High Arctic Research Station to boost power demand in Cambridge Bay

Nunavut is on the hook for a $2 million power plant extension — in large part to run the Canadian High Arctic Research Station.

The territory's power corporation is adding an additional 1.1 megawatt modular power plant in Cambridge Bay. The hamlet currently has a 3.5 megawatt diesel power plant.

"We are meeting the current power needs of the community," said Jamie Flaherty, the acting president and CEO of Nunavut's Qulliq Energy Corporation.

"But the community is expanding rapidly so we're just being proactive to make sure the electricity needs in Cambridge Bay are met now and in the future." 

Three years ago the hamlet's economic development officer expected the research station would help grow the community of 1,600 by as many as 400 people.

QEC issued a request for proposal in March for a geotechnical evaluation for a modular power plant.

"Due to the additional community load created by the Canadian High Arctic Research Station the community of Cambridge Bay requires additional generation capacity," it reads.

The federal government will pay for its power consumption, estimated up to 820 kilowatts.

"The community and QEC at the end of the day will not be paying to provide power to CHARS," Flaherty said.

"We are [paying] for the modular unit but we'll get it back through sales," he said, adding he does not know how long it will be before QEC will recoup the costs.

The CHARS campus is expected to be operational in July of 2017 and fully complete by March of 2018.

The addition of a modular power plant comes at a time when most of the power plants across the territory are in need of replacing, often stunting growth in communities.

Flaherty said a replacement power plant is scheduled to arrive in Pangnirtung this summer while QEC plans on commissioning new plants in Taloyoak and Qikiqtarjuaq.

A site for a new power plant in Cape Dorset was selected earlier this year but it will still be years before a new plant is up and running.