Hydro-Québec is taking a cautious stance on Flying Whales’ airship initiatives, emphasizing the need for further validation before integration. Despite receiving substantial public funding, the project faces skepticism due to technical challenges and inflated expectations. As Flying Whales considers locations for its assembly facility, experts argue for investment in the venture, citing potential job creation and benefits for Quebec’s aerospace sector, while acknowledging the importance of intellectual property guarantees in public funding.
Hydro-Québec’s Cautious Approach to Flying Whales
Amidst the skepticism surrounding the controversial airship initiatives by Flying Whales in France, Hydro-Québec has stated that more time is needed to validate various elements before deploying them across its extensive territory, as reported by Le Journal.
“We will assess the technology. It is premature to elaborate further, as multiple validations are necessary before we can consider its integration into our projects,” commented Caroline Des Rosiers, spokesperson for Hydro-Québec, in an interview with the Journal.
The project has faced inflated expectations, technical challenges, and environmental concerns. A recent investigation by Radio France has brought attention to the French company Flying Whales, which has received $75 million in public funding from the Legault government.
Economics professor Steven Ambler, who teaches investment and risk at UQAM, remarked, “The government made an error. A fitting phrase in English would be to throw good money after bad.” He highlighted that significant technical challenges and the high cost of helium are pivotal factors. “If there were genuine prospects for profitability, public funding wouldn’t have been necessary,” he analyzed.
Four years ago, Le Journal revealed that Quebec had poured $30 million into the Flying Whales initiative, which experts deemed impractical under the previous liberal administration. This investment also included paying significantly more than its Chinese counterpart for participation.
Location Dilemma: Sherbrooke vs. Trois-Rivières
Currently, Flying Whales is weighing options between Sherbrooke and Trois-Rivières for establishing its airship assembly facility in Quebec.
“We are still in a good position,” stated the mayor of Trois-Rivières in a recent conversation with the Journal, following a meeting with the company’s leaders in Paris.
However, a report from Radio France’s Investigation Cell raised concerns, stating, “Flying Whales: 90 million euros of public funds invested and no airship prototype yet,” highlighting the challenges faced by the firm.
The report noted that Flying Whales claims it can market a device without first creating a prototype.
David Rancourt, an associate professor at the University of Sherbrooke and director of AéroUdeS, who has collaborated on research with Flying Whales, believes the venture is worthwhile. “It’s a shared risk. Many countries are investing in the project. The potential rewards, especially regarding wind energy, are appealing,” he stated.
Similarly, Barry Prentrice, a professor and director at the University of Manitoba Transport Institute (UMTI), expressed the need for airships, particularly for transporting wind turbine blades and minerals from isolated regions. “I wish this were happening in Manitoba. We’re talking about thousands of jobs,” he asserted.
Expert Mehran Ebrahimi, a full professor at ESG UQAM’s management department, also advocates for investment in such projects to maintain Quebec’s status as a leading aerospace hub globally. “Critics argue that the technology isn’t yet mature,” he acknowledged.
“When we invest public money, we need guarantees regarding intellectual property and production ownership,” he emphasized. “Even if a project fails, the knowledge gained holds intrinsic value,” he concluded, underscoring the significance of learning from each endeavor.
Job Creation Promises and Current Employment Status
In June 2022, Quebec announced that “over a hundred well-paying jobs should be created or sustained over the next three years.” However, Flying Whales informed the Journal that it currently employs around thirty “collaborators” in Montreal.