Lac des Milles Lacs Green Energy Project

completed

Phase 1:The Lac des Mille Lacs First Nations is limited in their energy options. Diesel supplied electricity is the primary energy source in the community. It is expensive and becoming more expensive each year. The community administration are struggling with rising costs of energy and are seeking solutions, especially opportunities for green energy. The proposed project is a Community Micro-Grid combined with Energy and Conservation Measures (ECMs). It will provide an integrated solution for a Solar System for the Community Cultural Complex and Roundhouse buildings and will include non-exporting grid interactive Solar electricity generation. The Solar energy generated will be used to power internal building loads only. Any excess generation is stored in batteries. There is no export to the grid, even during temporary times of production that exceed load. Any shortfall is sourced from the grid. In this way, the renewable energy offsets the cost of powering local loads without the need for grid connection. The integrated solution components and architecture drawings are including in the Appendix B. ECMs will vary according to needs to be identified via energy audits including insulation, heat pumps, photovoltaic (PV) water pre-heat, etc. Technology innovation will include the development of community level smart-grid custom software for ongoing maintenance and monitoring. The solution will be constructed employing community members. Phase 2 (500 kW solar ground mount): This project will be done under the Ontario Power Authority Feed-in Tariff (OPA FIT 4) program and will bring needed and welcomed revenue to the Lac des Mille Lacs First Nation to the benefit of the community.