WHITEHORSE, YT – The results of a new feasibility study from Bell-subsidiary NorthwesTel released today suggest that the use of solar-diesel hybrid stations could reduce the northern incumbent’s base energy costs in some locations by more than 80%.
The carrier said it has been actively working to reduce the costs of operating microwave stations – which are currently about $5/L for fuel and up to $2.5 million dollars per year for to maintain – at its 156 remote sites across Northern Canada. Of these sites, 87 rely on independent sources of power and 37 are only accessible by helicopter.
NorthwesTel and the Energy Solutions Centre, in partnership with the Cold Climate Innovation Centre of Yukon College, completed the operational feasibility assessment of a solar photovoltaic (PV) array installed at Engineer Creek with an operational load of 1.8kW to 2.8kW.
The study establishes an optimized installed system size based on the required materials and labour necessary to construct the PV array at a remote site and at a high evaluation.
This analysis shows that the ideal system size, from an economic perspective, is likely in the range of 10 to 20 kW for a 1.8 kW load. The base cost of an installed PV array at this size range is $0.28/kWh – considerably less than the $1.53/kWh base cost of diesel energy load sufficient to power an operational load of 1.8kW.
“We’re very pleased with the results of the study and our partnership with other organizations here in the North,” said Northwestel CIO and VP of IT Don Pumphrey in a release. “Northwestel has been actively working to reduce the costs of operating microwave stations at remote sites across northern Canada. This study makes great strides in that direction and helps promote greener operations at the same time.”
As a result, Northwestel has committed to the construction of a 15 kW array this summer. This project continues to be in partnership with Cold Climate Innovation and the Energy Solutions Centre.
The Northwestel Remote Station Solar/Diesel Hybrid Feasibility study is posted on the Northwestel website at www.nwtel.ca.
