The Îles de la Madeleine are supplied with electricity by a thermal power plant that runs on fuel oil. As there are no rivers and therefore no water flow large enough to build a dam, it is impossible to use hydraulic energy to produce electricity. We therefore have 6 diesel engines to produce electricity. Obviously, Hydro Quebec wants to reduce its dependence on thermal power plants in order to promote the use of greener energies and reduce its greenhouse gas emissions.
Hydro-Quebec wants to transition its supply to mainly renewable sources by 2027. To learn more about the evolution of the project to connect the Îles de la Madeleine to the electrical transmission network, click here.
In Les Îles, we also have a wind farm since 2020 consisting of two wind turbines of 4 MW each. This will reduce our fuel oil consumption at the power plant by about 13%, which is equivalent to a reduction of about 17,000 tons of CO2. The park is located on the Dune-du-Nord site, between Pointe-aux-Loups and Grosse-Île. One wind turbine has the capacity to supply approximately 500 homes with electricity.
For the moment, this energy is excellent when combined with another reliable source of energy, such as a thermal power plant.
An educational information and observation area is accessible near the operation site, off Route 199 at Dune-du-Nord. For more information, please visit the Dune-du-Nord website (French only).
