Quebec Solar Tender Gets 60% More Bids Than Expected

Quebec's clean energy future is looking brighter than expected, with communities lining up to be part of the province's solar revolution.

Hydro-Quebec launched a solar tender last May, inviting proposals for projects up to 25 MW each. The utility hoped to fill 300 MW of capacity. Instead, they received 60 project bids totaling 481 MW, a 60% oversubscription that signals serious momentum for solar energy in the province.

The most encouraging part? Nearly 40% of these proposed projects include participation from local municipalities or Indigenous communities. These aren't just corporate ventures. They're community-led initiatives that will bring clean energy jobs and economic benefits directly to the regions building them.

The 60 projects span 14 different administrative regions across Quebec. Selected projects must connect to the grid by the end of 2029, with winners announced in early 2025 after a months-long evaluation process.

This tender represents just the opening move in Hydro-Quebec's ambitious clean energy plan. The utility aims to deploy 11 gigawatts of clean energy by 2035, including 3 gigawatts of solar power.

The Ripple Effect

Quebec isn't alone in this solar surge. Last week, Ontario approved 12 solar projects totaling 915 MW through its own procurement process. Nine of Canada's ten provinces are now hosting similar calls for solar projects.

The Canadian Renewable Energy Association predicts the country's solar capacity will nearly quadruple by the mid-2030s, jumping from 5.4 GW today to 21 GW. That growth will be driven largely by these utility-scale procurements happening across the country.

For communities that participate, the benefits extend beyond clean electricity. Solar projects create construction jobs, generate tax revenue, and give local residents a stake in their energy future. Indigenous communities especially stand to gain economic opportunities while advancing environmental stewardship.

When communities compete to power their own future with sunshine, everyone wins.