The Sanirajak Nukkiksautiit Project is looking at what types of renewable energy can be used in Sanirajak. It is looking at ways that Inuit and Inuit organizations can be the owners and benefactors of renewable energy, so that renewable energy can power communities, and money generated from renewable energy can stay within the community.

The main goal of the Sanirajak Nukkiksautiit Project is to carve a path for Sanirajarmiut to reduce reliance on diesel fuel as much as possible. Burning diesel to make electricity is very expensive; it harms the environment, and people’s health. By shifting away from fossil fuels for making electricity, Sanirajarmiut can create their future with clean energy for generations to come.

Right now, Nunavut makes all of its electricity from diesel. This is expensive and contributes to Nunavut’s pollution. Diesel is shipped in from the south, so none of the money that Nunavummiut spend on electricity stays in Nunavut.

Renewable energy owned by Inuit communities could change this so that the money spent on electricity goes back into Inuit communities. It would also reduce pollution so that Nunavut communities can have a cleaner environment.

There are a number of benefits of this project and switching to renewable energy.

Key benefits include:

• Less pollution in the air, land, and water from burning diesel

• Fewer risks of diesel spills, especially when shipping fuel in

• More jobs are created in Sanirajak and Nunavut

• Community members are trained to operate and maintain renewable energy technology

• Money stays in Nunavut, instead of leaving the territory

• Less reliance on the South for energy needs

Without the diesel power plant running all day, every day, Sanirajak will have cleaner air and overall, a cleaner environment.

In Sanirajak, any renewable energy generated gets sold to Qulliq Energy Corporation, as is required by the Government of Nunavut. They will sell electricity to customers, just like they do now. The Hamlet of Sanirajak will receive money back through a financial model that best suits its needs. The community will have the opportunity to decide which model of compensation works best for them.

When there is plenty of sun and/or wind, the community will use renewable energy resources for most of its electricity needs.

When there is not enough sun or wind, the community will draw electricity from the energy that was stored in the battery.

The QEC plant will provide back-up power when needed. The QEC plant can also charge the battery so that the battery can be used at peak energy use times, like when people are cooking dinner.

It’s true that wind turbines don’t work if there is no wind, and solar panels don’t work if there is no sun.

When there is no wind and no sun, the batteries will help deliver stored clean energy to the community.

When the battery doesn’t have enough energy, the community will rely on the QEC diesel generators again.

Wind turbines need to be at least 4 km from the airport. So, they will not be close to people’s homes.

There are brakes so that the wind turbines will stop if the winds are too strong, preventing the turbines from breaking.

Fences can be installed around solar panels, and access to wind turbines will be restricted to keep people from climbing on the structures.

When standing right beside a wind turbine, it can be as loud as an outboard motor on a boat.

The sound level drops off quickly though, and by the time you are 500m away, the sound is only as loud as a whisper.