Heat pumps: a cost-effective choice for businesses

Businesses and other organizations that want to lower their energy costs have a lot to gain by opting for heat pumps, and Hydro‑Québec is offering substantial financial assistance to cover their purchase and installation. If you have plans to renovate or build, there’s no better time to invest in an efficient heat pump.

On June 15, the financial assistance available businesses was increased!

Download version 4.0 of OSE, updated September 6, 2023, which takes account of all the recent changes.

Financial assistance covering up to 90% of eligible costs

There are many reasons to invest in the purchase and installation of a heat pump, but the up-front costs can be a deterrent for a lot of people, even when they’re committed to the energy transition.

As part of its Efficient Solutions program, Hydro‑Québec is offering business customers more financial assistance than ever before to install heat pumps in their buildings. Medium and large businesses could receive an amount covering up to 75% of eligible purchase and installation costs. For small businesses, the financial assistance could cover up to 90% of eligible costs.

How businesses can benefit:

Quick return on investment with financial assistance from Hydro‑Québec
Recurring savings on heating and air conditioning costs
More financial flexibility to invest in other projects
Significant contribution to the collective effort to be more energy wise, adding value to your brand image as Québec moves towards decarbonization

The online OSE tool makes the entire process quick and easy, from calculating the amount of financial assistance available for each heat pump to submitting the application.

Go to the Efficient Solutions Program page to download the OSE tool

Models that meet your needs

There’s a whole range of heat pump models to choose from, and some will be better suited to your needs than others. Ask an expert to help you choose and ensure you invest in the right heat pump for your building and your business. Here’s a good starting point to guide you, outlining features about different model types.

Geothermal heat pump

How it works: Transfers heat or coolness from the ground to the heat pump via a piping system between the underground loop and the building’s distribution system (heating, ventilation or air conditioning).

Application: Commercial and institutional buildings

Technical specifications of the Geothermal heat pump[PDF 308 kB ‑ in French only]

Variable refrigerant flow heat pump

How it works: Cools or heats specific areas by circulating a refrigerating fluid (refrigerant) from an outdoor component to several indoor units connected by refrigerant lines and equipped with a regulation control system.

Application: Office buildings, hotels, schools, large residential buildings.

Technical specifications of the Variable refrigerant flow heat pump[PDF 313 kB ‑ in French only]

Aerothermal heat pump

How it works: Recovers or releases the heat from the outdoor air, transfers it to the building by circulating a refrigerating fluid (refrigerant) via a piping system and distributes it throughout the building.

Application: Commercial buildings, institutional buildings (hospitals, schools, etc.).

Technical specifications of the Aerothermal heat pump[PDF 287 kB ‑ in French only]

$20,000+ for mini‑split heat pumps

How much can a business expect to receive? Here’s an example. A gourmet food store could be granted more than $20,000 to install high-efficiency mini-split heat pumps. Combine that amount and the recurring savings on its electricity bill, and the shop will recoup its investment in no time. And that’s not counting the payoff from the other energy efficiency measures that could be put in place.

There are so many ways to save energy and use it wisely. The OSE tool alone includes more than 200 measures for which you could receive financial assistance. Looking for concrete examples of how your business could optimize its electricity use? Read about inspiring projects and explore all the possibilities.