{"id":270,"date":"2019-09-24T08:52:25","date_gmt":"2019-09-24T13:52:25","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/benoit.marcoux.ca\/blog\/?p=270"},"modified":"2025-04-01T09:56:32","modified_gmt":"2025-04-01T14:56:32","slug":"book-review-branchee-charging-ahead","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/benoit.marcoux.ca\/blog\/book-review-branchee-charging-ahead\/","title":{"rendered":"Book Review: \u201cBranch\u00e9e: Hydro-Qu\u00e9bec et le futur de l\u2019\u00e9lectricit\u00e9\u201d (French version; in English : \u201cCharging Ahead: Hydro-Qu\u00e9bec and the Future of Electricity\u201d)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><em>Jean-Benoit Nadeau and Julie Barlow have published this worthwhile book on Hydro-Qu\u00e9bec. I have recently read the&nbsp;<\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.ca\/dp\/2764437803\/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_U_gHrIDbVTQJ0NB\"><em>French version<\/em><\/a><em>, and the&nbsp;<\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.ca\/dp\/1771862017\/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_U_HDrIDbFD48SY3\"><em>English translation<\/em><\/a><em>will be available on October 15, 2019. I would highly recommend this book to people who need to understand what is driving Hydro-Qu\u00e9bec. Electrical system vendors and other industry stakeholders will certainly appreciate the perspective that&nbsp;Branch\u00e9e\/Charging Aheadbrings. However, the authors largely (but not exclusively) rely on internal Hydro-Qu\u00e9bec sources and sometimes come across as overly praising the company. Other, more critical, sources might be needed to grasp the complexities of the energy sector in Qu\u00e9bec.&nbsp;<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Overall,&nbsp;<em>Branch\u00e9e\/Charging Ahead<\/em> is a very well-documented book on Hydro-Qu\u00e9bec and current strategic directions. Fifty-three people were interviewed, including a large number of Hydro-Qu\u00e9bec personnel, up to the CEO, \u00c9ric Martel. The book also draws on multiple third-party references and previous article published by the authors.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Branch\u00e9e\/Charging Ahead<\/em>starts with a history of Hydro-Qu\u00e9bec. The history of Hydro-Qu\u00e9bec innovations is highlighted, with the 735 kV transmission lines being described as \u201cHydro-Qu\u00e9bec&#8217;s great technical prowess\u201d<a href=\"applewebdata:\/\/C58E19F9-5789-4FD9-A8DB-5599E16D8378#_edn1\"><sup>[i]<\/sup><\/a>. However, this technology dates back to the 1960s\u2019. While there has been nothing remotely comparable since then, the book lists other examples of Hydro-Qu\u00e9bec innovations, such as the LineRanger robot, Li-Ion batteries and TM4 electric motors. The book rightfully says that the \u201ccommercialization of inventions is an old fantasy of Hydro-Qu\u00e9bec. For 30 years, all CEOs have talked about their amazing potential. But their promises have always disappointed.\u201d<a href=\"applewebdata:\/\/C58E19F9-5789-4FD9-A8DB-5599E16D8378#_edn2\"><sup>[ii]<\/sup><\/a>TM4 is a good example given in the book:&nbsp;TM4 used up $500 million over 20 years, but Hydro-Qu\u00e9bec sold 55% of it to Dana for only $260 million.<a href=\"applewebdata:\/\/C58E19F9-5789-4FD9-A8DB-5599E16D8378#_edn3\"><sup>[iii]<\/sup><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The book contains many noteworthy and hard-to-find current facts and numbers that industry professional might find valuable, such as:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>As of early 2019, there are 716 prosumers (distributed generators) on Hydro-Qu\u00e9bec\u2019s network.<a href=\"applewebdata:\/\/C58E19F9-5789-4FD9-A8DB-5599E16D8378#_edn4\"><sup>[iv]<\/sup><\/a><\/li><li>By controlling just 4 baseboard smart thermostats, Hydro-Qu\u00e9bec can reduce the peak load of a typical household by 1 kW; Ten smart thermostats lead to a 2&nbsp;kW saving.<a href=\"applewebdata:\/\/C58E19F9-5789-4FD9-A8DB-5599E16D8378#_edn5\"><sup>[v]<\/sup><\/a><\/li><li>Hydro-Qu\u00e9bec is running a smart home pilot project with 400 households, intending to launch a new smart home product through an unnamed subsidiary; Sowee, from \u00c9lectricit\u00e9 de France, is given as a comparable.