Knowledge is power: Inuvik learns from Alaskan wind energy project

As Inuvik, N.W.T.,looks toharnessthe power of wind energyin order to reduce itsreliance on diesel, two Alberta graduate students aresharinglessons learned fromsuccessful wind energy projectsin Alaska.

Makenzie MacKay, an environmental sociology student, and Natalia Vergara, an engineering student, travelledto Inuvik's Aurora Research Institute from the University of Alberta to talk to locals on Monday about the potential challenges the townmay face in its endeavour.

• Inuvikwind farm inching closer to reality

"The arctic climate can be so extreme in the winter,"said MacKay."There are problems with ice accumulating on the turbines or them stalling altogether."

There are also logistical challenges, she said, like building on permafrost and transporting massive cranes or turbine parts to remote, fly-in communities.

Inuvikcould look to Alaska for solutions to some of those challenges, said MacKay. The U.S. state has 104 active wind turbines.

During their presentation, MacKay and Vergara stressed the importance of planning and community involvement as factors that have contributed to success in some communities. They focused onKotzebue, Alaska, as an example.

"They've been gradually growing their wind farm and successfully operating it for the past couple decades," said MacKay. "They're kind of known as one of the leaders ofarctic wind."

According to the presentation,Kotzbue began harnessing wind power with three turbines in 1997. They're now up to 19 wind turbines, offsetting 250,000 gallons of diesel each year.

"The wind isn't always blowing and generating energy," explained MacKay.

But she said wind energy can offset diesel use, and reducing a community's reliance on diesel canreduce costs forresidents.

Wind projects in Canada's North

Past efforts at harnessing wind energy in Canada's three northern territories have been less successful.

In2000,Qulliq Energy Corporation installed a wind turbinein Rankin Inlet, Nunavut,which operated until 2001. It was refurbished in October2008 but was ultimately decommissioned, according to Nunavut Energy.

• Rankin Inlet wind turbine loses its blades

The corporation also installed similarturbines in Cambirdge Bay and Kugluktuk, Nunavut, in the 1990s,but by 2002 they were no longer functioning.

The wind projects in allthree communities experienced equipment malfunctions, issues with routine maintenance and financial restrictions.

In the Yukon, two turbines were installedby Yukon Energy on Haeckel Hill, just outside ofWhitehorse. One, erected in 1993, is no longer operational while another, installedin 2000, still worksbut generates little energy.

• Let the wind blow: Company pitches new, bigger turbines for Whitehorse

Now, Northern Energy Capital a Whitehorse-based company hopesto revitalizeHaeckelHill and plans to buildthree new turbines to generate power 365 days a year.

It isalso proposinga wind energy project inRankin Inlet.

New technology

MacKaysaid that,since those initial projects, there have been improvements in wind turbine technology.

"There are specially-designed turbines for the Arctic," she said.

That includes internal heating to combat ice buildup and those designedto withstand harsher climates.

MacKay also saidconcerns like wildlife impact due to new roads can be mitigated by choosing the best location.

MacKay and Vergara said they are looking to hear from residents about anyconcerns they may have with the proposed turbine for Inuvik High Point.