and all facilities will be built and operated in compliance with the highest standards.

We also intend to comply with all the best practices for obtaining environmental authorizations from the governments of Quebec and Canada, in particular through the Bureau d'audiences publiques en environnement (BAPE) process.

We will comply with the legal requirements set by Transport Canada, in particular with regard to the needs of air transport. We will apply the minimum amount of lighting required by Transport Canada for the safe transport of aircraft. We are also analyzing other mitigation measures.

Several studies have been carried out on the subject, concluding that there is no measurable impact.

For more information, click here.

The project plans to locate the wind turbines in such a way as to minimize their impact on the environment, in agreement with the landowners concerned. The project will also be subject to a rigorous analysis by the BAPE and the CPTAQ.

Hydrogen (H) is a very light gas with the chemical formula H₂. It is odourless, colourless, non-toxic and non-corrosive. What's more, its use generates only water vapour and emits no CO₂, sulphur oxide or fine particles. Hydrogen can be consumed as a fuel, releasing three times more energy than so-called traditional fuels for the same mass.

The hydrogen produced will be used exclusively in Quebec. It will play a complementary role in the electrification of industrial processes and the transport sector (particularly for heavy and long-distance transport).

Hydrogen is mainly found in chemical compounds that are bonded to other atoms. Green hydrogen is made using a water electrolysis process: hydrogen (H₂) and oxygen (O₂) atoms are separated using electricity.

Hydrogen is considered green when the electricity used comes from 100% renewable sources (hydroelectricity, wind or solar power), as is the case for our project in the Mauricie region. The production of green hydrogen differs from other processes in that it does lead directly to any greenhouse gas emissions.

Hydrogen has been used for decades in many industrial applications. Hydrogen is very light, unlike other substances such as petrol or methane. As a result, in the event of leaks or accidental releases, it rises rapidly and is dispersed in the atmosphere.

As with all fuels, strict safety standards are in place to minimize the risks associated with the production and use of hydrogen. These standards, which have been applied for decades to ensure public safety, govern the use of hydrogen in industrial processes as well as for energy purposes.

Identifying the locations of wind turbines is a major, time-consuming task.

Our teams first analyzed the region's wind potential. We then ensured that we complied with existing municipal regulations and obtained the agreement of the owners of each of the sites on which the Projet Mauricie's energy infrastructure will be built.

Since the unveiling of the green hydrogen project in November 2023, our teams have also been meeting with residents to inform them and, above all, to improve the project with their help. As a result of these initiatives, we have been able to:

• Reduce the number of wind turbines to around 120;
• Keep wind turbines away from homes and urban areas;
• Reduce the impact on the land by prioritizing locations with low agricultural value. Nearly 70% of the wind turbines would be located outside cultivated areas, and in total over 83% of the wind turbines are located outside high-potential cultivated farmland.

New maps of potential wind turbine siting areas are now available, showing the number of potential turbines per municipality and the minimum and average distances between turbines and homes.

View detailed maps

The final model of wind turbine for the Projet Mauricie has not yet been decided.

However, we estimate the height of the towers to be around 120 metres above the ground, and the blades to be around 80 metres long.

Although it isn't possible to use Hydro-Québec's existing transmission network, we are working with the public utility to use existing rights of way as much as possible. The project also involves burying the lines to limit the impact on the area. More specifically, the approach involves grouping several wind turbines together (for example, from 5 to 7) via an underground collector network. All the land receiving these lines will be financially compensated and, as with the wind turbines, compensation agreements will be signed with the landowners who agree to host this underground network.

Several studies, including a Canadian study undertaken at the University of Guelph, have concluded that the presence of wind turbines generally has no impact on property values.

On the contrary, the presence of wind turbines makes it possible to diversify sources of income, particularly for agricultural producers, who can thus increase the yield from their land. The municipalities affected by the project, as well as the landowners who host and live near the wind turbines, will also be compensated.

