Jillian Dickens
Northern News Services

Rankin Inlet (Oct 26/05) - Wind energy won't end Nunavut's dependence on diesel-powered generators anytime soon.

Findings from Qulliq Energy Corporation's wind energy studies in Rankin Inlet show the costs far outweigh the gains.

"As an alternative for displacing diesel electrical generation, wind energy doesn't look good, based on our findings," said director of operations Peter Mackey.

Qulliq erected one windmill in Rankin Inlet in 1998.

It has since generated 205 megawatt hours total, replaced 20,000 litres of diesel annually, but had a capital cost of $355,000.

The challenges in Rankin were many, says Mackey.

Once the original foundation and distribution extension were put in place, residents changed their minds on the location, said Mackey. This meant more money.

Plus, the mill required "continuous on-site technical support," said Mackey in a recently released report.

Windmills were also erected in Kugluktuk in 1997. In 2000 one collapsed, but the other is still running.

All three windmills combined produced less than 0.1 per cent of Nunavut's energy needs, said Mackey.

The biggest hurdle, says Mackey, is that Nunavut's energy system is not connected to a grid like those in the south.

Even with top-notch windmills that can withstand time and extreme weather conditions, windmill generation won't be ideal here without a grid, said Mackey.

With the price of crude oil raising the roof - it was at $61 a barrel last week - finding an alternative to diesel is at the forefront of Kivalliq leader's minds.

In early summer, six Kivalliq mayors lobbied the Nunavut government to use wind power for 50 per cent of at least one Kivalliq community's energy needs.

"We're trying to do whatever we can to reduce our use of diesel," Rick Van Horne, senior administrative officer for Arviat, said at the time.

Nunavut used 39 million litres of diesel for power generation in 2004.

- with files from NNSL staff