Possible power in the air
Alternative energy project proposed
Sarah Ladik
Northern News Services
Thursday, July 14, 2016
INUVIK
The winds of change are blowing for Inuvik's energy sector.
According to GNWT specialists, the only operating wind turbine in the NWT is at the Diavik Diamond Mine, and it paid for itself in 7.5 years. A turbine in Inuvik likely wouldn't see that same rate, but would still displace 10 per cent of the diesel fuel currently used each year. - photo courtesy of Diavik Diamond Mine
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GNWT representatives told town council July 11 that the territorial government is exploring the feasibility of adding a wind turbine to the community's energy infrastructure.
"The technology for cold-weather wind turbines is much better than it was 10 years ago, when I was working on the Tuk wind project. That didn't happen," said Wade Carpenter, alternative energy specialist with the Department of Public Works and Services, adding that the project is still in the exploratory stage.
The proposed work would see one or two 2.3 megawatt wind turbines installed in the Inuvik area.
That would displace up to 10 per cent of the community's current diesel use.
Where those turbines might be located has yet to be decided.
Carpenter and Janpeter Lennie-Misgeld, a senior analyst with the department, outlined current studies being done on two locations. Storm Hills is 55 km north of the community, meaning transmission lines for the power a turbine would produce would have to run either that length overland or about 70 km along the future Inuvik-Tuktoyaktuk Highway.
The second site, called Inuvik High Point, is close to the airport, making it far more accessible. To be worthy of a turbine, they explained, wind must be consistently above six metres per second.
The Storm Hills study site has been found to have windspeeds at 7.9 metres per second, while Inuvik
High Points is at 6.8 metres per second.
The project, Carpenter said, would likely cost between $20 million and $25 million and would have to be government funded.
"We would like to do some field work this summer," said Lennie-Misgeld, explaining that would involve flying over the proposed sites in helicopters and examining the land where the turbines would be built.
The Inuvik High Point site is about 13 km outside of town, something Carpenter said would mitigate any visual or aural concerns residents may have about the turbines.
"Energy is a huge part of living in the North, particularly the cost, and we've had our own problems with it," said Mayor Jim McDonald.
"These projects are certainly encouraging."
While he noted that the project wouldn't likely bring down the cost of energy in town in the near future, he hoped it would make a difference in the long run.
Deputy mayor Stephen Baryluk asked if all goes well there would be opportunity for expansion in the future, but Carpenter explained that it would require better battery technology than is currently available.
Lennie-Misgeld said a request for proposals for preliminary work would be issued within a month, after which the department could better grasp the feasibility of the project.
"We should have enough information by spring to take another step," he said, adding that if the stars align, construction could get underway in 2018.
