Solar Microgrid Systems

An Answer to Diesel Dependency for Remote First Nations

The Crisis

Remote First Nations in Ontario’s Far North rely upon diesel for almost all of the electricity generated. This diesel dependency creates many problems for First Nations. The costs of diesel-generated power are high, and rising fuel prices and transportation costs are bankrupting many First Nations. One remote First Nation pays over $1.3 million dollars a year on fuel and transportation. With no all-season road access, remote First Nations must transport as much diesel fuel during the short winter road season as possible. Storage space is limited even if the winter road season is long enough to transport the significant amounts of diesel needed. Diesel must be flown in during shortfalls, which is even more expensive.

Using diesel fuel also hurts the environment. Minor diesel spills have destroyed infrastructure such as the elementary school in Attawapiskat while major diesel spills from the transportation of the fossil fuels by winter road, barge, or by air has the potential to destroy critical wildlife and fish habitat on the traditional territories of many First Nations. For example, a diesel spill near Fort Severn First Nation would devastate the denning areas of the last two remaining polar bear populations in Ontario. Spills in other territories would impact the caribou, sturgeon, and geese habitat – critical food sources of the First Nations peoples in the North.

The health impacts of diesel-generated electricity near our communities are also well documented.

A Solution

Faced with rising environmental, health, and financial costs of diesel-generated electricity, several remote First Nations including Deer Lake, Fort Severn, Keewaywin, Poplar Hill, McDowell Lake, and North Spirit Lake mandated Geordi Kakepetum, then executive director of Keewaytinook Okimakak, to find a way to reduce diesel-generated electricity by 50%. They turned to Geordi because of his experience building the K-Net Network, the largest First Nations-owned and managed broadband network in Canada. Launched under Geordi’s leadership, the K-Network supports telemedicine, digital education, mobile, and other applications in over 80 First Nations in Ontario.

Geordi set to work to build bridges with those in the private and public sectors who shared the vision of the First Nations to replace dirty fossil fuels with the power of the sun. Working with partners such as Canadian Solar Inc. (CSI) for almost three years, Geordi helped develop a solar microgrid system customized for use in remote First Nations. Geordi recommended to the Chiefs that a standalone for-profit corporation be created to commercialize the solar microgrid solution. The Chiefs formed NCC Development LP as a wholly-owned energy management company serving their six First Nations.

The Chiefs’ vision is to see solar microgrid systems in each of their First Nations and across the region, Canada, and eventually remote Indigenous communities around the world. They want these solar microgrid systems to be owned and operated by the communities themselves and not by outside interests. This will create jobs in each First Nation, stimulate local economies, and create new revenue streams as remote First Nations become generators of power themselves, not just customers of electricity. The surplus power will be sold to mining, forestry, and other resource-based companies. When and if these communities are connected to the Ontario Power Authority (OPA) provincial grid, electricity can also be sold to power generation companies to create a new clean revenue stream for the First Nations.

The revenue from solar microgrid systems and savings from decreased diesel use will allow First Nations to invest in their own priorities such as education, healthcare, and housing.