<a href=\"applewebdata:\/\/C58E19F9-5789-4FD9-A8DB-5599E16D8378#_edn6\"><sup>[vi]<\/sup><\/a><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>The authors do not attempt to explain their paradox of innovation promises to have always failed Hydro-Qu\u00e9bec and Hydro-Qu\u00e9bec continuing to heavily invest in innovation.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Toward the end,&nbsp;<em>Branch\u00e9e\/Charging Ahead&nbsp;<\/em>provides many insights into the thinking of Hydro-Qu\u00e9bec senior managers, including where they see the industry going, how it is going to affect Hydro-Qu\u00e9bec, what strategic imperatives ensue, and what Hydro-Qu\u00e9bec needs to do. Undoubtedly, vendors could find in here material to enrich proposals and presentations.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I found very few instances of questionable facts in the book. The Philadelphia Navy Yard microgrid is given as an example<a href=\"applewebdata:\/\/C58E19F9-5789-4FD9-A8DB-5599E16D8378#_edn7\"><sup>[vii]<\/sup><\/a>, but this project has now been abandoned and is being reborn on a much smaller scale. Economically, I also disagree with the statement that Hydro-Qu\u00e9bec is well positioned to develop hydrogen production<a href=\"applewebdata:\/\/C58E19F9-5789-4FD9-A8DB-5599E16D8378#_edn8\"><sup>[viii]<\/sup><\/a>\u2013 there is far more value in using dispatchable hydro to balance renewable resources than to produce hydrogen from electricity (which is a highly inefficient process).&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Furthermore, I believe that many customers, outside industry expert, vendors or other utilities might object to some praising characterization of Hydro-Qu\u00e9bec, such as when the authors state that Hydro-Qu\u00e9bec \u201cis one of the best managed electricity grids on the continent and is admired by the largest companies in the industry\u201d<a href=\"applewebdata:\/\/C58E19F9-5789-4FD9-A8DB-5599E16D8378#_edn9\"><sup>[ix]<\/sup><\/a>or that it has one of the most reliable grids on the continent<a href=\"applewebdata:\/\/C58E19F9-5789-4FD9-A8DB-5599E16D8378#_edn10\"><sup>[x]<\/sup><\/a>. The book would have been more balanced by giving a greater voice to those external stakeholders. Also, given the generally positive perspective that the authors are offering,&nbsp;<em>Branch\u00e9e\/Charging Ahead<\/em>will certainly support Hydro-Qu\u00e9bec when it tries to gather support for Bill 34<a href=\"applewebdata:\/\/C58E19F9-5789-4FD9-A8DB-5599E16D8378#_edn11\"><sup>[xi]<\/sup><\/a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>All this being said, I greatly enjoyed reading the book and I highly recommend it to anyone wanting to better understand this fascinating company. However, I would caution against drawing conclusions or designing policies based solely on&nbsp;<em>Branch\u00e9e\/Charging Ahead<\/em>without balancing some of the ideas with more independent sources.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"applewebdata:\/\/C58E19F9-5789-4FD9-A8DB-5599E16D8378#_ednref1\"><sup>[i]<\/sup><\/a>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Chapter 2. Quotes from the book are translated from the French edition.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"applewebdata:\/\/C58E19F9-5789-4FD9-A8DB-5599E16D8378#_ednref2\"><sup>[ii]<\/sup><\/a>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Chapter 10.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"applewebdata:\/\/C58E19F9-5789-4FD9-A8DB-5599E16D8378#_ednref3\"><sup>[iii]<\/sup><\/a>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Chapter 10.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"applewebdata:\/\/C58E19F9-5789-4FD9-A8DB-5599E16D8378#_ednref4\"><sup>[iv]<\/sup><\/a>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;In the introduction and later in chapters 4, 5 and 6.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"applewebdata:\/\/C58E19F9-5789-4FD9-A8DB-5599E16D8378#_ednref5\"><sup>[v]<\/sup><\/a>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Chapter 6.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"applewebdata:\/\/C58E19F9-5789-4FD9-A8DB-5599E16D8378#_ednref6\"><sup>[vi]<\/sup><\/a>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Chapter 6.