Weather is a significant driver of daily natural gas and electricity price moves in various North American markets. Weather drives retail energy consumption, which in turn drives market prices through a supply and demand process.

Les données qu'on rencontre aujourd'hui sont souvent de grande dimension. Avec les données génétiques, les signaux et les images, des méthodes d'analyse qui tiennent compte de la taille des données est plus que jamais nécessaire. Chez Hydro-Québec, une nouvelle méthode de surveillance des équipements électriques a été développée, qui fait appel à la théorie de la communication. Cette méthode a mis en évidence l'utilité de tenir compte du comportement des données aléatoires dans un espace de grande dimension, bien connu en théorie des communications.

Près de 98 % de l’énergie électrique québécoise provient de l’hydro-électricité, une source d’énergie propre et renouvelable. Il apparaît donc important d’utiliser au mieux cette énergie. Dans cette optique, le Québec devrait favoriser l’utilisation de pompes à chaleur qui possèdent des performances supérieures à celles des plinthes électriques. Leurs performances sont toutefois affectées à mesure que la température extérieure diminue.

The research goal of this internship is to develop various configurations of the CANDU 6™ reactor core fuelled with thorium to achieve a conversion ratio of at least one, (i.e. the reactor produces as much fissile material as it consumes). These cores should have equivalent power outputs as the baseline reactor, but achieve higher average discharge burnup. The utilization of thorium allows the exploitation of a currently unused energy source and more efficient usage of uranium fuel.

We will develop a fiber-optical sensor system that can be applied to monitor pipelines. By recording the response of a fiber-optic transducer to ultrasound that is generated on the wall of a pipeline we can measure the flow velocity of the fluid inside the pipeline. Similar measurements are presently conducted by pipeline operators using piezo-electric transducers, but their sensitivity is not high enough to locate small leaks or pipeline deposits through a change in flow rate. In addition the ultrasound measurements will let us accurately determine the identity of the pipeline content.

Smart grid energy systems are considered the future of electrical grid management and delivery. These technologies and programs are innovative ways to ensure a reliable electricity grid, promote renewable energy, increase efficiency, and enhance consumer control. Smart grids operate as automated or computerized systems that centralize electricity grid control and ultimately provide a more resilient power grid. The research will examine how organizations, businesses, and jurisdictions can transition from a conventional grid management system to smart grid technologies.

This power plant project proposes a software system which assists the operator to optimize the fuel supply, storage and usage for the power plant. Interns manage to build a web-based application to monitor, record, display and forecast the state of fuel condition. Interns will use mathematical model implemented in the system to figure out potential factors that could influence the power generating volume and measure the degree of influence. Such a system is expected to offer decision support to the key stakeholders.

The project will investigate a novel HVdc transmission arrangement referred to as a “symmetrical monopole”. This configuration has the ability to continue operation even when one of the transmission line conductors is faulted. This property allows for the use of new compact dc transmission lines which occupy only a fraction of the right-of-way of other transmission options, thereby minimizing the negative impact on the environment. The research will investigate the appropriate control and protection aspects of such a transmission scheme.