Kugluktuk to get hybrid solar-diesel power plant
Will be the first hybrid power plant in the circumpolar region, minister says
Kugluktuk will benefit from a portion of more than $27.8 million in new energy and water projects announced for Nunavut in Iqaluit Tuesday. The federal government is contributing $18.6 million toward four of those projects.
More than $6 million will got toward building a solar energy and storage system attached to the Kugluktuk power plant.
It will not only be Nunavut's first hybrid solar and diesel power plant, but according to Bernadette Jordan, federal minister of rural economic development, it will be the first hybrid power plant in the circumpolar region.
Kugluktuk is north of the Arctic circle and has about 21 days of darkness in the winter, but according to the Travel Nunavut website, gets round-the-clock sunshine from May 27 to July 17.
New generators for 6 communities
The project announcements were made Tuesday at the Qulliq Energy Corporation office in Iqaluit. Bruno Pereira, president of the Qulliq Energy Corporation, said Kugluktuk is only the first of more greening projects to come.
"We wanted ... to do this kind of work in the various communities," Pereira said. "Kugluktuk is a good start but we are hoping to continue."
Pereira didn't say which other communities they plan to do green energy projects in, or when the projects would start.
Seven diesel generators will also be replaced in the communities of Rankin Inlet, Coral Harbour, Chesterfield Inlet, Pond Inlet, Clyde River and Whale Cove, with Pond Inlet getting two generators.
The energy cooperation is contributing $7.6 million to replace these diesel generators, which are at end of life.
The Nunavut government will also give $1.6 million toward upgrading Kugaaruk's sewage lagoon, going toward a temporary wastewater management system for the lagoon in preparation for a permanent wastewater treatment system.