July 22, 2021 – Hydro-Quebec reports that, for the first time in its history, solar power is supplying the company’s grid.

The utility recently inaugurated two solar generating stations: Gabrielle-Bodis, located in La Prairie; and Robert-A.-Boyd, located in Varennes.

The stations have a combined installed capacity of 9.5 MW and will be able to generate close to 16 GWh of solar power annually.

“I am very proud that the generating station in La Prairie pays tribute to Gabrielle Bodis,” said Sophie Brochu, president & CEO. “She was the very first woman to earn an engineering degree from Polytechnique Montreal, and she worked for Hydro-Quebec for over 35 years. It is also the first Hydro-Quebec facility named after a woman.”

The generating station in Varennes, Brochu noted, is named after a former president and CEO of Hydro-Quebec, Robert A. Boyd who, among other things, “contributed to the creation of Hydro-Quebec’s research institute, which is also the site of the generating station that bears his name.”

Hydro-Quebec says these facilities will help the utility determine whether solar power “is a good fit for our generating fleet, our transmission grid and the Quebec climate”.

Additional information

Gabrielle-Bodis is constructed on the site of the old La Citiere thermal generating station in La Prairie.

• Area: 150,000 m²
• Installed capacity: 8 MW
• Number of solar panels: 26,000 (over 4200 manufactured in Quebec)
• Annual output: 13 GWh

Robert-A.-Boyd is constructed on the site of Hydro-Quebec’s research institute in Varennes.

• Area: 56,000 m²
• Installed capacity: 1.5 MW
• Number of solar panels: 4600
• Annual output: 2.6 GWh