The feasibility of reducing Nunavut's diesel reliance with a transition to renewable energy technologies, primarily solar and wind energy. ...

• Main Author: Gurm, Kiran
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: unknown
• Published: Graduate Studies 2017
• Subjects: Nunavut
• Online Access: https://dx.doi.org/10.11575/prism/32023; https://prism.ucalgary.ca/handle/1880/106801

Residents in Nunavut have developed a complete reliance on fossil fuels for their energy needs; 100 percent of the territory's generated electricity is from diesel. Nunavut does not have a centralized grid system as all 25 communities are remote and separated by vast distances, making interconnection infeasible. Electricity needs are met with the use of diesel fuel purchased, shipped and stored in bulk. This dependency has high logistical and financial costs resulting in expensive energy that is heavily subsidized by the territorial government. There is clear motivation from an economic, technical, social and environmental standpoint to investigate the viability of alternative energy sources and decrease the widespread use of diesel in Nunavut. This study evaluates whether solar and wind energy can be part of the solution to begin transitioning Nunavut away from a complete diesel reliance. Furthermore, this study assesses the ability for renewables to reduce Nunavut's energy costs and provide social and ...