Energy management pilot in the works for Fort Simpson

A new energy management system could be installed as a pilot project in Fort Simpson as soon as April 1.

Nahendeh MLA and Speaker of the House Shane Thompson said the project – run by Toronto-based company CleanDesign – could help Fort Simpson’s power plant run more efficiently.

The way the system works, said CleanDesign CEO Mark Lerohl, is that large lithium batteries will be hooked up to the community’s existing diesel generators to charge the batteries throughout the day, allowing Fort Simpson to be essentially battery powered at night.

“Our system will have control of the generator, such that even if the battery can’t last through the whole night, it can turn on one of the generators, help charge up the battery and then put it down again,” said Lerohl.

The “secret sauce” to the operation, as Lerohl described it, is the company’s software – which uses machine learning to anticipate the energy consumption needs of users and automatically switch back to diesel power as needed.

“It actually learns what the community and what the typical power usage patterns are and, if they start to change, it starts to relearn,” said Lerohl.

He said the system can work with other energy sources such as solar, which is already in place in Fort Simpson.

When paired with solar inputs, Lerohl said the system is able to use weather forecasts to predict the need for generator and battery power.

While Lerohl said Fort Simpson would be the first community to use the system, similar units have been installed to power oil and gas operations across North America.

Depending on how the units are used, he said, they can result in a five to 20-percent energy saving.

The unit itself, which is about the size of a seacan, is being loaned to the community for the pilot period. The costs to the territorial government for the pilot project are only those related to installation of the unit, Lerohl said.

Some details of the project are still being worked out, such as how long the pilot period will be, though Lerohl said it could last for up to 12 months.

“The goal is to get it going April 1. We will see how quickly that can be arranged,” said Lerohl. “We have a unit that is available and we’re pleased to be able to work with Northwest Territories to make this go.”

The idea for the pilot, Thompson said, came when he met two people involved with the company, Ken Judge and Chris Johnston, at a barbecue.

“I just said, man, it would be great to see that coming to Fort Simpson,” Thompson recalled. “It’s silent running in the evening. It saves energy. It’s a win-win for everybody involved.”

He said the Łı́ı́dlı̨ı̨ Kų́ę́ First Nation and Fort Simpson Métis Nation have expressed interest in the project, but the village council has expressed some concerns.

Fort Simpson Mayor Les Wright told Cabin Radio he’d have to read up on the project and speak with the rest of council before passing any public comment on it.