- Climate change is decreasing hydropower production in Canada due to prolonged droughts and sudden floods, affecting both domestic supply and U.S. exports.
- Ageing infrastructure, with many dams over 50 years old, is not equipped to withstand extreme weather events, prompting calls for updated design and management standards.
- Hydro-Québec is adapting its reservoir management, but experts warn these efforts may not be enough to cope with the accelerating impacts of climate change on hydropower.
Climate change increasingly jeopardises Canada’s hydropower industry, which supplies over 60% of the nation’s energy. Prolonged droughts and sudden floods undermine energy production and infrastructure, threatening Canada’s domestic supply and energy exports to the United States.
Diminished rainfall sharply declines reservoir levels in key hydropower provinces Quebec, British Columbia, and Manitoba. This year, Hydro-Québec, a major utility, reported a 30% profit drop for the first nine months. The decrease in hydroelectric output led to the lowest energy exports in 14 years. For the first time since 2016, Canada had to import energy from the U.S. for three consecutive months earlier this year.
Experts increasingly worry about the rise in sudden floods. Once considered rare, these extreme events now happen more frequently and intensely. Philippe Gachon, a hydro climatology professor at the University of Quebec in Montreal (UQAM), explains that water volumes and precipitation now exceed the predictions on which hydropower infrastructure relies. This disruption alters the balance of the hydrological cycle.
These issues do not only affect Canada. The International Energy Agency (IEA) reports a global decline in hydropower production, with 2023 marking a historic low. Countries like China, Turkey, and the U.S. face similar challenges.
Canada’s ageing hydropower infrastructure also contributes to the problem. According to Reza Najafi, a researcher at Western University, 40% to 50% of Canadian dams have surpassed 50 years of age. These structures were not built to handle the extreme weather events that climate change now brings. Experts call for a significant revision of design and management standards for hydropower facilities.
Hydro-Québec has started adjusting its operations. The utility is redesigning its reservoir management to address prolonged droughts and sudden floods. Engineer Pierre-Marc Rondeau notes that the company now plans for unpredictable weather patterns. However, adapting the system to meet these new challenges remains complex and costly.
While Hydro-Québec has progressed, experts warn that these measures may not suffice. If climate change accelerates, Canada’s hydropower industry faces an uncertain future. Researchers emphasise that Canada must urgently integrate these new climate realities into national energy guidelines. Failing to do so will undermine the country’s energy security.
The situation highlights the need for more significant investment in both infrastructure and technology. Canada must also explore new strategies for energy resilience. Hydropower, once considered a symbol of sustainable energy, now faces pressure from climate extremes.
Canada stands at a crossroads. The choices made today will determine the future of the country’s energy system. Adaptation and innovation will prove crucial to maintaining hydropower as a reliable source of clean energy. As the impacts of climate change grow more severe, Canada must act quickly to protect its hydropower infrastructure and secure its energy future.