Remote Energy Systems Program March 19, 2009

What can a telecommunications company with extensive remote operations do to help address the significant challenges associated with off-grid energy systems? It gets more innovative. This is the premise of the Remote Energy Systems Research Program, a partnership project launched by YCCIC and led by Yukon College and Northwestel.

Yukon College and Northwestel will develop a program that will examine the potential of adapting a Stirling engine design for operations in the Yukon.  Beginning with a commercially viable Stirling engine electrical generator, the partners will modify it for combined solar/diesel use in cold climates, test the redeveloped technology for use in powering its remote sites and then deploy and verify the resulting cold-climate solution. YCCIC and its partners believe that innovations in this area of research have profound implications for Northwestel and other Yukon industries.

Northwestel operates over a hundred remote communications stations throughout the Yukon, Northern B.C. and the Northwest Territories. These stations serve as the backbone of voice and data systems requiring reliable off-grid electrical power sources to support their operations. Small scale (3-5kW) diesel generators with battery storage power are currently the company’s preferred system at its remote facilities. Because Northwestel’s installations are in mountainous and northern arctic environments with limited or no ground access, continuous operation and maintenance of these generators is very difficult and costly due to the significant costs of supplying these remote sites with fuel and replacement batteries. The company has been examining broader technology upgrades for their remote sites including possibly introducing entirely new energy infrastructure.

Built in 1816, the Stirling engine is a proven device that converts heat energy into mechanical power by using a differential in temperatures. This style of engine can use multiple heat sources (including solar, wood, diesel, etc) combined with a cold side to drive electric generators. Originally powered by extremely high temperature differentials (1000 C+) for large scale power production, modern Stirlings can be operated at much lower differentials (~100 C), producing power in the range that would suit Northwestel's power needs (3-5kW). The cold climate of the Yukon may greatly favour the power and efficiency of the Stirling configuration. Furthermore, since this engine is driven by temperature differential and not simply heat, the cold climate of the Yukon may greatly favour the power and efficiency of the Stirling configuration.

In its first year, this YCCIC research program will involve securing a post-doctoral researcher, installing a Stirling engine at the Yukon College test facility, and completing a battery of tests to experiment and document cold-climate efficiency and performance enhancements. An exciting aspect of this program is that an enhanced Stirling engine working model with solar and multi-fuel capacity at Yukon College will foster R&D by other businesses and researchers to experiment with its design and operation. Other applications for this type of energy could include field camps, off-grid housing and remote tourism operations.