NWT RESEARCH DATABASE

Regions: Gwich'in Settlement Area

Tags: renewable energy, economic potential, wind energy

Objective(s): To measure the wind energy potential at the Inuvik high point (approximately 6 km northeast of the Inuvik airport) for two years.

Project Description: The objective of this wind monitoring proposal is to measure the wind energy potential at the Inuvik high point (approximately 6 km northeast of the Inuvik airport) for two years. This is part of an alternative energy study for the Inuvik area. Wind data will be collected using instruments on a wind tower that will be installed at the site. Two full years of wind measurements and an economic analysis will be necessary to confirm the wind energy potential at the Inuvik high point site. 1) Installation of wind tower and wind monitoring equipment at the proposed monitoring site. A preferred location has been chosen for the wind tower (the Inuvik high point site). Equipment will be transported from Inuvik to the high point site by helicopter. The tower installation will consist of driving anchors into the ground, laying the tower and sensors out on the ground, installation of the tower and guy wires, and then lifting the tower into place using a ginpole and electric winch. No heavy equipment will be required during tower installation - only hand tools and small power tools. The wind monitoring equipment that will be installed includes a 34m tower with 6 anemometers (a sensor that measures wind speed and force) that will be positioned at 10m, 20m and 30m (2 sensors at each level). All anemometers will be calibrated prior to installation. Other sensors will include a wind vane and temperature sensors. The tower installation and instrumentation will be led by the project engineer, who has conducted all wind tower installations in the NWT to date. The engineer will be supported by technicians from the Aurora Research Institute (ARI). The engineer has been working on wind monitoring projects with ARI since 2004. 2) Wind monitoring data collection, analysis and reporting. Data files will be transmitted via a satellite link, and downloaded remotely by the project engineer and technician. Reporting and data management will be the responsibility of both the project engineer and technician. Data will be collected from the wind tower for a period of two years. All data will be stored at ARI, and analyzed by the project engineer. Local northerners will be involved in the installation, upkeep and take-down of all wind monitoring equipment. Local business will be supported (helicopter flights to visit installation site, and transportation of monitoring equipment to the site). Inuvik residents will benefit from the data collected, and the resulting wind feasibility study that will follow once wind data for the site has been verified. The results from this study will be compiled into a wind analysis report which will be posted on the Aurora Research Institute website (www.nwtresearch.com). Copies of the report will also be distributed to nearby community organizations and project partners, and a plain language report will be distributed to community members. The fieldwork for this study will be conducted from February 10, 2014 to December 31, 2014.