Innovative Projects Program

Who is eligible?

• Residential building owners or developers
• Commercial building owners or developers
• Institutional building owners or developers
• Agricultural building owners or developers
• Industrial building owners or developers

Who is not eligible

• Projects supplied by an autonomous electricity network (i.e., not connected to Hydro-Québec's or an eligible municipal/cooperative grid).
• Companies or individuals who owe money to Hydro-Québec, have ceased operations, are in liquidation, under insolvency, or dissolution.
• Applicants who do not comply with Hydro-Québec's Terms of Service or electricity rates.

Eligible expenses

• Additional costs associated with the implementation of the energy network (Réseau d’énergie) and highly energy-efficient measures, compared to the reference scenario.
• Acquisition and installation of high-performance technologies and innovative electromechanical systems.
• Costs related to the installation of heat pumps or systems for the recovery and valorization of thermal waste.
• Expenses for the implementation of energy-efficient measures that result in eligible electricity savings.

Eligible geographic areas

• Quebec

• Improvement of the energy performance of each building by at least 25% compared to the reference scenario.
• Implementation of an energy network connecting all buildings in the project for optimized energy exchange and recovery.
• Use of high-efficiency heat pumps or waste heat recovery technologies that meet at least 80% of the heating needs for spaces and domestic hot water.
• Achievement of energy performance in new buildings that exceeds the standards set in the Quebec Construction Code and the National Energy Code of Canada for Buildings 2015 (as modified).
• Approval by Hydro-Québec, including a review of supporting documents, financials, and technical specifications substantiating claimed energy savings and project costs.

• Step 1: Project Presentation Submission
  • Before starting any work, the Participant must email a project presentation letter describing the project to projetsinnovants@hydroquebec.com.
  • Hydro-Québec analyzes the submission and, if applicable, confirms project eligibility by email.
• Step 2: Submission of Required Documents and Preliminary Validation
  • The Participant provides Hydro-Québec with required documents, including:
    • Detailed project and energy network description
    • List of energy efficiency measures for each building
    • Site plan, simplified energy network schematic, and any other relevant documents
    • Implementation schedule for energy efficiency measures in each building
    • Energy simulation files using approved simulation software for each building
    • Detailed calculation of expected energy savings
    • Estimation of additional (incremental) costs
  • Hydro-Québec analyzes the documentation, validates proposed electricity savings, reviews incremental costs, and evaluates the project’s economic aspects.
• Step 3: Project Approval Notice
  • If approved, Hydro-Québec issues a Project Approval Notice outlining commitments, conditions, and terms for financial support.
  • The Participant sends Hydro-Québec a completed Partner Participation Confirmation notice, if applicable.
• Step 4: Work Completion Confirmation
  • Upon completion of work in each building, the Participant submits to Hydro-Québec:
    • Updated simulation files based on final plans and specifications
    • Signed architectural, mechanical, and electrical plans/specifications, shop drawings for major equipment, and other supporting documents
    • Completed Work Completion Confirmation for each building
  • Hydro-Québec reviews documentation, may conduct on-site verification, and issues a Notice of Technical Validation confirming eligible electricity savings and corresponding financial support.
• Step 5: Invoicing for Financial Support
  • Hydro-Québec requests an invoice from the Participant for each building, containing all required details (invoice number, participant and project information, amounts, and applicable taxes).
  • The Participant submits a PDF invoice through their accounting system.
• Step 6: Payment of Financial Support
  • Within approximately 45 days of receiving a compliant invoice, Hydro-Québec issues the approved financial support payment to the Participant, provided all terms and conditions are met.
• Step 7: Invoicing for Partner Incentive (if applicable)
  • Hydro-Québec requests an invoice from the Partner for the approved incentive amount, including all required information and applicable taxes, submitted in PDF format.
• Step 8: Payment of Partner Incentive
  • Within approximately 45 days of receiving a compliant invoice, Hydro-Québec pays the approved incentive to the Partner, subject to compliance with all program requirements.

• The program requires that all submitted documents, including reports and invoices, be prepared in French unless an exception is specified in the Charte de la langue française.
• Participants must not submit the same energy efficiency measures under another Hydro-Québec program.
• Hydro-Québec may request supporting documentation to verify implementation of measures or compliance with program requirements at any time.
• Confidentiality of project data will be maintained by Hydro-Québec, except for general project information such as participant identity, project cost, and granted financial support, which may be disclosed.