Sanirajak
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Statistics
Estimated Cost: $30 M
Target Construction Start: October 2028
Target First Power: 2030
Proposed Energy Supply: Wind + Solar
Funding:
Natural Resources Canada: CERRC – Demonstration
CIRNAC – Northern REACHE
Population
Peak Electricity Demand
Proposed Source
Diesel Offset
Statistics
Estimated Cost: $30 M
Construction Start: October 2028
Target First Power: 2030
Proposed Energy Supply: Wind + Solar
Population: 890
Peak Electricity Demand: 967 kW
Proposed Source: 1.5 MW
Diesel Offset: 60%
Funding:
Natural Resources Canada: CERRC – Demonstration
CIRNAC – Northern REACHE
Project Story
Sanirajak often deals with power outages because of harsh weather and old equipment. Adding renewable energy will help make the power system stronger and more reliable for everyone in the community.
Like all of our work, this project follows Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit. We strive to:
- serve the community (Pijitsirniq),
- being innovative and resourceful (Qanuqtuurniq), and
- show deep respect for the land, animals, and environment (Avatittinnik Kamatsiarniq).
The project currently is at Phase 3 of development.
Impacts & Benefits
One of the most important jobs is to understand how a project might change the land, water, air, plants, and animals. We also look at how it might affect the ways Inuit exercise their Rights under the Nunavut Agreement.
Full Story
The first three phases of the project help us understand the proposed project in detail, along with possible impacts and/or benefits. This includes looking at environmental changes, new jobs, and social benefits. NNC presents all expected impacts and benefits of a proposed project to Inuit before asking for decisions to be made about construction. This is built into our development process, described further below.
To understand potential changes, we:
- Work together with the Sanirajak Hunters and Trappers Association and the Sanirajak Hamlet Council to make study plans
- Send teams of scientists and Inuit guides to the sites
- Collect and analyse data
- Share everything with the public
Inuit Qaujimajatuqangiit is integrated into the study findings, by Inuit, to make sure that data get interpreted in a way that makes sense with what Inuit know to be true. We have to understand how things are now, and how they might change, before any construction is considered.
Since every community is different, what happens in Sanirajak might not be the same as what happens in Kinngait. Either way, we must find ways to minimise impacts and define how benefits will be shared with Sanirajarmiut, in a way that honours the Nunavut Agreement, regulatory bodies, and the Qikiqtani Inuit Association. We always compare the effects of renewable energy to the effects of staying 100% on diesel. In the end, Sanirajarmiut make the decisions about how the project moves forward.
Overview Community Engagement
Working together with the community is at the heart of this project. To get things started, we asked for and received letters of support from the Hamlet Council and the Hunters and Trappers Association. We also held a community feast in 2022, to share public education materials about renewable energy and ask questions about the land and local resources like wind and sunlight.
Local people were hired to help with planning and communication, field work, and taking care of equipment. When it came time to pick the type of technology and the best location, Sanirajarmiut made those choices through a public vote. Project updates are shared through meetings, the radio, and social media.
Phase Gate Development Process
This diagram shows how the project gets developed from start to finish. It’s called a phase-gate process because it breaks up the work into six phases with a decision gate in between each phase. A phase is a body of work, defined by a particular goal. A decision gate is a time when we look to Inuit leadership and the public for their consent on moving forward. NNC follows this process for every community project, and is always looking for ways that it can be improved.
NNC works with the project team to complete a phase. Then, we show that work to the community. To move through the decision-gate and on to the next phase, we have to find out whether or not Inuit are comfortable with progress and want us to proceed. There are three possible responses we could receive from Inuit at a decision-gate:
- No, we don’t want this — stop work.
- We want you to keep going, but we’re not happy with this outcome — try again.
- Yes, we like this — continue.
Our goal is to find ways of building consensus, according to Inuit Societal Values. This means making room for all perspectives, finding ways to adapt plans, and addressing concerns. It’s very normal and okay for people to disagree. What matters is that we listen (to understand), provide transparent information, answer questions, be honest when we don’t know something, and make a plan to follow-up. Through this kind of dialogue, it is often possible to find respectful solutions and a path forward.
Even then, it’s unlikely that everyone will agree. What we look for is a strong majority of Inuit agreeing on one answer—we take this public feedback and present it to Inuit leadership at Qikiqtaaluk Corporation, and the Qikiqtani Inuit Association, to assist them in their final decision.
