Integrated Energy Resources Management Plan: Nergica Welcomes a Far-Reaching Plan and Emphasizes the Key Factors for Its Implementation

GASPÉ, on July 2, 2026 – With the publication of the Integrated Energy Resources Management Plan (PGIRE), Quebec is establishing a structural framework that sets the conditions of predictability necessary for the implementation of the energy transition through 2050. Beyond the roadmap it outlines, the PGIRE highlights the conditions for success that require a concerted effort from the entire Quebec energy ecosystem.

Research and Innovation: A Fundamental Driver of the Energy Transition

The PGIRE recognizes research and innovation as a key objective of the energy transition, a focus that Nergica had emphasized during the consultations.

The PGIRE specifically identifies research centers, alongside academic institutions, as strategic partners tasked with mobilizing the energy innovation ecosystem, strengthening ties between clients, solution providers, and researchers, and accelerating pilot and demonstration projects. These three drivers align precisely with the mission that Nergica has been carrying out since its inception as a collegial technology transfer center (CCTT).

The PGIRE views innovation as spanning a broad spectrum. Beyond the development of emerging technologies, innovation is also essential in several areas, including the optimization of existing technologies, the performance and reliability of energy systems, and solutions for the production and storage of renewable energy. Successfully achieving the energy transition therefore requires validating technologies under real-world conditions, adapting them to Quebec’s specific context, and transferring this knowledge to businesses and communities. This is precisely the role that applied research plays in an innovation ecosystem. As a CCTT, Nergica contributes directly to this effort, working closely with all stakeholders in Quebec’s energy ecosystem.

The PGIRE also identifies the energy challenges specific to northern Quebec and emphasizes that support for innovation must be prioritized to decarbonize the industrial sector. Developing energy self-sufficiency in northern communities—to reduce their dependence on fossil fuels—is another area where applied research plays a crucial role.

Energy efficiency: a shared priority, established as the first guiding principle

By making energy efficiency its top priority, the PGIRE recognizes it as a primary source of supply that should be tapped before resorting to new generation capacity. This prioritization aligns directly with the position Nergica advocated during consultations on Bill 69. Seeing this logic enshrined at the forefront of the PGIRE sends a strong signal to the entire ecosystem. Achieving such targets, however, depends on the practical ability to measure, optimize, and continuously improve the performance of energy systems. This is an area where applied research and technology transfer have a role to play.

Workforce Training: Aligning Skills with Needs

The PGIRE emphasizes that the expansion of the energy sector—on a scale unmatched since the construction of major dams—will place intense demands on the workforce essential to carrying out these projects. It specifies that adjustments to educational offerings must ensure that workforce training aligns with the jobs to be filled in the field of energy transition. This alignment requires that the specific skill needs of each sector be quickly translated into tailored training programs. The community college network, including CCTTs such as Nergica, is already engaged in addressing these challenges and is well-positioned to accelerate this alignment.

Sector development: essential structural work

With its Priority 3, “Supporting the Development of Renewable Energy Sectors,” the PGIRE devotes an entire priority to this issue, recognizing that the growth of these sectors depends not only on the availability of resources, but also on the creation of favorable conditions: a skilled workforce, supply chains, industrial capacity, and innovation. The development of the wind energy sector is a prime example of this effort: it relied not only on procurement policies but also on the creation of a technical and human ecosystem. Nergica has contributed to the structuring of this sector from the very beginning and is now supporting the development of the solar sector in Quebec through networking, technology transfer, and capacity building. The sectors that the PGIRE is now calling for the development of require this same structuring effort.

Quote

“For the first time, Quebec is adopting an Integrated Energy Resources Management Plan, thereby setting a pivotal milestone for its energy future. Built on a comprehensive consultation process, this plan reflects a collective commitment to steering the transition. The success of such a plan will ultimately be measured by its implementation. This rollout will be realized, in particular, through the development of innovation, applied research, the structuring of energy sectors, and the training of a skilled workforce.”

Frédéric Côté, Chief Executive Officer.

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About Nergica

Nergica is a college-based technology transfer center specializing in applied research and innovation in renewable energy. For more than 25 years, it has been at the heart of the energy transition and has supported the industry through technological innovation, technical assistance, strategic guidance, capacity building, and networking. Its mission: to accelerate the development and adoption of renewable energy.

For more information:
Marie-Josée Adams
Communications Coordinator
mjadams@nergica.com
C: 418-573-860