Profiling Current Projects in Nunavut

Since 2012, the Climate Change Secretariat and their partners have been funding a range of projects across Nunavut. However, both QEC and the Qikiqtaaluk Business Development Corporation and Clean Energy Division, are advancing several exciting projects to advance the use of clean energy as well as building retrofits or Smart technologies, to realize energy efficiencies.

Nunavut Arctic College - New Student Residence (Iqaluit)

The old Arctic Hotel received a substantial energy retrofit when Qikiqtaaluk Corporation purchased the hotel to enable space for the Government of Nunavut's Arctic College to house students for its programs, including the Law School. The regional Inuit organization's business arm received funding to an energy retrofit, which included solar panels and renewable energy; an upgrade to the building envelope to be highly energy efficient. The building received an upgraded mechanical and electrical system, and installed LED lighting and heat recovery system. For the project, the residents also receive an occupant education program on the nature of the energy efficient technologies, and their role to support behavioural change on energy conservation.

Project Contact:  Heather Shilton, Manager, Clean Energy, Qikiqtaaluk Corporation

This multi-year, phased development is a microgrid of clean energy for the development of a large parcel of Inuit-owned land in Iqaluit. Beginning with the Inuit Hotel and Conference Centre on Federal Road, and expanding below the Plateau ridge, Qikiqtaaluk Corporation is introducing power through a Smart microgrid. A large land-based solar array on the Inuit owned led will be fed into the microgrid, as well as rooftop wind technology. The combined wind and solar will heat and power the buildings, and provide Smart technologies for cost and energy efficiencies. The battery storage or energy storage is also a component.

Project Contact:  Heather Shilton, Manager, Clean Energy, Qikiqtaaluk Corporation

In 2017, Qikiqtaaluk Corporation, with funding by NRCan, established a meteorological tower and has been collecting site-specific wind data for over 2 years.  The information was incorporated into a funding application to use some of that planning for a high diesel displacement project. The 1MW wind farm would displace 50% of the diesel used for electricity, with the surplus energy used for heat. The project worked with a team from PEI that did a project in Alaska, with good success.  The technology is a little different than southern wind turbines: smaller, and can be installed with equipment already available in the community. The goal is to train and employ local residents to support the maintenance of the turbines.

Project Contact:  Heather Shilton, Manager, Clean Energy, Qikiqtaaluk Corporation