NWT RESEARCH DATABASE

Regions: Sahtu Settlement Area

Tags: physical sciences, engineering, economic feasibility, wind energy, wind monitoring

Objective(s): To develop further insight into the wind energy potential for the economic feasibility of building a wind farm in Norman Wells, a remote community that is dependent on gas-electric generation.

Project Description: The objective of this wind monitoring proposal is to develop further insight into the wind energy potential for the economic feasibility of building a wind farm in Norman Wells, a remote community that is dependent on gas-electric generation. A 60 m meteorological tower will be installed in September 2018. This tower is equipped with both heated and unheated anemometers and wind vanes at 40 m, 50 m, and 60 m above ground level. 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 Aurora Research Institute (ARI). Local northerners will be involved in the upkeep, and take-down of this wind monitoring equipment. Norman Wells residents will benefit from the data collected and the resulting wind energy feasibility study that will follow, once wind estimates have been verified for the site. The results from this work 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 January 23, 2019 to December 31, 2019.