Kugluktuk to get hybrid solar-diesel power plant

Kugluktuk will benefit from a portion of more than $27.8 million in new energy and water projects announced for Nunavut in Iqaluit Tuesday. The federal government is contributing $18.6 million toward four of those projects.

More than $6 million will got toward building a solar energy and storage system attached to the Kugluktuk power plant.

Itwill not only be Nunavut's first hybrid solar and diesel power plant, but according to Bernadette Jordan, federal minister of rural economic development, it will be the first hybrid power plant in the circumpolar region.

Kugluktuk is north of the Arctic circle and has about 21 days of darkness in the winter, but according to theTravel Nunavutwebsite, getsround-the-clock sunshine from May 27 to July 17.

New generators for 6 communities

The project announcements were made Tuesday at theQulliqEnergy Corporation office in Iqaluit.Bruno Pereira, president of the Qulliq Energy Corporation, said Kugluktuk isonly the first of more greening projects to come.

"We wanted ... to do this kind of work in the various communities," Pereira said. "Kugluktuk is a good start but we are hoping to continue."

Pereira didn't say whichother communities they plan to do green energy projects in, or when the projects would start.

Seven diesel generators will also be replaced in the communities of Rankin Inlet, Coral Harbour, Chesterfield Inlet, Pond Inlet, Clyde River and Whale Cove, with Pond Inlet getting two generators.

The energy cooperation is contributing$7.6 million to replace thesediesel generators, which are atend of life.

The Nunavut government will also give $1.6 million toward upgrading Kugaaruk's sewage lagoon, going toward a temporary wastewater management systemfor the lagoon in preparation for a permanent wastewater treatment system.