Power system impact study for Old Crow solar project

Thompson, Sara. Old Crow, Yukon. Site visit with Northern Energy Innovation Team. July 24, 2017.
Thompson, Sara. Old Crow, Yukon. Site visit with Northern Energy Innovation Team. July 24, 2017.

Grid impact studies were performed on Old Crow's electric power system to assess the renewable generation penetration limit.

Project overview

The Old Crow Solar Project consisted of a power system impact study being performed on Old Crow's electrical grid. Old Crow is a fly-in community located in the northwest Yukon on the banks of the Porcupine River, above the Arctic Circle. Old Crow has a population of about 300 people and is home to the Vuntut Gwitchin First Nation.

The Vuntut Gwitchin planned to install a solar system in their community. To ensure that the implementation of this renewable energy resource would not negatively affect voltage stability and systems frequency, NEI preformed a power system impact study. 

The appropriate sized energy storage system was determined to reduce the energy spillage, that would need to occur to maintain systems frequency and voltage, under normal and abnormal conditions.

It was determined through the power system impact study that Old Crow can be off diesel generation, alternatively producing electricity for 95-100 days a year, with the appropriate solar grid and battery storage size for their unique electrical grid.

Project team

Dr. Michael Ross, Program Lead, Industrial Research Chair for Colleges in Northern Energy Innovation, Yukon Research Centre, Yukon College

Sara Thompson, Program Enhancement Officer, Northern Energy Innovation, Yukon Research Centre, Yukon College

Jason Zrum, Project Lead, Northern Energy Innovation, Yukon Research Centre, Yukon College

Spencer Ryan Deehr Sumanik, Project Lead, Northern Energy Innovation, Yukon Research Centre, Yukon College

Researchers

Tarek Bos-Jabbar, Northern Energy Innovation, Yukon Research Centre, Yukon College

Dr. Sinan Bulut, Northern Energy Innovation, Yukon Research Centre, Yukon College

Tim Dohring, Northern Energy Innovation, Yukon Research Centre, Yukon College

Geneviève Favreau, Northern Energy Innovation, Yukon Research Centre, Yukon College

Adrienne Hynes, Northern Energy Innovation, Yukon Research Centre, Yukon College

Dr. Tanvir Rahman, Northern Energy Innovation, Yukon Research Centre, Yukon College

John Ross, Northern Energy Innovation, Yukon Research Centre, Yukon College

Rosamond Tutton, Northern Energy Innovation, Yukon Research Centre, Yukon College

Partners
  • Yukon Energy Corporation
  • ATCO Electric
  • Northwest Territories Power Corporation
  • Qulliq Energy Corporation
  • Vuntut Gwitchin Government
  • Aurora Research Institute, Aurora College
  • Nunavut Research Centre, Arctic College
Funders
  • Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada (CIRNA)
  • Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC)
  • Yukon Energy Corporation
  • Qulliq Energy Corporation
  • Northwest Territories Power Corporation
  • ATCO Electric