We’re building a solar-battery-diesel combination microgrid to power the northern community of Descharme Lake. This will be a cost-effective solution to deliver more reliable power to the community.
The microgrid will be built with 228 kilowatts (kW) of solar power and 488 kilowatt hours (kWh) of battery storage. It’ll cost an estimated $1.8 million.
Why a Microgrid?
We currently maintain a 96-kilometre (km) power line to Descharme Lake that provides power to fewer than 20 properties. The 60-year-old line is costly to maintain and requires significant maintenance and replacement.
The microgrid will be an independent system. It’ll power the community using sunlight during the day, while storing excess energy in a large battery for use when it’s dark. It’ll also include diesel generators to provide backup power when the sun isn’t shining, or the battery is low. Over 80% of power generated by the microgrid is expected to come from solar.
A microgrid provides a cost-effective alternative to provide more reliable power to the community of Descharme Lake. It will also contribute to reducing our overall greenhouse gas emissions.
Learn more about solar power and how it works.
Our Progress So Far
We engaged with community members, Rightsholders and stakeholders about the possibility of building a microgrid to replace the power line. We also worked with Northern Municipal Services to choose a place for the microgrid to be built.
We expect it to be in operation by late 2024.
Respecting the Local Environment
What we do today impacts our future. We’re always working hard to reduce our impact and protect the environment.
As we plan projects, we use tools like databases, satellite imagery and field surveys to understand the environment we are working in.
As projects move forward, we’ll make sure environmental protection standards are in place to reduce our impact on features like:
- waterbodies
- sensitive lands
- wildlife and their habitats
- heritage resources
We also work with the Ministry of Environment and other regulatory agencies to ensure we meet all environmental requirements.
Project Outcomes
Microgrids work well in communities like Descharme Lake. They’re less expensive than maintaining a long power line. Having the power close by also means there is less chance for power outages.
This is the first project of its kind. We’ll gain valuable experience operating it. That’ll help us determine if similar microgrids are suitable for other locations.
