Ontario First Nation sets milestone with renewable energy

• 4 years ago (2019-08-28)
• David Flin

North America 995 Solar 242

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Gull Bay First Nation and the utility Ontario Power Generation (OPG) set a milestone for off-grid Canadian indigenous communities with the commissioning of a hybrid solar-plus-storage microgrid. The microgrid is the first of its kind in Canada, and OPG has helped Kiashke Zaaging Anishinaabek, also known as Gull Bay First Nation, become the first remote community in Canada to utilise renewable energy.

The new $6 million Glizis Energy solar storage microgrid facility will serve the entire community of about 100 houses and 13 community buildings and facilities. When running at full capacity, the facility will cover the entire electrical needs of the community for 11-12 hours per day, offsetting about 130,000 gallons of diesel fuel per year.

The project is 100 per cent community-owned, and Wilfred King, Chief of the Gulf Bay First Nation said this will result in: “community-centred economic development and jobs; community infrastructure improvement, a healthier community; diesel and greenhouse gas reduction, and a stronger Kiashke Zaaging Anishinaabek community.”

The First Nation is also looking for additional microgrid revenue that would help completely eliminate the need for diesel generation.