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"applewebdata:\/\/C58E19F9-5789-4FD9-A8DB-5599E16D8378#_ednref7\"><sup>[vii]<\/sup><\/a>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Chapter 6.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"applewebdata:\/\/C58E19F9-5789-4FD9-A8DB-5599E16D8378#_ednref8\"><sup>[viii]<\/sup><\/a>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Chapter 6<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"applewebdata:\/\/C58E19F9-5789-4FD9-A8DB-5599E16D8378#_ednref9\"><sup>[ix]<\/sup><\/a>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;In the introduction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"applewebdata:\/\/C58E19F9-5789-4FD9-A8DB-5599E16D8378#_ednref10\"><sup>[x]<\/sup><\/a>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Chapter 1.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"applewebdata:\/\/C58E19F9-5789-4FD9-A8DB-5599E16D8378#_ednref11\"><sup>[xi]<\/sup><\/a>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;See&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/benoit.marcoux.ca\/blog\/bill-34-selling-to-hydro-quebec\/\">https:\/\/benoit.marcoux.ca\/blog\/bill-34-selling-to-hydro-quebec\/<\/a>for my take on Bill 34.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<div style=\"margin-top:2em;\">\r\n      Shortlink:\r\n    <a href=\"https:\/\/https:\/\/benoit.marcoux.ca\/blog\/book-review-branchee-charging-ahead\/\">https:\/\/benoit.marcoux.ca\/blog\/book-review-branchee-charging-ahead\/<\/a>\r\n  <\/div>\r\n\r\n<div id=\"eebsocial\" style=\"margin-top:1em;\">\r\n          <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?url=https%3A%2F%2F\" target=\"_blank\">\r\n    <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/benoit.marcoux.ca\/blog\/wp-content\/plugins\/wp-url-shorten\/\/icons\/twitter-32.png\" title=\"Tweet this link\" alt=\"\" \/>\r\n<\/a>\r\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2F\" target=\"_blank\">\r\n    <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/benoit.marcoux.ca\/blog\/wp-content\/plugins\/wp-url-shorten\/\/icons\/facebook-32.png\" title=\"Share on Facebook\" alt=\"\" \/>\r\n<\/a>\r\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/shareArticle?url=https%3A%2F%2F&title=Book Review: \u201cBranch\u00e9e: Hydro-Qu\u00e9bec et le futur de l\u2019\u00e9lectricit\u00e9\u201d (French version; 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I have recently read the&nbsp;French version, and the&nbsp;English translationwill be available on October 15, 2019. I would highly recommend this book to people who need to understand what is driving Hydro-Qu\u00e9bec. Electrical system vendors and other industry stakeholders will certainly appreciate the perspective [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[44,20,26,39],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-270","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-book-review","category-canada","category-innovation","category-quebec-canada"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/benoit.marcoux.ca\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/270","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/benoit.marcoux.ca\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/benoit.marcoux.ca\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/benoit.marcoux.ca\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/benoit.marcoux.ca\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=270"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/benoit.marcoux.ca\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/270\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":275,"href":"https:\/\/benoit.marcoux.ca\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/270\/revisions\/275"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/benoit.marcoux.ca\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=270"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/benoit.marcoux.ca\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=270"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/benoit.marcoux.ca\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=270"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}