Hydroelectricity: a major source of renewable energy in North America
Hydroelectricity, which harnesses the power of flowing water, is a major source of renewable energy in North America. Canada is the second-largest producer of hydroelectricity in the world. In the U.S., hydroelectric power accounts for 18% of the renewable energy mix. In addition to producing a renewable form of energy, hydroelectric plants stimulate the economy by creating jobs and providing a reliable, locally generated supply of electricity. Hydroelectric companies in North America are therefore playing a front-line role in the transition toward a law-carbon economy.
Benefits of Hydropower
Two Types of Hydropower Plants
Learn more about
our hydroelectric power plants
For more information about our facilities in operation
Our approach to hydroelectric power
01.
Focus on run-of-river hydropower
Most of our hydroelectric plants are run-of-river, which minimizes any impacts on the natural flow of water.
02.
Produced close to point of use
- A locally consumable energy that can supply isolated sites in rural areas
- A generator of local jobs to build and operate hydroelectric plants
- No transportation over long distances, which helps limit energy losses
03.
Teamwork with our communities
In Canada, we work closely with Indigenous communities. In some cases, we collaborate directly with them to develop high-potential projects. Our hydroelectric generating facility in Yellow Falls, Ontario, is a joint undertaking with the Taykwa Tagamou Nation and Mattagami First Nation.
04.
Respect for our waterways
In addition to embracing a community-first approach to all of the projects we develop, we recognize the vital role the rivers play. In Quebec, most of the electricity supply is generated by water. Our hydroelectric power plants are operated with the utmost respect for this most precious of natural resources.
Rimouski
One action to accelerate the growth of the salmon population
In Rimouski, Quebec, we committed 25 years ago to covering the cost associated with the upstream migration of Atlantic salmon to areas above the dam to increase their spawning area. To help accelerate the growth of the salmon population, we located a site and provided the equipment and resources needed to produce 100,000 smolts (young salmon) per year for 10 years.
- Before this, about 200 salmon made the annual upstream migration. By 2021, this had grown to 800 salmon per year, when other Quebec rivers were seeing declines in their salmon populations.
- The Rimouski hydroelectric power plant is also one of only a handful of facilities designed to preserve the eel population upstream of the dam by preventing eels from entering the turbines during downstream migration.
