Atlantica recently interviewed Jamie Hewlett, Regional Energy Coordinator for the Nunatsiavut Government, to learn more about the Nunatsiavut Community’s renewable energy projects and Energy Security Plan.
Q: Please tell us a little bit about the Nunatsiavut Government and your role.
A. Nunatsiavut is located in northern Labrador and consists of five towns; Hopedale, Makkovik, Nain, Postville and Rigolet. The Nunatsiavut Government was formed in 2005, providing self-governance to the Inuit and overseeing many aspects for the five communities including culture, language, health, education and energy needs.
In 2016, the Nunatsiavut Government launched the Nunatsiavut Energy Security Plan. This document represents a proactive approach to meeting energy needs throughout the region with due recognition of local social and economic conditions. In order to implement this plan, the Nunatsiavut Government added capacity by creating a Regional Energy Coordinator position.
The Nunatsiavut Energy Security Plan discusses how we want to approach different energy projects in these communities. We have accomplished a great deal since the formation of this plan so we are looking to get this document updated and also include individual energy plans for each of the five communities of Nunatsiavut. We also need to include a “what have we done?” section by adding evaluation framework and an implementation plan going forward. Eastpoint Engineering is working on this now.
Jamie Hewlett, Regional Energy Coordinator for the Nunatsiavut Government
Q: What are the current energy programs and projects being undertaken?
A: The Nunatsiavut Energy Efficiency Retrofit (NEER) program is now in place to provide flexible support to residents and businesses in each of the five communities with energy efficiency retrofits, regardless of the types of energy used. In the previous year, the communities’ energy projects targeted electrically heated structures with a goal to reduce emissions from the diesel plant but left out non-electrically heated homes and businesses. Instead of focusing on one specific thing, the NEER program looks at the whole building. An audit is done and a tailored solution is provided – what you currently have will impact what you get upgraded to if you qualify. We will also provide a financial contribution with amounts based on household income level and arrange to have all of the agreed upon upgrades complete.
It is important to coordinate all the work being done so it can happen during one construction season so each person doesn’t need to pay to get these workers out there (travel, boarding, etc.). The first program round had 160 applications.
Over 200 residential community members are taking advantage of the Nunatsiavut Government’s High Efficiency Woodstoves Replacement Program, which replaces older, low-efficiency wood stoves with a high-efficiency one to help target emissions and make their heating more affordable in the long-term. With the current energy knowledge that community members have they have also recommended to the Nunatsiavut Government to develop a wood supply program.
In addition to the energy efficiency programs offered by the Government, there have also been five community solar demonstration projects completed over the last few years. In total, there is 121 kW of installed solar capacity to enable clean energy consumption in our rural communities. The projects include:
- Jeremias Sillitt Community Centre in Nain – 24 kW
- Rigolet community center – 15kW
- Hopedale Nanuk center – 24kW
- Postville community center – 10kW
- Makkovik Arena – 48kW
Training and Mentorship programs were developed to ensure the solar projects are maintained and sustainable by community members.
“We want to incorporate these renewable resources, but it has to be done right. [We need to] have a good relationship with the utility and find what works best.” – Jamie Hewlett
Q. Are there limitations with these solar projects in the winter months?
A. These projects provide a demonstration of what is possible for the community. We’ve learned we can’t fully provide all the energy needs because there isn’t enough sun all year round and not enough workforce for maintenance needed (like regular snow clearing). There is still a lot of learning to do when developing these types of projects in small, remote communities.
Q. What is the community’s current energy knowledge level? What is important to them?
A. There has been a lot of community engagement done to discuss current and future energy programs and projects. In 2020, the Nunatsiavut Government shared the potential green energy projects we could build in our community and asked community members what they know and what they prefer. This data was collected to gage their current knowledge, which was followed-up with engagement sessions to further understanding on the different projects.
An example of the community’s current energy knowledge level is their awareness of the cost of electricity and fuel, as well as the scarcity of wood for home heating. In most Nunatsiavut communities, you can only cut firewood in the winter, which requires a 50+ km round trip on snowmobile. Not only does this require extreme effort, it also becomes very expensive to maintain. Some folks even have to outsource wood supply from the south to meet their needs.
Overall, due to the cold winters and unpredictable seasonality, community members care about reliability and affordability in their energy usage, but they are also receptive to the clean energy projects being done as they care deeply about the environment and the land they live on.
Q. How do you keep the costs of energy down? How is reliability?
A. Even though some subsides have been applied to electricity rates (up to 1000 kWh), the cost of energy is fairly high due to fuel having to be shipped into the isolated communities and maintaining the diesel plants. For residents who heat with oil fuel prices are already quite high, then they need to add shipping costs. It is now about $400-500 for a drum of oil and some folks in the dead of winter are using a drum a week plus their wood stoves.
Electricity reliability has gotten better, but there’s always concern of random blackouts in the winter. The wood stove program is so popular, not only because its comfortable, but wood provides reliable heat.
Q. Can you share any future energy projects the community is developing?
A. The Nunatsiavut Government has made a point to consistently communicate with its community members and ensure there is a trusting relationship and partnership through different energy projects.
Currently, we are working on the Nain Wind Microgrid Project, which aims to reduce the community’s reliance on diesel fuel for electricity generation.
When the Nunatsiavut Government reviewed wind data from our five communities, Nain was selected as the most viable option for a wind project. Natural Forces was selected as our development partner in 2020, and they completed a Front End Engineering Design (FEED) study in 2023. We decided on two 2.3MW turbines downrated to a total of 3.5MW output accompanied by a 2.5MW battery storage system. An RFP just went out for batteries and a supplier will be selected this fall.
Funding for the microgrid project is mainly supported by federal government grants but will also include equity contributions from the Nunatsiavut Government and Natural Forces as partners in the project. We are currently finalizing a Power Purchase Agreement with NL Hydro to purchase the renewable energy at an agreed upon rate to offset the cost of diesel. The project will potentially provide over 50 per cent of Nain’s electricity on an annual basis once high penetration rates are reached and eventually we will displace over one million liters of diesel fuel per year.
The current project timeline is to order turbines before the end of 2024, start civil work next summer (access road, foundations, etc.) and erect turbines, complete interconnection and commission the project in 2026.
Our plan is to make this a demonstration project to help follow through with similar ones in other Nunatsiavut communities.
The Nunatsiavut Government is also working on a tidal project in Rigolet. We are currently working with a company out of British Columbia, ASL Environmental, to collect tidal velocity data in the Rigolet Narrows to assess whether there is enough energy there to support a viable project. Once the data is collected, we will run energy models to confirm viability. Even if the project might not be feasible, it is great research and learning opportunity for Nunatsiavut and our harsh northern climate.
Q. What advice would you give to other communities looking to reduce emissions and generate their own energy?
A. Don’t be afraid to reach out to everyone for collaborations because building good partnerships is key in the energy transition. Think outside the box, utilize local resources whenever possible, let voices from the community be heard, and work cohesively with all parties involved is what it truly takes to build a project.