Why this solar farm is a ‘significant milestone’ for Inuvik

The solar farm at Inuvik’s Midnight Sun Complex is now fully operational and already proving how well renewable energy can perform in northern climates, the town says.

Daniel Dokunmu, the town’s infrastructure director, said the project is designed as a behind-the-meter solar and battery energy storage system, meaning the electricity generated is used directly by the Midnight Sun Complex – also referred to as MSC – rather than being exported back to the territorial power grid.

According to Dokunmu, the solar array was officially commissioned on April 23 and has been operating well since coming online.

The installation features 1,188 solar panels and five inverters integrated directly into the facility’s electrical system. The array has an installed capacity of approximately 689 kilowatts and a maximum output of 500 kilowatts.

Dokunmu said that during daylight hours the MSC solar farm is able to meet nearly all of the Midnight Sun Complex’s electricity demand, with solar accounting for about 96 percent of the total energy use.

“This is a significant milestone for the town as it demonstrates the viability of large-scale solar generation in Arctic conditions and provides immediate reductions in diesel-generated electricity consumption,” Dokunmu told Cabin Radio.

The town is still monitoring the solar farm’s progress while it’s in its early stages, and data is being collected over uninterrupted production periods.

Dokunmu said May will mark the first full month of operational data, which will help provide a clearer understanding of energy production, cost savings, and overall system performance.

In an update to council last week, Dokunmu said early operational data from the MSC solar farm shows that solar production typically begins ramping up around 6am, at which point the facility relies heavily on solar energy throughout the day.

He said solar continues to supply most of the building’s demand until later in the evening, when output declines and reliance shifts back to power from the NWT Power Corporation.

Preliminary estimates for the week it was active in April suggest it saved the town $11,898 from its monthly power bill, compared to 2024 and 2025.

Dokunmu said the battery energy storage component of the project is still awaiting installation as the equipment has yet to be transported to Inuvik.

“One of the major lessons learned through the project so far is the importance of designing renewable energy systems specifically for northern operating conditions, logistics constraints, and utility integration requirements,” he explained.

“Arctic construction schedules, transportation limitations, and coordination with existing electrical infrastructure all play a major role in project execution timelines.”

When operational, he said, the battery system is expected to help the town balance solar output more effectively, increase flexibility in operations, and capture surplus energy for use when on-site demand is lower than generation.

Dokunmu said the project has shown strong performance so far, and the town is optimistic about expanding similar behind-the-meter renewable energy systems to other municipal facilities where demand and infrastructure conditions make them a good fit.

Inuvik awarded a contract to Whitehorse-based Solvest to develop a solar farm at the location in 2023.