Thunder Bay, Ontario: Kiashke Zaaging Anishinaabek (KZA) / Gull Bay First Nation (GBFN) and Ontario Power Generation announced March 20 that they are co-developing a microgrid that will use solar, battery storage and grid technology to help reduce diesel use at KZA.
Chief Wilfred N. King addressing the audience during the KZA Micro Grid Project Launch Ceremony in Gull Bay First Nation (KZA) on March 20, 2018
The microgrid will integrate renewable solar generation (a ground-mounted 360 kWdc photovoltaic field), lithium-ion battery storage (300 kW /300 kWhr) and microgrid control technology added to diesel generators that currently supply the community’s entire energy needs. The microgrid system has been designed to be able to shut down the diesel generators and meet 100% of the community’s electrical demand during a sunny day. The system will provide approximately 25% of the community’s total electricity during the year, and is expected to also reduce polluting and expensive diesel use in the community by approximately 110,000 litres each year.
Once the project has completed testing and commissioning and is fully operational, GBFN will own and operate the microgrid.
Funding came from the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund, Ontario’s Smart Grid Fund, and the LDC Tomorrow fund. GBNF has also received funding through the IESO’s Energy Partnership Program. Funding does not cover the total cost of the project, with OPG contributing the difference.
Collaborators on the project are Hydro One Remotes, MaRS and ABB providing in-kind support to the project. MaRS also continues to provide support for the project by providing some funding, and working on a video profiling the Project. Lumos Energy, which specializes in clean energy development by Indigenous communities, is Gull Bay First Nation’s trusted Clean Energy Advisor.
OPG will manage the contractors and oversee the development, design, procurement, regulatory processes, construction, integration, and commissioning of the microgrid. Construction is expected to start in the spring of 2018 and be complete by the end of the year. Once operational, KZA will own and operate the microgrid.
“The Kiashke Zaaging Anishinaabek solar microgrid project reflects our peoples’ connection with the land, and our responsibility as caretakers on behalf of all living things for seven generations,” said Chief Wilfred N. King. “The microgrid project is a game-changer, as Canada’s first fully-integrated solar energy-storage system in a remote community. Through KZA’s ownership of the microgrid, we shall replace thousands of liters of dirty diesel fuel with clean solar power, and would be honoured to share our experience with off-grid Indigenous communities across Canada. KZA expresses deep appreciation to project partners: OPG, the Ontario and Canadian governments for supporting a clean energy future. Chi miigwetch.”
Past partnerships with OPG and First Nations include Lac Seul First Nation to build the Lac Seul Generating Station (GS) in northwest Ontario, Taykwa Tagamou Nation to build the Peter Sutherland Senior GS on New Post Creek in northeast Ontario, and Moose Cree First Nation on the $2.8 billion Lower Mattagami River Project. (See “First Nations ownership expanding across Canada,” IPPSO FACTO, November 2016.) OPG is currently working with the Six Nations of the Grand River on developing a solar power facility on its former Nanticoke GS site on Lake Erie. This microgrid project is OPG’s fifth development project with an Indigenous community.