How Old Crow's solar farm is changing green energy projects in Yukon

Last April, the rows of solar panels set up in Old Crow, Yukon, generated small amounts of energy for the first time. 

By August, batteries at the solar farm stored enough power for the diesel energy generators to be completely turned off — a feat that chief Dana Tizya-Tramm of the Vuntut Gwitchin First Nation said hasn't happened in decades. 

"Every time I see it, I just get a little bit awestruck," Tizya-Tramm said. 

"Even though the solar farm is silent … it speaks very loudly across North America and the world." 

Those involved with the solar farm say there's much that can be learned about how the project came to be that could be applied to new green energy projects in the Yukon and across the North. 

Old Crow's solar farm is made up of over 2,000 panels, a 616kW battery energy storage system and micro-grid controller in the community. The system generates enough energy to meet 24 per cent of the annual power needs of the community of about 235 people.

The Vuntut Gwitchin First Nation also entered into a first-of-its-kind electricity purchase agreement with ATCO Yukon, agreeing to sell electricity generated from the solar facility for 25 years. The agreement lets citizens buy energy directly from their nation, lessening their dependence on diesel fuel shipments flown in from the provinces.

Alexandre Vigneault played many roles on the Old Crow project, including managing the design, procurement and construction process. 

Part of what made the project a success, Vigneault said, was that the Yukon government created pieces of legislation to fit the project.

For example, Vigneault said the territorial government quickly created the independent power producer policy regulations needed to get the solar farm off the ground. 

"It's really like … the project drove the legislation," Vigneault said. "It was an interesting process to be a part of." 

The method is being adopted for other green energy projects underway, Vigneault said, in places like Beaver Creek and Watson Lake. 

"All the other projects in the Yukon will be somehow modeled on … Old Crow," he said. "Yukon is really a leader on this one."  

Tizya-Tramm said the only thing he would've changed about the project is that he would have started it sooner.