Broken generator at Aishihik Generating Station puts pressure on the Yukon's electricity grid

Wednesday, 4 December 2024 13:50

The 12-megawatt generator failed due to a part malfunction, according to the Yukon Energy Corporation

A generator at the Aishihik Generating Station, which supplies electricity to the Yukon's grid, has broken down and is expected to be out of operation for the entire winter. The 12-megawatt generator, which can power around 6,000 homes, failed due to a part malfunction, according to Yukon Energy Corporation.

The energy corporation has contingency plans in place to manage winter demand, including relying more heavily on thermal energy sources like diesel and liquefied natural gas (LNG). Yukon Energy Corporation spokesperson Lisa Wiklund assured that the corporation has enough energy generation to meet demand this winter without the downed generator.

However, the breakdown has raised concerns about the territory's reliance on rented diesel generators, which the Official Opposition has criticized as a long-term solution. Energy Minister John Streicker has defended the use of rented diesels as a cost-effective backup solution, citing the high cost of building a new LNG or diesel plant.

“I have always said that we need diesels for backup, and if we’re short for our capacity in the winter, then yes, we will need to use fossil fuels, but we also have to work toward renewable energy projects,” said Streicker during Question Period on November 20. “Almost every initiative that we have brought forward, the Yukon Party has criticized."

"Those projects that we’re working with are projects that are coming from our communities. I think we’re going to get more of them and I think we should continue to get more of them. I think that is the real difference.”

Yukon Energy Corporation is taking steps to prepare for potential emergencies, including maintaining other generation resources, clearing trees from transmission lines, and reassessing the location of diesel generators. The corporation is also renting 22 diesel generators to ensure sufficient backup power.

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