The Canadian federal government announced it would provide more than $1.9 million CAD ($1.35 million USD) to support the development of an indigenous-led, community-owned smart microgrid in northern Saskatchewan.
The funds will come from Natural Resources Canada’s Energy Innovation Program, which invests in energy research, development and demonstration projects.
The state-of-the-art solar and battery storage system will improve energy resilience, provide grid stability and increase renewable generation in the English River First Nation (ERFN) communities of La Plonge and Poplar House District.
The communities currently depend on an often unreliable remote radial feeder line to deliver power from the main grid.
“Indigenous-led clean energy projects in rural communities like this one at La Plonge are enhancing the reliability of our local energy grid, lowering energy costs and creating jobs in our region, all while lowering emissions and safeguarding the environment,” said Buckley Belanger, Canadian Secretary of State (Rural Development).
Taking charge of their energy
The project “represents years of work toward taking charge of our own energy future,” said Sean Willy, president and CEO of the Des Nedhe Group, the economic development arm of the ERFN. “We’re demonstrating what economic sovereignty looks like. That means developing, designing and building the infrastructure that will power our communities for generations to come.”
Aurora Renewables, a First Nation clean energy service provider, is developing the project, which will be fully owned by the English River First Nation through the Des Nedhe Group.
The grid-connected microgrid will include 500 kW of solar and a 500 kW battery energy storage system. Digital twin technology from British Columbia-based Extropic Energy will optimize the microgrid and modernize regional grid operations.
A digital twin is a virtual replica of a physical asset or system that uses real-time data to simulate, monitor and enhance performance.
The English River First Nation is part of a growing list of native communities working to secure energy sovereignty—the ability to produce, deliver and manage energy on its own lands—through microgrids.
Earlier this year, the Canadian federal government, the Yukon government and First Kaska Utilities announced a $28.6 million CAD (US$20M) investment in a microgrid-ready solar and battery storage in the nation’s westernmost territory.
Further south, the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation in northern Washington state recently announced it will install four solar and energy storage microgrids to improve energy resilience for its members and advance its energy sovereignty goals.
The Swinomish Indian Tribal Community, also in Washington, is building a solar and storage microgrid for its senior center.
