Currently, all twenty-five communities in Nunavut are dependent on the use of imported diesel fuel for their electricity needs creating numerous environmental, social and economic problems. Diesel is both a greenhouse gas, emission-intensive and acutely polluting energy source responsible for acute health problems. Greenhouse gas emissions have been implicated in global climate change, which is endangering the fragile ecosystems of the Arctic. Finally, in a territory that suffers from low per capita earnings the use of diesel is wasteful and expensive. The typical diesel generator only converts 35% of the fuel energy to electricity. Additionally, the cost of diesel in Nunavut are the most expensive in Canada due to high transportation costs and are expected to continue to climb in the foreseeable future. Thus, electricity rates in Nunavut are about 39.39 ¡é/kWh (~3 to 6 times higher than other Canadian provinces). There is a clear need to reduce Nunavut's reliance on diesel-generated electricity. Fortunately, renewable energy technologies (RETs) including wind, solar and micro-hydro represent technically viable and scalable sources of power to reduce the use of diesel fuel in Nunavut. Pilot projects with a wind turbine in Rankin Inlet and a solar photovoltaic array in Iqaluit are underway. Despite the recent successes of these pilot projects and the systematic support of RETs in other regions of Canada (e.g. the Green Energy Act in Ontario), there has been no substantial push by the federal or territorial governments to integrate RETs into many Nunavut communities.
This paper systematically reviews the reasons for this oversight and explores potential solutions by: i) performing numerical simulations for wind and solar technical and economic viability in a case study Nunavut community, ii) interviewing key government policy makers in both Nunavut and the federal government to determine barriers to RET deployment in Nunavut, and iii) analyzing potential technical requirements and policy solutions to overcome these barriers.
First, numerical simulations for wind and solar were performed in a case study city of Iqaluit, and it was determined that diesel can be reduced by 41% and 38% using equivalent power plants matching 15MW base load with wind and solar respectively. Based on the results of the simulations and the current state of RET pilot projects in the North, it is evident that integrating RETs in Nunavut is a realistic solution to diesel dependency. The primary challenges of integrating RETs in Nunavut were determined from interviews with federal government policy-makers over the last year; they were found to be i) lack of capacity in the communities, ii) initial capital costs, and iii) lack of adaptation of RETs to Northern climates. Solutions to these challenges as identi? Ed through the interviews are proposed including: i) set up energy hubs to provide trained personnel for a given RET, ii) begin using life cycle economic analysis for energy purchasing and build RETs into other infrastructure projects (i.e. solar photovoltaic rooftops for new construction), and iii) use existing pilot project data to show technical reliability in the North.
This publication in whole or part may be found online at: here.
AANDC-- Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada "Canada's economic and social well-being benefits from strong, self-sufficient Aboriginal and northern people and communities.
Our vision is a future in which First Nations, Inuit, M¨¦tis and northern communities are healthy, safe, self-sufficient and prosperous - a Canada where people make their own decisions, manage their own affairs and make strong contributions to the country as a whole."
