The green economy in action
Québec is positioning itself as a dynamic, essential, and innovative player in the green economy thanks to its many strategic industries. They play a pivotal role in global value chains, making a major contribution to the sustainable energy transition and helping to secure our economic partners’ supply chains.
The critical and strategic minerals sector
Québec’s subsoil abounds in 28 critical and strategic minerals (CSMs), including lithium, graphite, nickel, and rare earths. These elements play a central role in the development of green technologies, particularly in manufacturing batteries for electric vehicles and energy storage. High-purity iron and environmentally friendly green aluminum are also important when it comes to decarbonizing our economies.
“Québec hold an enviable position in the global value chain for critical and strategic minerals. These materials are vital, not only for building more environmentally friendly means of transportation, but also for ensuring Québec’s energy independence. We have moved from an oil-based economy to one based on mineral resources,” noted Jean-François Béland, Investissement Québec’s vice-president of strategic industries.
The green steel industry
Québec, an acknowledged green steel champion, has some of the world’s richest and purest iron deposits, particularly in the Labrador Trough region. These deposits are characterized by iron contents that often exceed 60 per cent, significantly higher than the world average, and make it possible to cut CO2 emissions by 50 to 85 per cent compared to traditional steel.
The industry also uses advanced and innovative extraction and processing methods.
“Steel production traditionally requires a lot of energy, which is often generated from fossil sources. In Québec, hydropower—and in the near future, green hydrogen—allow us to make steel with a much smaller carbon footprint,” Béland stated.
This industry also includes green aluminum. One of the most remarkable features of the aluminum produced in Québec is its small environmental footprint compared to that of other regions, due mostly to the use of hydropower. Using clean energy makes Québec aluminum greener than aluminum produced with more polluting energies such as coal or natural gas.
“Québec’s green steel and green aluminum sectors boast several world leaders, including Arcelor Mittal, Quebec Iron Ore, Rio Tinto Alcan, Alcoa, and Aluminerie Alouette,” said Béland. “These companies are constantly innovating to fine-tune their production processes in order to cut costs, minimize their environmental impact and develop new alloys with improved properties.”
The green energy sector
Québec’s energy industry isn’t all about hydropower: it’s also hard at work developing other renewable energies like wind power, with calls for tenders issued to add thousands of MW of power by 2029. These initiatives are part of a global drive to meet the increasing demand for electricity and promote a sustainable economy.
And while solar energy accounts for only a modest share of the current energy mix, its role is certain to increase in the years ahead on the strength of Québec’s considerable solar potential.
The battery industry
“The battery industry is booming thanks to a series of strategic initiatives and significant investments. Several plants are under construction, notably in Bécancour, which has become the battery industry’s epicentre,” noted Beland. “People from all over the world are taking an interest in its development.”
The industry’s appeal is further strengthened by Québec’s abundant natural resources and ability to produce clean energy, giving it a competitive edge not only in attracting investment but also in serving the North American electric vehicle market.
In conclusion, backed by its advances in green technologies and ongoing commitment to an economy fuelled by clean resources, Québec is ideally positioned to play a key role in the global energy transition.
