Electricity in Nunavik
How is produced electricity in Nunavik?
Electricity is produced by thermal power stations that run on diesel. Once burned, it turns an alternator which generates the electricity sent to the transmission lines supplying the various buildings.
Did you know?
Although Nunavik’s diesel thermal power plants only contribute less than 1% of Hydro-Québec’s electricity production, they are responsible for 43% of the province’s greenhouse gas emissions.
Measured in CO2 equivalent emissions per gigawatt of electricity produced during the life cycle of a power plant.
How does Nunavik use electricity?
In Nunavik, electricity powers electrical appliances and provides lighting. However, it is not yet used for heating buildings.
The diesel journey to his final use
Every summer, the diesel is transported by boat, stored in tanks,
then transported by truck to the thermal power stations of all the villages.
What are the environmental impacts?
The main environmental effect of diesel combustion is the production of greenhouse gasesᐳᔪᕐᓗᐃᑦ – Gases in the Earth’s atmosphere that trap heat, contributing to the greenhouse effect, such as carbon dioxide and methane. (CO₂) and several other pollutants: nitrogen and sulfur oxides (NOx and SOx), volatile organic compounds (VOC) and fine particles (PM).
Why should we develop clean energy solution?
Reducing the use of diesel in Nunavik would limit harmful emissions, thus preserving the fauna, flora and the health of the habitants, while fighting climate change.
Why choose Nunavik for a renewable energy project?
Although the 14 villages are located too far from the central electricity network of Quebec to be able to connect to it and that it would represent too high costs to connect to it, Nunavik has a strong wind potential, prolonged summer sunshine , conducive to solar energy, and several nautical accesses conducive to hydroelectric production.
Let see some comparisons:
A bulb requires 100 watts to operate.
1 gigawatt (1,000,000,000 watt) is the annual electricity consumption of 150 people in the United States.
An average wind turbine produces 3 megawatts of energy annually, while a single solar panelᐃᑯᒪᐅᑎᑐᕈᑏᑦ ᑲᓱᕐᕕᖓ / ᐱᑐᕝᕕᖓ – A panel designed to absorb sunlight and convert it into electricity. produces 400 watts of energy.
Will Hydro-Québec contribute?
Yes. Hydro-Québec aims to convert its isolated networks to an 80% renewable supply by 2030. Tarquti is the preferred partner for the development of renewable energyᓄᑕᐅᓯᓕᕈᓐᓇᑐᒥᒃ ᐃᑯᒪᓕᐅᕐᓂᖅ – Energy derived from natural processes that are replenished at a higher rate than they are consumed, such as solar or wind energy. projects while respecting Nunavik’s values and environment.
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Sources
From the power plant to the home, https://www.hydroquebec.com/energy-efficiency-nunavik/#:~:text=The%20power%20plant%20is%20located,diesel%20power%20plants%20cause%20pollution
Self-consumption system, https://www.ecologie.gouv.fr/systemes-dautoconsommation
Why did renewables become so cheap so fast?, https://ourworldindata.org/cheap-renewables-growth
Impacts of Diesel Emissions, https://www.epa.gov/dera/learn-about-impacts-diesel-exhaust-and-diesel-emissions-reduction-act-dera#:~:text=Environment%20%2D%20Emissions%20from%20diesel%20engines,%2C%20produce%2C%20meat%20and%20fish
Main contaminants: tropospheric ozone, https://www.canada.ca/fr/environnement-changement-climatique/services/pollution-atmospherique/polluants/principaux-contaminants/ozone-tropospherique.html
Greenhouse gas emission per energy source, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=129991452
Freshwater acidification, https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acidification_des_eaux_douces
Soil acidification, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soil_acidification; https://www.epa.gov/acidrain/what-acid-rain
Ecosystem effects of ozone pollution, https://www.epa.gov/ground-level-ozone-pollution/ecosystem-effects-ozone-pollution
How does ground-level ozone form?, https://www.epa.gov/ground-level-ozone-pollution/ground-level-ozone-basics#formation
https://parnasimautik.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/15-Our-Region-energy-fre.pdf
Operation of a diesel thermal power plant, https://www.hydroquebec.com/data/enseignants/pdf/valise00watt/2021G329F-Annexe-A-B-00Watt_Web.pdf
Executive summary: Impact of climate change on Nunavik’s marine and coastal environment, https://www.ouranos.ca/sites/default/files/2022-07/proj-201419-enord-bleau-summary.pdf
Climate change adaptationn in Nunavik, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ulr7NOUV3E
Wind atlas, http://www.windatlas.ca/maps-fr.php?field=E1&height=80&season=ANU
Solar photovoltaic insolation and potential map of Canada, https://fgp-pgf.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=28c5b15ca78048c6ae1b354dec9027dc&locale=fr;%20https://globalsolaratlas.info/map
Indigenous peoples atlas of Canada, https://indigenouspeoplesatlasofcanada.ca/article/nunavik/
A partnership of sustainable development, https://fr.innavikhydro.com/
Meet us, https://tarquti.ca/#meetus
Energy transition in Nunavik: historic partnership between the Inuit and Hydro-Quebec, http://nouvelles.hydroquebec.com/fr/communiques-de-presse/1837/transition-energetique-au-nunavik-partenariat-historique-entre-les-inuits-et-hydro-quebec/
