Wind, solar wouldn't cost more than diesel power in parts of Nunavut: study

Some Nunavut communities could cut their fossil fuel use by up tohalf with renewable energy that wouldn't cost any more than theaging diesel generators they now use, a new study has concluded.

"The technical challenges have been for the most partaddressed," said Claudio Canizares, one of the authors of the
report that was conductedby six Inuit, academic and environmentalgroups andfunded by the World Wildlife Fund Canada.

The study comes as the federal and territorial governmentsconsider what to do about 300 mostly northern communities that relyon diesel to generate electricity.

Many are aging and long past due for replacement. In Nunavut, 13of the territory's 17 generators are more than 35 years old. All areexpensive to run and they emit greenhouses gases and black carbon,which contributes to melting of sea ice.

A 2015 Senate report found northern electricity systems are"aging, underperforming and at capacity." Nunavut has asked Ottawafor $250 million to replace and upgrade the territory's power plantsand energy infrastructure.

Canizares concedes that replacing diesel entirely would be toocostly. Instead, his report asks which communities would benefitmost from using already-proven wind and solar technologies withoutraising costs.

It found in at least five Nunavut communities including thecapital of Iqaluit the current generation of wind and solarsystems could replace at least one-third of diesel consumption forthe same price as operating and maintaining its old generator.

"Some of these generators are getting old and need to bereplaced," Canizares said. "Why not look at renewables?"

Government listening

The Nunavut government is interested.

"The (territory) is supportive of alternative energy researchand implementation," said cabinet spokeswoman Yasmina Pepa. "Itwould welcome green energy investments."

Renewable energy is spreading in the Arctic.

Colville Lake, high in a corner of the Northwest Territories, hassuccessfully tested batteries and solar panels that should allow thecommunity to run entirely on the sun's energy during summer.

• An off-grid community goes solar, and gets closer to its roots
• N.W.T.'sLutsel K'e Dene First Nation enters the power business

In Nunavik, Que., a wind turbine installed at the Raglan Mine hasoffset the use of 3.3. million litres of diesel fuel in its first 18months.

The state of Alaska's US$50-million a year renewable-energy fundhas spent some $271 million since 2008 while tracking the annualoffsets of diesel fuel use. It reports saving about 75 millionlitres of diesel fuel in 2015, up from 57 million litres in 2014.

The figures prove that renewables can work in the isolated andharsh conditions of the North, said Canizares.

"Alaska is the example to follow."

The most recent federal budget committed $10.7 million over twoyears specifically for renewable energy projects in indigenous andnorthern communities that are off the grid and reliant on dieselpower. That's in addition to a $2.2-billion, five-year greeninfrastructure fund for First Nations communities.

As well, the Vancouver Declaration on climate change signed lastfall by all premiers and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau promisedearly action on "clean energy solutions to help get indigenous,remote and northern communities off diesel."