A Project to Promote Renewable Energy North of the 49th Parallel
COURTESY TRANSLATION
Alma, October 22, 2025 – The Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean Regional Council for the Environment and Sustainable Development (CREDD), Environnement Côte-Nord, and the Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Technologies (Centre TERRE) at Cégep de Jonquière announce that they have secured nearly $300,000 in funding to carry out a major research, outreach, and training project to reduce the use of non-renewable energy on public land north of the 49th parallel.
Public land occupies a very important place in the Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean, North Shore, and Northern Quebec regions and includes tens of thousands of cottages with leases. Since most buildings are not connected to Hydro-Québec’s grid, generators (gasoline or diesel) and propane are often used to supply buildings with electricity and heating. In addition, the use of existing equipment, such as solar panels, is not optimal.
This project has two components, both of which aim to contribute to reducing the use of non-renewable energy sources:
1. Developing a portrait of the energy situation north of the 49th parallel
Using the online tool monchaletvert.com, the data collected will be used to flesh out the energy portrait of small installations north of the 49th parallel.
2. Information and outreach to users of public land north of the 49th parallel
2.1. Creation of a practical guide
In order to optimize daily consumption, a practical guide focused on the operation and maintenance of photovoltaic systems will be developed with the following objectives:
To provide a reminder of the different photovoltaic systems and their components;
To use a renewable energy system more efficiently in order to reduce generator use;
To maintain the photovoltaic system in order to extend its life (photovoltaic panel, battery, interconnection, etc.) and optimize its performance.
2.2 Training on renewable energy
Appropriate training will be provided in the various regions by June 2026. The theoretical component will be made available online, and a one-day in-person session will be scheduled in each of the three regions: Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean, Côte-Nord, and Nord-du-Québec.
2.3 Activities to disseminate results
The planned activities are:
A webinar for anyone who wants to use a simple method to size a new photovoltaic system based on the user’s daily consumption and period of operation.
Two webinars aimed at the general public and businesses interested in learning more about renewable energy and this project.
A conference on the results of this project, including the profiles created. The event will be finalized in the coming months and will be held in 2026.
Other activities may be added as opportunities arise.
This project would not have been possible without the financial support of the Société du Plan Nord through the Fonds d’initiatives nordiques, the Ministère de l’Économie, de l’Innovation et de l’Énergie (MEIE) through the – Research and Innovation Organization Support Program – Support for Research and Innovation Infrastructure Funding (PSO, Component 4), the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC), Cégep de Jonquière, MRC de Maria-Chapdelaine, MRC du Fjord-du-Saguenay, MRC de Manicouagan, MRC de Sept-Rivières, MRC de Caniapiscau, MRC de la Haute-Côte-Nord, and MRC du Golfe-du-St-Laurent.
Quotes:
I am proud of this project, which allows us to continue our efforts to reduce GHGs north of the 49th parallel and thus contribute to a smaller ecological footprint in this sensitive territory.
– Tommy Tremblay, Executive Director, CREDD Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean
The Centre TERRE at Cégep de Jonquière is proud to contribute to advancing knowledge acquisition and transfer in the field of renewable energy in isolated areas. This is a concrete example of how research can lead to solutions to real problems.
– Mr. Martin Bourbonnais, Head of the TERRE Center at Cégep de Jonquière
We are pleased to be participating in this project, as the North Shore region has many facilities on public land. I would like to thank all of our partners, especially the Société du Plan Nord for their financial support.
– Mr. Sébastien Caron, Executive Director of Environnement Côte-Nord
For more information:
Mr. Luc Chiasson
Director of Operations
CREDD Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean
luc.chiasson@creddsaglac.com
418-480-8765
Ms. Samuelle Durocher
Project Manager
Environnement Côte-Nord
sdurocher@crecn.org
418-962-6362, ext. 8410
Mr. Louis-Michel Tremblay
Director of Communications
Cégep de Jonquière
louis-micheltremblay@cegepjonquiere.ca
418-540-8556