While Quebec Canada is known for its French influence and pro-mining sector, it is starting to become well known for its support for pro-green policies. Just recently the Quebec Government announced their $6.7 billion Plan for a Green Economy (2030 PGE).
As a part of the 2030 PGE, two of the most interesting announcements were Hydro-Quebec’s move towards energy storage and Quebec’s decision to ban the sale of new gasoline-powered cars from 2035. All of these recent Quebec pro-green policies are very positive for the energy storage, EV and battery markets; and also for the battery metal (and EV metal) miners; especially those with projects in Quebec.
A summary of the Quebec Government’s $6.7 billion Plan for a Green Economy (2030 PGE)
Hydro-Québec’s move towards energy storage using LFP batteries
On December 9, 2020, it was reported that Hydro-Québec announced the launching of a new subsidiary that specializes in energy storage systems in a bid to help speed up development of renewable power and commercialize technology it has developed over four decades.
A Reuters report quotes: “Hydro-Québec, Canada’s largest electricity producer, on Wednesday entered the fast-growing market for storing renewable energy, where it could face competition from the likes of Tesla……Hydro-Québec aims to capture 10% of a niche market expected to reach $3 billion in the next 10 years.”
Hydro-Quebec’s new EVLO subsidiary will design, sell and operate storage systems aimed at other utilities, commercial and industrial markets for medium-and-large-scale storage. They intend to initially focus on North America and Europe.
Hydro-Québec is using lithium iron phosphate batteries (LFP). LFP battery is a type of lithium-ion battery using LiFePO₄ as the cathode material, and a graphite based anode. It means there is no use of nickel or cobalt, but still uses lithium and graphite.
Quebec to ban the sale of new gasoline-powered cars from 2035
The Quebec banning of ‘new’ gasoline cars from 2035 should mean that starting from 2035, 100% of new car buyers will buy electric vehicles (EVs). Of course EVs will be wildly popular well before then, especially post 2023 when they should hit purchase price parity with gasoline or diesel cars.
The Quebec Government stated: “….the 2030 Plan for a Green Economy (2030 PGE) along with its first implementation plan covering 2021-2026, backed by a budget of $6.7 billion over five years. The magnitude of the amounts earmarked for this electrification and climate change framework policy is indicative of the government’s intent to make Québec a leader in the green economy by building on its major strength: its clean electricity.”
Again this is another huge boost to the EV & battery manufacturers as well as the EV and battery metal miners. In the case of EVs, NMC (nickel, manganese, and cobalt) and NCA (nickel, cobalt, and aluminum) cathode batteries are currently the most popular in western markets as they offer the best energy densities. Lithium electrolyte and graphite based anodes are the usual other battery metals. Added to this would be the producers of rare earths neodymium-praseodymium (NdPr) used in EV motors. We should also add in copper as copper is integrally involved with clean energy and EVs. Finally, any companies that work in renewable energy and in particular emissions reductions.
Some potential winners from Quebec’s support for energy storage and EVs
- Hydro-Quebec as an energy storage designer, seller and operator. Also their suppliers of LFP batteries.
- Potentially any Quebec based cathode, anode or battery manufacturers and/or EV manufacturers.
- Quebec based battery metal miners – Lithium, cobalt, nickel, manganese, graphite, and aluminum.
- Energy storage and EV suppliers and miners, ideally in Canada and perhaps USA.
- Companies working in the pro-green economy sector.
Some companies that we follow at InvestorIntel that focus on the above areas include: Appia Energy Corp. (CSE: API | OTCQB: APAAF), Avalon Advanced Materials Inc. (TSX: AVL | OTCQB: AVLNF), Canada Silver Cobalt Works Inc. (TSXV: CCW | OTCQB: CCWOF), CBLT Inc. (TSXV: CBLT), Critical Elements Lithium Corporation (TSXV: CRE | OTCQX: CRECF), dynaCERT Inc. (TSX: DYA | OTCQX: DYFSF), Exro Technologies Inc. (TSXV: EXRO | OTCQB: EXROF), Global Energy Metals Corporation (TSXV: GEMC | OTCQB: GBLEF), Ideanomics Inc. (NASDAQ: IDEX), Imperial Mining Group Ltd. (TSXV: IPG), Kodiak Copper Corp. (TSXV: KDK), Nano One Materials Corp. (TSXV: NNO), Neo Lithium Corp. (TSXV: NLC | OTCQX: NTTHF), Neo Performance Materials Inc. (TSX: NEO), Nouveau Monde Graphite Inc. (TSXV: NOU | OTCQX: NMGRF), Search Minerals Inc. (TSXV: SMY), Vital Metals Limited (ASX: VML), and ZEN Graphene Solutions Ltd. (TSXV: ZEN).
Quebec Canada is supporting energy storage and electric vehicles etc with a $6.7 billion plan for a green economy
If you are a Quebec or Canadian company focused on the green energy sector then InvestorIntel would be happy to hear from you to see if we can get your company some greater exposure. Together we can make a better world.
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