Yukon Energy Corporation will increase Yukon's electrical grid capacity by 8 Mega Watts with a new battery storage system. Government of Canada is contributing $16.5 Million to the green energy project, which is expected to cost a total of $25 Million.
Yukon MP Larry Bagnell along with Deputy Premier Ranj Pillai, Yukon Energy President Andrew Hall and CEO of Victoria Gold John McConnel announced funding for two green infrastructure projects on September 5th, 2019 at the YTG government building.
One of the projects is the purchase and installation of a new battery energy storage system for the City of Whitehorse. The 8 Mega Watt battery system will store excess electricity during off-peak hours in order to meet demand during peak consumption.
Yukon’s isolated electrical grid produces approximately 88 Mega Watts of green electricity at the hydro plants in Whitehorse, Aishihik, and Mayo. During peak consumption, more than 90 Mega Watts of power is required to meet daily demand.
When completed the new battery system will bring Yukon’s electrical grid up to approximately 96 Mega Watts of capacity, enough to meet peak daily consumption and the growing demand for power into the future.
The Government of Canada is contributing up to $16.5 million dollars toward the project and Yukon Energy Corporation is contributing the remaining $8.5 million dollars. Once the project is completed and the equipment is operational Yukon Energy will apply to the Yukon Utilities Board to recover the $8.5 Million-dollar portion of the project cost.
The good news about the project is that it is the most economical clean, green alternative that is available to meet brief periods of peak consumption without relying on diesel generators.
Listen to the feature interview with Andrew Hall, President and CEO of Yukon Energy Corporation
Listen to the original newscast - September 5, 2019
Listen to the follow-up newscast - September 10, 2019