For more information, the sources are available by hyperlink below.

Sources :

• The Chief Scientist of Quebec -- 4 myths about wind turbines
• Sustainable development of wind energy - General municipal property assessment considerations regarding the siting of wind turbines (in french only)
• University of Guelph - Wind Turbines and Property Values in Ontario: Public Perception and Empirical Evidence

We have put in place a fair compensation structure estimated at around $12 million a year. This sum will be indexed over the next few years and does not include the benefits of the solar farm and hydrogen production facilities.

More specifically, this payment will be divided equally, i.e. $4500/MW to the landowner hosting a wind turbine, $4500/MW to the host municipality and $4500/MW split between residents in the surrounding neighbourhood.

Neighbours will share a collective payment of $4,500 per MW. This collective payment for the entire project area will be divided equally among all residents living near the turbines. To establish the number of residents living near each wind turbine, we will base ourselves on the following protocol:

• Identify the roads within a 1 km radius of each wind turbine;
• Define the point(s) between the road and the 1 km radius;
• From this point onwards, we will include all residents living 500 m upwind and downwind in the collective payment.

Here is an image of the payment protocol mentioned above.

The government decree authorizing development of the wind farm will contain a clause covering decommissioning. The costs of decommissioning will be borne entirely by the developer, and satisfactory evidence of how decommissioning will be financed must be provided before construction can begin.

Find out more (in French only)

At the end of its life, each wind turbine will be dismantled and the land restored to agricultural use. We are committed to levelling the base of the turbines by 2 metres on cultivated land and 1.6 metres on uncultivated land. Soil decompaction and the addition of fertilizer may be required as part of the restoration program.

The Chief Scientist of Quebec is clear: there is nothing in the scientific literature to suggest a link between the presence of wind turbines and health impacts. The Chief Scientist relies in particular on studies by Health Canada, the Institut national de santé publique du Québec and France's Académie nationale de médecine.

The use of wind turbines to generate renewable electricity is widespread throughout the world. Well-defined siting standards ensure that this equipment is safe.

Some people suggest that turbines produce harmful electromagnetic waves, but this is not true. In fact, wind turbines generally produce fewer electromagnetic waves than the electronic equipment in a "typical" home. As far as noise is concerned, wind turbines produce a sound volume equivalent to that of a fridge at a distance of 500 metres, which decreases as the distance increases.

The Chief Scientist of Quebec -- 4 myths about wind turbines (in French only)

Several life cycle studies have been carried out on the carbon footprint of wind turbines. Typically, these show that over a 1- to 2-year period, the wind turbine produces more energy than it consumes.

Greenpeace -- What is the environmental impact of wind turbines? (in French only)

The Chief Scientist of Quebec -- 4 myths about wind turbines (in French only)

It is planned that the Projet Mauricie will have an initial duration of 20 years. However, this period may be extended.

The most recent models of wind turbine lifespan typically range from 25 to 35 years.

Greenpeace confirms that the construction of wind turbines requires very few rare minerals. What's more, 90 % of the materials used to make wind turbines (steel, concrete, aluminum) can be recycled.

Find out more

Shading occurs when the sun is low and shines through the moving blades of a wind turbine. Because of cloud cover, this phenomenon generally only occurs for a few hours per year.

Mitigation measures, such as temporarily shutting down the turbine, can be taken to avoid any impact on nearby residents. An analysis of the shading of each wind turbine will be carried out as part of the environmental assessment and will be submitted to the Ministère de l'Environnement, de la Lutte contre les changements climatiques, de la Faune et des Parcs (MELCCFP) for review.

As Greenpeace points out, wind turbines generally have little impact on birdlife. However, all potential effects on flora and fauna will be assessed and documented in the environmental impact study. In Quebec, it is forbidden to install wind turbines within migration corridors and sensitive bird breeding areas. Developers must also identify appropriate mitigation measures in the impact study when potential impacts are identified.

