A solar array in Colville Lake, N.W.T. There is currently a 20 per cent cap on the amount of electricity solar arrays can contribute to power grids in diesel communities, but a report commissioned by the territorial government recommends increasing that cap. (Kate Kyle/CBC – image credit)
Communities in the N.W.T. that rely on diesel generators for power could handle up to 45 per cent of their electricity coming from renewable energy sources, according to a new study, and now it’s up to the government to decide whether to make the change.
Right now, the cap is at 20 per cent.
Robert Sexton, the territory’s director of energy, said the limit was set back in 2014 to make sure power grids remained stable and to keep electricity prices down. It reflected an amount of renewable energy that would allow diesel generators — which many communities rely on for power — to keep running efficiently, he explained.
However, in response to communities’ growing interest in creating their own renewable power, Sexton said the territory commissioned a study to re-examine that cap. It became publicly available last month.
CIMA+, the engineering company hired to do the research, studied infrastructure in Fort Liard, Fort Simpson, Tulita, Łútselk’e and Inuvik. It concluded all diesel communities in the territory could handle up to 45 per cent of their power coming from renewable sources — such as solar panels, wind turbines or hydropower — without compromising the reliability and consistency of their power.
“We were surprised it was that high,” said Sexton.
Renewable power a ‘good thing’ in communities
The acting manager of the PolarGrizz Hotel in Sachs Harbour, Sharan Green, said it would be a “good thing” if the territory allowed her community to create more renewable energy.
Even though the hamlet has no daylight in the winter, she said the hotel saves money because of its solar panels. Green knows more people in the community who are interested in panels too — but haven’t been able to get them because Sachs Harbour has already hit the 20 per cent cap.
“More is better,” she said. “We’re saving on the power bill. It helps us. It takes time, but it helps us.”
An increase would also be welcome news for a renewable energy project that’s underway in Łútselk’e, according to Haroon Bhatti, the innovations manager for Denesoline Corporation.
The corporation is helping build a clean-energy power plant, made up of solar panels, wind turbines and batteries, that aims to wean Łútselk’e off its diesel generator by 2026.
“That ultimately means that we can sell more energy back to the grid, which of course, is a good thing,” he explained.
Bhatti said renewable power that can’t be sold to the grid …….
Source: https://ca.news.yahoo.com/want-offset-diesel-consumption-solar-163954630.html