Strategic Area
Clean Energy for Rural and Remote Communities, Demonstration
Status
Completed
Partners
Government of Yukon – Energy Branch
Yukon University – Northern Energy Innovation
Yukon Energy Corporation
Fund
Clean Energy for Rural and Remote Communities Program
Year
2019
Agreement Value
$2,154,000
Project Total
$2,292,550
Location
Whitehorse, YT
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Lead Proponent
Yukon Conservation Society
Project Background
The project demonstrated electric thermal storage (ETS) heater units as dispatchable and reliable electricity capacity in the Yukon Territory. The project evaluated the peak shifting effects as well as customer acceptance of utility-controlled heater units.
Results
The project evaluated the technical feasibility and customer acceptance of using electric thermal storage (ETS) units (46 total) to shift on-peak power use when Yukon Energy’s hydropower generation is operating at capacity. During the 2021–2022 heating season, the project was able to offset 17 MWh of peak generation that would normally be sourced by fossil-fuel generators — equivalent to approximately 50,000 litres of avoided diesel consumption. The program was over-subscribed with more than 300 households applying to participate, indicating positive uptake and customer acceptance of the utility-controlled heater units.
Benefits to Canada
The project provided an opportunity for consumers to play an active roll in peak-shaving therefore lowering overall electricity costs as well as their environmental footprint. It also enabled the utility to evaluate the potential of using ETS units for peak shaving and created employment opportunities for sales, training and installation of ETS units.
Next Steps
Next steps for the project include the continued use of the ETS units in all homes save for one, seeing sustained benefits of the project and reduced diesel use. There is potential for future projects to evaluate ETS units in a commercial setting, increasing the peak shifting benefits.