Nunavut: Clean electricity snapshot

2022-2024

There are no regional or territorial electricity grids in Nunavut. All electricity generation is community based. Nunavut is looking to expand its wind and solar electricity generation capacity as it moves away from diesel fuel. There is a focus on creating locally-owned projects that will help empower communities to reduce dependency on diesel fuel by building more renewable energy.

Powering Canada's Future is the Government of Canada's strategy for clean electricity. It combines historic investments and balanced, fair regulations to lay out the path forward to build grids that will provide power that is reliable, affordable and clean and serve as the backbone of our economy.

Federal investments

As of November 2024, the Smart Renewables and Electrification Pathways Program (SREPs) has supported four projects with over $27 million in Nunavut.

In July 2024, the Government of Canada announced $19 million in investments for three clean energy projects that will increase renewable energy generation  in Nunavut.

In March 2023, the Government of Canada invested $4.1 million to help five Nunavut communities build solar power projects.

Emissions and electricity generation

According to the National Inventory Report, in 2022, most of Nunavut's electricity was generated through combustion of fuels, such as diesel.

Solar power

Kivalliq Alternative Energy is installing a 1 megawatt (MW) solar system and a 1 megawatt hour battery storage system in Naujaat. The project, named Ikayuut, will integrate with Naujaat’s existing microgrid and provide up to 30% of the community’s current energy demand.

The communities of Arctic Bay, Clyde River, Pond Inlet, Whale Cove, and the most northerly community in Canada, Grise Fiord, will receive over $4.1 million from the federal government to integrate solar power into their local grids. These solar energy systems will create jobs, improve local air quality, and displace 180,000 litres of fuel per year, helping Nunavut reduce its greenhouse gas emissions while generating revenue for the communities.

Wind power

The Nunavut Nukkiksautiit Corporation has proposed to build a 1 MW wind turbine project with 800 kilowatt (KW) of battery storage in Sanikiluaq, Nunavut. The project will bring local training and long-term employment opportunities to the remote island community while also reducing its reliance on fossil fuels.

Kivalliq Alternative Energy is undertaking research and development of wind energy generation potential in Baker Lake and Rankin Inlet to reduce the communities’ reliance on diesel. They will incorporate traditional Inuit knowledge into community input-driven wildlife studies for wind development in northern Canada while supporting local labour, capacity building, training and economic development.

Economic opportunities

In addition to cleaner air and lower greenhouse gas emissions, a clean electricity grid can stimulate investment in innovation, provide economic opportunities, and create good jobs.

New jobs

Electrification and the transition to cleaner forms of electricity generation is expected to create good jobs across Canada. For instance, independent experts from Clean Energy Canada (PDF) forecast that there will be 6,800 clean energy jobs added in Northern Canada between 2025 and 2050.