New Cape Dorset QEC plant another step toward cutting out diesel

A new Qulliq Energy Corp. power plant in Cape Dorset, tucked away about two kilometres from the downtown core, is not only quieter for the community and more reliable, but also cleaner.

Since opening in December 2018, the new plant has been in the process of slowly replacing one of the oldest diesel power plants in the territory.

It was completed on time and within budget at $28.9 million.

“With new technology and new equipment, emissions are reduced,” said Bruno Pereira, president of QEC.

As well as servicing a population of about 1,600 people currently, the new plant has the capacity to accommodate other sources of renewable energy in the future.

This new plant has 33 per cent more energy capacity than the old plant, which is still located in a busy part of the community.

The old plant remains there as a backup until QEC begins the decommissioning process this summer, says Pereira.

In a June 2015 report, the Senate standing committee on energy, environment, and natural resources found that 14 of Nunavut’s aging power plants had a life expectancy of zero years.

Since then, four communities, including Cape Dorset, have received new plants.

Two others, in Chesterfield Inlet and Gjoa Haven, have now exceeded their life expectancy as well.

Ditching dirty diesel

QEC plans to integrate renewable energy systems into the territory’s energy grid.

In 2018, QEC completed a pre-feasibility study to identify potential geothermal resources in the territory. The final report suggests some options for future studies in areas determined to have enough potential geothermal activity.

As well, there is solar energy potential in the territory—particularly in the summer months and the southern areas of Nunavut.

QEC installed 11 solar panels at the Iqaluit power plant and integrated them into the local power grid. The company is now applying this approach to residents with its net metering program, which allows customers to connect their own solar panels to Iqaluit’s power grid.

Additionally, in 2016, QEC ran a study on wind power potential in Nunavut.

It found that Iqaluit would be the best location for a first large wind turbine project.

Sanikiluaq would be the best place to try a small wind turbine, the report says.

IPP Program to allow residents to generate and sell energy

Moving forward, any other new plants built will have the capacity to work in conjunction with QEC’s upcoming Independent Power Producer program, Pereira says.

QEC hopes to get cabinet approval in the summer to launch its IPP program this coming fall.

The IPP program would allow third parties—hamlets, Inuit organizations, institutional and commercial customers—to generate electrical power from renewable energy systems and sell it directly to QEC.

The corporation would then pay for the energy in line with what the cost of diesel would have been.

Pereira says this project will help decrease Nunavut’s dependency on diesel fuel, reduce carbon emissions and promote self-reliance in the future.

Correction

An earlier version of this story stated that Qikiqtarjuaq’s diesel plant was built in 1963. While the community’s original plant was built that year, it was replaced in 2016.