Hydro-Quebec receives 60 solar energy project ideas in response to request for proposals

Hydro-Quebec has received 60 solar energy project ideas in response to its request for proposals. (LA PRESSE CANADIENNE/Christinne Muschi)

Hydro-Quebec has received 60 solar energy project ideas in response to its request for proposals.

The government-owned public utility company will now have to make its selections, as the proposals exceed the 300-megawatt (MW) cap previously set.

Hydro-Quebec launched its call for bids on May 6, 2025.

The 60 submissions total 481 MW and are spread across 14 administrative regions in Quebec.

According to regulations, the proposed projects must have an installed capacity of no more than 25 MW and be able to connect to the distribution grid by 2029.

The bids are set to be evaluated over the coming months, with results announced during the first quarter of 2027.

Hydro-Quebec says it will base its selection primarily on the competitiveness of the proposals.

Projects must also maximize economic benefits, avoid agricultural areas and ensure responsible sourcing of equipment.

The Crown corporation notes that 40 per cent of the proposed projects involve the participation of a local or Indigenous community.

Hydro-Quebec has set a goal of developing 3,000 MW of solar energy by 2035.

These projects comprise one part of that strategy, with the other being the installation of solar panels on the roofs of homes and businesses.

A 3,000 MW output would meet the energy needs of a city of approximately 300,000 residents — roughly the population of Gatineau.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published in French on April 15, 2026.