Frequently Asked Questions - Pilot project on the use of wall-mounted heaters with thermal storage for residential purposes

The pilot project ended on April 30, 2024. Thank you to everyone who took part!

Consumption peaks in winter pose some challenges. In addition to managing the demand on Hydro-Québec’s system, they also force electricity to be purchased on external markets and require additional investments in system infrastructure. Heating residential buildings is a major contributor to these peaks because it accounts for, on average, 50% of a residence’s total electricity consumption in winter.

Hydro-Québec is therefore seeking to reduce the consumption peaks that usually occur in winter, from Monday to Friday, between 6 a.m. and 9 a.m. and between 4 p.m. and 8 p.m., in favor of periods when the demand is lower, usually in the afternoon and at night.

A heater with thermal storage stores heat and makes it available when needed, usually during peak periods, to reduce the pressure on the system. Hydro-Québec wants to assess the contribution that this type of device could make. The pilot project also seeks to gather feedback from participants. 

Heaters with thermal storage help shift heating-related electricity use. This type of device can be programmed to store heat when the price of electricity (¢/kWh) is lower, that is, at night and in the afternoon. That stored heat can then be used for heating —without consuming electricity — during peak demand events, when the price of electricity is higher and there is increased demand on Hydro-Québec’s grid.

The project will begin once an agreement is signed, and will initially continue for about one and a half years, from November 2022 to late April 2024.

These wall-mounted units look like convection heaters.

• Width: from 900 mm to 1,000 mm (35.4 in. to 39.4 in.), depending on the model
• Height: 750 mm (29.5 in.)
• Depth: 180 mm (7.1 in.)

Two models will be tested:

• One with natural convection heat transfer (like an electric baseboard heater)
• One with forced convection heat transfer, using a fan (like a forced-air system) 

The heater uses the consumption data from the previous day and the heating-related demand to calculate the amount of heat that must be stored to meet the needs during peak periods.

The heater collects heat during off-peak periods and releases it into the room during peak periods (between 6 a.m. and 9 a.m. and between 4 p.m. and 8 p.m.). 

Depending on the temperature setting, the heater can also continue releasing stored heat outside those peak periods in order to maintain a comfortable temperature in the home for a while.

• The heater will be programmed to accumulate heat during off-peak hours. Our electricians will take care of installing and configuring the heater. All you will have to do is adjust the temperature setting.
• The heater’s temperature setting can be adjusted on the unit itself when necessary.
• The heater cannot be linked to a smart thermostat (one that can be controlled remotely). 

The heat is stored in firebricks, where the temperature can reach 700 degrees Celsius.

Yes. Hydro-Québec conducted tests in its laboratories before selecting the devices used for this pilot project. They are CSA-certified and will be installed by an electrician. These devices have been used for many years in Europe and Nova Scotia.

No, the device is covered with a thick layer of insulation to prevent all risk of burns in the event of contact. In addition, the bricks are not accessible. Therefore, it is impossible to get burned.

Yes. This technology has been used for a number of years in Europe, where the challenges associated with peak demand have existed for a long time. Closer to home, Nova Scotia and some U.S. states also use this technology to support their distribution system.

Also, Hydro-Québec recently launched a project on the use of a central heating system with thermal storage for houses equipped with a forced-air central heating system.

No. The device does not use more electricity than an electric baseboard heater of equivalent power. It simply changes the time of day when energy is used.

The operation and programming of wall-mounted heaters with thermal storage make it possible to take advantage of the potential savings offered by Hydro-Québec’s Flex D rate without having to think about it and without compromising comfort or billing.

In return for the installation, at our expense, of up to two wall-mounted heaters with thermal storage, you must agree to having Hydro-Québec collect data about the electricity used by the heater and your home, the room temperature, and the heater’s internal temperature. During the pilot project, you will also be asked to fill out one or more surveys about your satisfaction, comfort level, etc., and provide your opinion and suggestions about the technology.

Hydro-Québec will cover the cost of purchasing and installing the device. You will only have to pay for the electricity used by the wall-mounted heater with thermal storage, which is equivalent to that of an electric baseboard heater of equivalent power.

After the wall-mounted heater with thermal storage is installed, the participant can terminate the pilot project participation agreement, on reasonable grounds, by providing Hydro-Québec with three months’ written notice. 

At your request, Hydro-Québec will choose to either remove the device and reinstall the original heater, which you will have kept, or install an equivalent replacement heating system. 

Hydro-Québec will collect information related to the home’s electricity use (customer account number, meter number). For approximately 15 participants selected by the project team, data on electricity use and temperature will also be collected in the room(s) where the unit(s) will be installed, for the purpose of more in-depth technical analyses. That data will be collected with your consent in keeping with the terms and conditions set out in the participation agreement. 

The participant’s name and other means of identification will remain confidential, and only the Hydro-Québec project team will have access to them.

The home electricity use data will be collected through your communicating meter. The temperature monitoring data for the room where the device will be installed (for approximately 15 participants) will be collected by a measuring device roughly 30 cm by 30 cm, which will be installed in the home’s distribution panel (commonly called the electrical panel).

Hydro-Québec will automatically upload the data. The participant will not be required to perform any action.

No. The measuring device uses its own Internet gateway and will not use your Internet connection. It will simply need to be supplied with electricity.

1) Interested customers must first complete the online pre-qualification form: 

• Complete the form in French
• Complete the form in English

2) The pilot project team will analyze the candidates’ profiles.

3) The team will contact all candidates, even those whose profiles don’t match the desired criteria.

4) People whose profile matches the one being sought will receive a technical visit to validate the potential of installing the equipment. The electrician will answer their questions, determine along with them where the device will be installed, and plan the installation. The visit will last about one hour. It will take place at a time agreed upon with the participant, on a weekday, that is, Monday to Friday, between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.

5) An agreement will have to be signed by the participant and returned to Hydro-Québec to confirm participation in the project. 

The installation requires about three hours. It will take place at a time agreed upon with the participant, on a weekday, that is, Monday to Friday, between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m.

DIMPLEX XLE

Download the Dimplex XLE user guide (737 Ko)

ELNUR Ecombi

Download the Elnur Ecombi user guide (4.4 MB)

For any other questions, please email us at nova35-thermal-storage@hydroquebec.com.