Breaking the process down into manageable steps like this gives Inuit multiple opportunities to decide whether or not investment and work should continue in the way that it’s being proposed. If this project gets built, it’s because Inuit say “yes” four times, all along the way. This is the backbone of how we apply the concept of free, prior, informed consent to the clean energy transition in the Qikiqtani region.
1. Identify Opportunity
First, we needed to understand the possibilities of developing a renewable energy source for the community. This means taking a look at existing data we have access to from the government, Inuit Organizations, and other groups involved in understanding local natural resources. It also included outreach to the Hamlet Council and HTA to confirm support. Funding is secured to move to the next phase.
Decision Gate
Knowing the renewable energy resources are good for development, we reached out to the Hamlet Council and HTA. We asked: Should NNC go forward on finding all the options for renewable energy development?
If yes, letters of support with direction to proceed are provided to NNC.
2. Feasibility
Next, we came up with as many options as possible, for technology type and location. The land, water, wind, and sun around every community is unique. We need to carefully consider how to maximize energy production from the renewable resources we have access to. In some cases, like in Sanirajak, this means combining multiple sources. NNC used a meteorological evaluation tower, with instruments at the top to measure the wind and sun.
We equally studied the technical, economic, environmental, social, and cultural feasibility of the options, and presented all the information to Sanirajarmiut to review. We engaged the community through meetings, radio updates, a community feast, and social media posts.
This phase usually takes about a year.
Decision Gate
All options are presented to the public and Rightsholders for consideration. Every effort is made to communicate the important details, advantages, and disadvantages of all options in different ways: storytelling, presentations, one-on-one conversations, posters, booklets, and group question-and-answer sessions. Everyone who attends the engagement events votes for their top three options (all options are listed on the ballot, including the option to continue with diesel).
Participants can take their ranked ballots home and send them in up to two weeks afterwards—it’s important to take time to digest and consider the information. From these ranked ballots, NNC looks for a strong majority in order to choose the favourite project option for development.
3. Engineering + Impacts & Benefits Assessment
Once an option is selected, the engineers can really get to work. This is also when we start collecting data from the chosen site for the project. Teams of scientists and Inuit knowledge holders make study plans together. They spend time at the site and learn together about the land, water, wind, sun, animals, plants, rocks, and Inuit artefacts from long ago. This feeds into design, engineering, and making a business case for the project. NNC negotiates with QEC to decide how energy can be bought and sold, and connect into the existing grid for the community to use. We also do a socioeconomic study to see how the project would affect life in the community, the cost of living, opportunities for local businesses, and employment.
Community engagement continues with meetings, radio updates, and social media posts. Everything is shared with the public and interpreted through an Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit lens. Discussions are held with Inuit connected to the site so we can understand their perspectives and needs.
We ask Inuit:
- What benefits do you want and need to see?
- How would you like us to approach minimizing impacts?
- How can we make these plans better?
Decision Gate
At this point, we have a strong understanding of what the project will look like, how it could be built, possible environmental impacts that could be expected, and strategies for minimizing them backed by Inuit knowledge. We also have a framework for a benefits-sharing plan.
We ask community members: Are the impacts and benefits clearly defined? Are they acceptable in comparison to the impacts and benefits of diesel? Is there support for the project to proceed to permitting for construction? This is the main decision gate for the public, Hamlet, and HTA to decide if they want the project to be built.
4. Permitting and Financial Readiness
While we wait, we keep collecting environmental data from the site in order to get an even better understanding of possible impacts, and we keep engaging with the public to educate and receive feedback. We also frame out a financial plan for building the project, so we’ll be ready, in the case that we get NIRB approval.
Decision Gate
Once all permits, financing, and funding have been secured for construction, we can take that information package to Inuit leadership.
We ask the presidents of QC and QIA: Should NNC invest in the construction of this project?
If yes, they return a signed copy with their authorization and direction to proceed.
5. Construction
It’s time to build the project!
This phase brings a lot of activity, and a lot of jobs for Inuit. A road must be built out to the site, along with a transmission line that will carry the renewable power to the QEC plant.
Lots of electrical work has to happen at the point of connection, so that the grid can safely receive the new power source. Infrastructure will be brought into the community and installed.
6. Asset Operation
After construction is completed, we’ll be ready to “flip the switch” and send renewable power to the community. This is the moment that everyone has waited for.
Power will be sold to QEC, and QEC will sell it to their customers, as they always have. Once up and running, the new infrastructure will need workers to keep everything running smoothly, fix problems when they arise, and take care of routine maintenance.