SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - A Tlicho-owned alternative energy dealer and developer with offices in Yellowknife and Behchoko is looking to expand its offerings - including training for aboriginals - in Yellowknife.

Matthew Brost, general manager of Tlicho-owned Ventek Enterprises, promoted the alternative energy generation business as a first time exhibitor at last week's Prospects North 2010 conference in Yellowknife. - Guy Quenneville/NNSL photo

"We've been sort of hidden in the background in the local communities trying to do our work and trying to help them out," said Matthew Brost, general manager of Ventek Enterprises, speaking on the floor of last week's Prospects North 2010 conference in Yellowknife.

"We're slowing moving into Yellowknife."

Ventek, owned by Brost's wife, Patricia Bullis, develops alternative energy methods and installs power systems like solar panels for customers such as communities and the GNWT.

"We're ... trying to influx the market right now by bringing out a lot of our solar and wind power systems," said Bullis.

In addition, Ventek takes on NWT electrical apprentices and journeymen and offers complete electrical service, maintenance and construction contracts.

"We're an aboriginal-based company emphasizing local aboriginal employment, to train them, give them the skill sets," said Bullis.

The company likes to stay on the cutting edge, too, and is looking forward to the opportunities afforded to alternative energy products by a new policy from the Northwest Territories Power Corporation.

"The power corp. just passed a policy that you're now allowed to put five kilowatts back onto the grid," said Brost. "A five kilowatt solar or wind system ... essentially is like running your dryer 24 hours a day, seven days a week. It's got the potential to earn an income, especially in the summertime. In the winter time, there's not as much sun, but there's wind.

"We've had some wind generators spinning non-stop all year round for three and a half years now in (Behchoko)."

The company also recently installed solar panels at the Gwich'in Wellness Centre in Inuvik, he added.

"It reduces their fuel consumption on the generators."

One of the company's new initiatives involves bringing hydrogen hybrid energy to Yellowknife and the rest of the territory.

"In the eastern parts of Canada now, during peak periods, alternative energies aren't able to sustain the load," said Brost. "So what they're doing now during peak periods is instead of diverting their alternative energy production into electrical, they're producing hydrogen. They're liquefying it, compressing it and using the hydrogen in hybrid hydrogen generators and vehicles.

"So that's what we're looking to do next."

Brost added the technology will require engineering work on Ventek's part before it becomes available up North.

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