Nunavut Nukkiksautiit Corporation (NNC) is a 100% Inuit-owned renewable energy developer based in Iqaluit, Nunavut, Canada. As a wholly-owned subsidiary of Qikiqtaaluk Corporation, NNC strives to work with communities in the Qikiqtani region to identify clean energy solutions that foster economic, social, and environmental benefits for Nunavummiut. It partners with communities to develop and implement clean, reliable, and affordable renewable energy solutions in the Qikiqtani region.
Nunavut Nukkiksautiit Corporation prioritizes community support for projects and as such, strives to ensure transparency throughout the development, construction, and operational phases of each project. Its goal is to empower communities in the Qikiqtani region through the development and installation of sound clean energy infrastructure.
The renewable energy industry remains in its infancy in Nunavut. Remote communities in Canada continue to be heavily reliant on diesel fuel for electricity generation, which is neither economically nor environmentally sustainable. With this, NNC strives to develop projects which incorporate innovative technologies, proven in Arctic climates, for installation in communities in the Qikiqtani region. Safety and reliability are key factors to prioritize when installing electrical generation equipment in remote communities and thus, only proven clean technologies are incorporated into its projects. The company aligns with strategic partners who have technical expertise in renewable energy systems in remote communities to ensure all projects are soundly designed and developed.
Being Nunavut’s first 100% Inuit-owned renewable energy provider, it thus remains of paramount importance that it remains based in Nunavut. Located in the territorial capital allows it access to various territorial government departments, Inuit organizations, and non-profit organizations with whom it engages to advocate for fair energy policies in Nunavut. As the main travel hub in the territory, being located in Iqaluit also allows the company relatively easy access to traveling to communities in the Qukiqtani region.
Its base in Iqaluit along with connections with relevant stakeholders in the territory, NNC is able to stay informed on up-to-date developments in the regulatory space. Collaborating with other developers in the territory allows it to understand technological innovations and to share lessons learned in the development process in Nunavut. Partnerships and collaboration with communities allows the company to ensure its projects are developed to a high standard, ensuring incorporation of community priorities in development activities.
However, the major challenge regarding renewable energy development in Nunavut is the regulatory landscape. There is currently no policy in the territory to permit the sale of electricity from independent power producers at the community level. While residential and commercial customers in Nunavut are able to install renewable energy generating systems at their facilities, community-scale renewable energy generation is not yet permitted in the region, making any kind of significant reduction in diesel fuel use in the territory impossible. NNC continues to develop renewable energy solutions with communities in the Qikiqtani region and advocate for fair energy policies at the territorial level in an effort to enable the clean energy transition in Nunavut.
NNC is now looking towards the future, with two projects in advanced stages of development, both of which it hopes to move to construction phases this year, thereby realizing the associated economic, social, and environmental benefits to renewable energy in Nunavut. A clean energy microgrid project in Iqaluit as well as a wind and battery energy storage project in Sanikiluaq are among its top priorities to continue advancing in 2022.
For business inquiries, contact Heather Shilton at Nunavut Nukkiksautiit Corporation via [email protected] or www.nunavutcleanenergy.ca.
