The shift to clean, sustainable energy production in the Yukon has taken another step forward with the unveiling of four new wind turbines on Haeckel Hill.
On October 3, Minister responsible for Yukon Development Corporation John Streicker, Minister of Community Services Richard Mostyn and Kwanlin Dün First Nation Chief Sean Smith announced the completion of the Haeckel Hill Wind Project.
The Haeckel Hill Wind Farm Project will power up to 650 Yukon homes per year with clean electricity. The wind turbines are expected to produce enough clean energy to remove the equivalent of more than 40 million litres of diesel fuel, which offsets up to 115,000 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions from the Yukon.
The total cost to complete the project was $29.8 million. The Government of Canada has invested over $13 million through the Arctic Energy Fund of the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program; nearly $5 million through the Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency (CanNor); and nearly $10 million through Clean Energy for Rural and Remote Communities Program (CERRC). The Eagle Hill Energy Limited Partnership (fully owned by Kwanlin Dün First Nation's development corporation Chu Níikwän LP) has invested more than $2 million worth of in-kind work.
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The Haeckel Hill Wind Farm Project was developed by Eagle Hill Energy LP, a wholly owned subsidiary of Chu Níikwän LP, the development corporation of the Kwanlin Dün First Nation. It is the first 100 per cent Indigenous-owned wind energy project in northern Canada.
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The project uses innovative cold-climate wind-turbine technology to boost winter production. This will expand the Yukon's role in cold-climate renewable energy research and resiliency. The wind turbine features include the following:
- Longer blades: Thirty per cent larger blades to harness more wind energy with each rotation.
- Taller turbines: A height increase from 37 m to 46 m (three stories) was done to access stronger airflow.
- Advanced de-icing technology: Black blades and blade heating systems are used to increase energy production potential during and after icing conditions.
- Powerful generators: A power increase from 600 kilowatts to 1,000 kilowatts to maximize energy production.
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Electrical commissioning and communications testing activities are underway.
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The turbines are expected to start spinning and generating energy for the Yukon grid in the late fall.
