Ottawa comes up with nearly $19 million for Nunavut infrastructure
New solar energy system for Kugluktuk among the funded projects
Kugluktuk’s arena complex, pictured here in 2017, has been fitted with 144 new solar panels, bringing its capacity up to 60 kilowatts. Now a $6-million solar energy and storage system is on its way to the western Nunavut community. (File photo)
Diesel power plants in six Nunavut communities will soon see new generators, Kugluktuk will receive a novel solar energy system, and Kugaaruk will get a better wastewater lagoon.
These infrastructure upgrades, which Nunavut’s deputy premier, David Akeeagok says “will certainly contribute to the overall well-being of Nunavummiut,” are linked to a commitment of nearly $19 million from Ottawa.
“Investing in green energy and wastewater projects in Nunavut communities provides residents with more reliable services, protects the environment and supports local economic growth,” Bernadette Jordan, the federal minister of rural economic development, said in a news release on the May 21 announcement.
“These investments go hand in hand with improving job opportunities, family income and the quality of life for those living and working in the North.”
The new diesel power generators are earmarked for Rankin Inlet, Coral Harbour, Chesterfield Inlet, Pond Inlet, Clyde River and Whale Cove.
The release said they’ll improve the plants’ energy efficiency and reliability while increasing their overall energy production capacity, the release said.
The renewable solar energy and storage system slated for Kugluktuk will be connected to the local power plant. This project, the first hybrid solar-diesel power plant to be managed by the Qulliq Energy Corp., will be used to demonstrate how this kind of system works in the Arctic.
The new system will also provide an alternative source of energy for the community of about 1,500, which currently relies on diesel-powered generators. Since 2017, Kugluktuk has already been collecting 60 kilowatt-hours worth of energy from solar panels mounted on the arena roof.
For these projects, Ottawa is chipping in about $13.5 million and the QEC $7.6 million.
Another project, which will get $5 million from Ottawa and $1.6 million from the Government of Nunavut, will rehabilitate the sewage lagoon in Kugaaruk to increase its capacity to treat and manage wastewater.
The project includes the construction of a temporary wastewater management system to clean the current lagoon before the bigger project starts.
“Investments in the community energy and wastewater treatment projects announced today will help make Nunavut a cleaner and safer place to live and work,” Akeeagok said.
So with Rankin , Chester and Whale getting new power plants does that officially kill the power link to Manitoba? Because why spend all this money on new power plants to those communities if in 5 years time they will not be used much because of ‘cheaper’ power from the south.
There is no way that the Manitoba/Kivalliq hydro-fibre link will up and running in 5 years. It still has to go past the feasibility stage to the design stage and then on through the regulatory approvals and construction phases so this project will take at minimum at least another 15 to 20 years to complete.
There is no chance the solar panels are economically feasible. But it does make people feel better. Except when they realize the higher costs. Then their heads hurt.
So do you understand the actual cost of energy in Nunavut? There is so many subsidies to QEC to bring up diesel that it is estimated to cost over $1.10 per kw/h in most communities. But between Public Housing, Fuel Shipping Subsidies and private home subsidies it is probably the most economical place to have solar panels and wind! But I wonder will QEC who is getting the install paid for by the Feds pass that savings on the the GN/ Rate Payers? I doubt it….. these projects need to be owned by the community no the Utility!
New diesel power plants, yay! Glad to see we are still firmly docked in 1950
The article tells us that “Since 2017, Kugluktuk has already been collecting 60 kilowatt-hours worth of energy from solar panels mounted on the arena roof.”
QEC bills me at the rate of $0.5856 for each kilo-watt-hour of electricity my house uses. At that rate, Kugluktuk’s 60kWh of electricity would be worth $35.14. The GN subsidizes my electricity consumption (thank you) by 50%, so if I had bought all of Kugluktuk’s solar power since 2017 from QEC I would have paid $17.57 for it.
My electricity bill for last month cost me a little more than $150 for about 500 kilowatt-hours of electricity.
It is important that QEC gain experience with emerging energy technologies. It is also important for us to realize that replacing diesel will not happen any time soon.
You forgot to multiply this by capacity factor of the installation and hours of daylight in a year… more like many thousands of dollars in energy generated…
Dear Math matters:
Yes, math matters. So does reading.
The article does not say that Kugluktuk has already been collecting electricity at the rate of 60 kilowatts of per hour. If it had said that, then you would be correct.
The article says that Kugluktuk has collected 60 kilowatt-hours of electricity.
Maybe the article is wrong. Maybe it should say megawatts, but I doubt it.
Take a look at the photo. At best, only one third of the panels can generate electricity at any one time. When this photo was taken the sun was behind a cloud, hence the lack of sharp shadows. I suspect the complete installation, as we see it here, is putting out less than 5% of the rated capacity of those cells.