Several studies, including those undertaken by the Society of Canadian Ornithologists and Birds Canada, have been carried out to assess the impact of wind farms on bird populations.

For more information, click here.

The project will have no impact on the water table. For each site, a siting and hydrology study will be carried out before hearings at the Bureau d'audiences publiques sur l'environnement (BAPE). The wind turbines will not be installed where there is a risk to the water table.

The location of the development zone for the solar farm is still being identified, but does not include any agricultural land. The solar farm is expected to be built on industrial land or land zoned "white" in the municipalities of Shawinigan and Grandes-Piles.

Solar farms use photovoltaic panels to convert sunlight into electricity. The panels are installed on metal structures fixed to the ground and grouped together in large installations called solar farms or power plants. The electricity produced is then collected, transformed and distributed to the electricity grid.

No. Most of the sites are zoned "white" or industrial. Some sites are located on contaminated sites that obviously cannot be used for agricultural production.

Solar energy is a clean, renewable source of energy that can help reduce our dependence on fossil fuels. Installing solar panels also creates jobs and boosts the local economy. Municipalities will receive payments in lieu of taxes.

The main challenge lies in the fact that solar energy production varies according to the time of day, weather conditions and the season. However, advances in technology mean that energy production is fairly easy to predict.

No, there is no need to decontaminate the site beneath the solar farm. The quality of the soil has no impact on the health of the workers who will be mobilized during the installation of the solar farm or on the employees who will carry out maintenance.

The main impacts of solar power generation on wildlife are the loss of habitat and changes to the landscape that may result from the construction of the solar farm and the fencing that would delimit the farm. Several mitigation measures are available:

• Sites that are far from migration corridors and are poorer in terms of biodiversity, such as contaminated sites, can be prioritized;
• The construction of corridors to facilitate the passage of animals can mitigate the impact of solar farms on the modification of wildlife habitats;
• Preserving the natural vegetation beneath the solar panels also helps to maintain a habitat for wildlife and insects;
• The design of less reflective solar panels can minimize the impact on birds.

Yes, solar panels can cause a heat island effect, but this effect dissipates over less than 30 metres. What's more, there is no increase in temperature if vegetation is growing underneath the panels.

Yes, for security reasons.

Solar panels generally have a lifespan ranging from 20 to 30 years. However, their performance may diminish slightly over time. Solar farms are designed to operate efficiently for several decades with proper maintenance. Photovoltaic panels are almost 95% recyclable.

No, it takes an average of one to five years, depending on the level of sunlight, for a photovoltaic system to produce as much energy as it took to manufacture it. The production of electricity when solar energy is transformed into electrical energy does not emit greenhouse gases. However, the production, transport, installation and maintenance of the solar array, as well as the recycling of the panels, do have an energy cost.

Snow covering a solar panel can block light and thus hinder solar energy production. However, snow tends to melt quickly and the angle at which the solar panel is installed can cause the snow to slide off. It should be noted that some solar panels perform particularly well in cold, light conditions, as is the case in Quebec winters.

In addition, new models of solar panels can also capture the sun's reflection on the snow underneath the panels to produce more electricity.

The electricity generated by the solar farms will be routed to the plant's electrical substation to raise the voltage to power the electrolyzer via a 34 kV underground collector network.

The electricity generated by the wind turbines will be sent to the plant via a network of 69 kV underground lines. The voltage is higher than that of the collector network of the solar power plants, so that electrical losses due to the distance covered are reduced.

When it comes to electricity, we must be vigilant at all times! That said, every day we pass near many power lines in complete safety. TES's power lines will be designed to be safe at all times.

In order to minimize the impact of the project, we have decided to bury all the power lines of the Projet Mauricie. The solar power plants and wind turbines will then all be connected to each other and to the plant in Shawinigan via underground power lines.

Our aim is to reach agreements with all property owners affected by our facilities. No expropriation will take place.