The Northwest Territories Power Corporation (NTPC) and the Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT) partnered to construct a one of a kind solar/battery/diesel hybrid system in Colville Lake.
The hybrid system, which was officially opened in May 2016, replaced a conventional diesel power plant that had been installed in 1990.
Before installation of that plant, the community did not have a source for electricity other than privately-owned generators.
The hybrid system was designed to support NTPC and GNWT efforts to reduce the reliance on diesel and the associated greenhouse gas emissions. The system includes 136.5 kW of solar PV, 200 kWh of battery storage, three diesel generators (2 x 100 kW, 1 x 150 kW) and a control system that integrates the power generation sources.
Background on Colville Lake
Colville Lake is a remote settlement corporation located in the Sahtu Region of the Northwest Territories, Canada. The community is located 50 km north of the Arctic Circle. The settlement’s population is approximately 150.
Access to the community is restricted to air or winter road.
Measuring Success
From April 2017 to March 2018
- 20% of the community’s power generation was provided by solar energy and the battery energy storage system
- 53% of the community’s power generation was provided by solar energy and the battery energy storage system in the month of July 2017
- 134,441 kWh of diesel-generated electricity was displaced
- 38,337 litres of diesel fuel was displaced
- Diesel generators operated at least 27% less than in a standard diesel plant
From April 2017 to March 2018, diesel generators operated at least 27% less than in a standard diesel plant.
