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Fall TechnicalWorkshop

Integrating RenewableEnergy in Remotemicrogrids

Current Situation,Perspectives and Challenges: Overview of Solutionsfor the Future

@TCEolien #TCE

COMPILATION OF HIGHLIGHTSNovember 2017

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Opening remarks

“The dynamics of renewables integration are part of a larger trend in the energy sector and represent an excellent opportunity to move forward with the sustainable development of partnerships, exports, expertise and betterment for communities here and afar.”

Frédéric Côté, General Manager of the TechnoCentre éolien, kicks off the very first

edition of the Fall Technical Workshop. An innovative event that offers attendees

the chance to get an in-depth view of the energy transition from the perspective

of renewable energy integration in stand-alone microgrids. Stock-taking, project

experience, research and innovation... how can we develop these energies of

tomorrow?

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Portrait of Energy Demand in the Region Covered under the Plan Nord Remote Communities and Industrial ProjectsElectricity Production and Space Heating

“The Plan Nord also implies harmonious development with the land and the people who live there.”

The mandate of the Société du Plan Nord is vast: to contribute to the integrated and coherent development of the region that it serves.

An enormous swath of land north of the

40th parallel that covers 72% of Quebec’s land

area and is home to a population of 120,000.

Jean-Luc Bugnon, strategic infrastructure and

environmental coordinator for the Société

du Plan Nord, presents a portrait not only of

the resources, but also the logistical, energy,

environmental and human challenges.

Energy supply for remote communities and

industrial projects, key electricity production

and space heating issues, synopsis of a region

incomparably rich in natural resources.

Jean-Luc BugnonStrategic Infrastructure and Environmental CoordinatorSociété du Plan Nord

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PV Solar on Stand-alone Grids in Northern Canada

“For eight months a year, the solar potential in the Far North is 80% as much as in the South.”

Is solar power in the Far North nothing more than a pipe dream?

For eight months a year, the solar

potential in the Far North is 80% as

much as in the South. The distribution

of the solar resource is such that

in May, June and July – when the

Arctic sun shines nearly 24 hours –

production can prove to be greater

than the community’s demand.

In this context, solar power represents

a possible solution for better integration

of renewables. CanmetENERGY research

specialist and manager Yves Poissant

presents the various assistance programs, tools and challenges associated with

integrating solar PV in northern communities.

Yves PoissantResearch Specialist and Manager – Photovoltaic TechnologiesCanmetENERGY

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Federal Government and Reduction of Oil Fuel Usage in Northern Regions

Daniel MartineauEnvironmental Policy AnalystIndigenous and Northern Affairs Canada (INAC)

Yukon, Northwest Territories, Nunavut, Nunavik and Nunatsiavut (Labrador): Five

Regions, Five Geopolitical Realities.

Environmental policy analyst at Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada (INAC) Daniel

Martineau discusses the federal government’s involvement in reducing the use of fuel

oil in northern communities. Specifically, he presents the Northern REACHE Program:

Northern Responsible Energy Approach for Community Heat and Electricity.

This two-year-old program fosters close collaboration with communities to improve

energy efficiency, develop clean energies and promote the development of human

capital.

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How do communities view the integration of renewables as a solution for phasing out diesel?

Interview

Naturally, project success will depend on dialogue with the communities in order to better grasp their objectives and to be able to deploy renewable energy systems that meet their needs and expectations.

– Daniel Martineau

Social accessibility affects communities in a broad sense and

it is known that northern communities generally have a better

understanding of the impacts of climate change than those who

live in the South. This corresponds well with their culture and,

overall, they have a favourable view of renewables integration.

Although some organizations rely on the fossil fuel trade, many

of them see business and economic development opportunities

in renewables and, in this regard, their integration is generally

very well accepted.

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Research and Innovation for Enhanced Energy Supply at Off-grid Sites

Karim BelmokhtarTCE Project Manager, Research and Innovation

Canada and Quebec are home to numerous remote communities that are powered by diesel generators.

Consumption in these communities is

440 GWh/year and has been increasing

annually by 2 to 2.5%. If no measures

are taken, diesel consumption in Canada

could reach 1.5 billion litres by 2035.

Disparities in the cost of energy

throughout Canada, supply difficulties,

climate change... faced with the urgent

need to act, governments are taking

measures to achieve the energy

transition and promote the integration of

renewables such as wind and solar PV.

TCE’s project manager for research and

innovation Karim Belmokhtar provides an overview of a few integration projects

completed at off-grid sites. However, despite these actions, numerous technical and

technological challenges remain and, now more than ever, research is the cornerstone

of a profound paradigm shift with regard to the energy portfolios of jurisdictions.

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Quoting Idriss Aberkane, TCE project manager for research and innovation Karim Belmokhtar states, “Sharing a material good implies its division, while sharing knowledge multiples it.” At a time when so many experts are gathered for the Fall Technical Workshop, it is worth recalling the importance of sharing advances in the research and development of innovative solutions for the communities of today and tomorrow.

“Access to reliable, affordable and clean energy is an important vector for alleviating poverty in the world.”

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Technical Challenges of Integrating PV Solar into Stand-alone Grids

How Integrating Renewables Can Compromise Stand-alone Microgrid Performance

Dave TurcotteProject Offi cer – Distributed Energy ProgramCanmetENERGY

Stéphan LandryElectrical Engineer – Power Networks, BBA

Zero emissions? A multitude of solutions exist, with diverse renewable resources such as solar PV and wind, energy storage, evolution of controls. The challenges are just as numerous, however, in terms of integrating renewables into electrical grids, including microgrids.

Exchange between experts.

Project Experience – Technical and Economic Challenges

Integrating new technologies into stand-alone grids for mining sites or remote communities represents a formidable challenge. Experience demonstrates that validating such new technologies is a key factor for the integration of clean forms of energy. Stability in stand-alone microgrids remains an issue, especially if we want to increase the penetration of renewables.

Dave Turcotte presented the various technical chal-lenges and areas for improvement in the context of operation and control of stand-alone grids that in-corporate solar power. Demand management, solu-tions such as thermal storage, and high-performance, flexible and economic energy management systems are just some of the prerequisites that could help achieve “zero emission” targets.

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PV Solar Systems in the Canadian North

Renewables integration is a hot topic and an extremely

important one, argues Green Sun Rising CEO Klaus

Dohring.

Present at the Technical Workshop organized by the

TechnoCentre éolien, Mr. Dohring presents the various

solar PV integration projects that Green Sun Rising has

deployed in the Canadian North.

Klaus DohringCEO, Green Sun Rising

NRStor’s Experience in Remote Microgrid Projects

Innovative projects are always difficult to carry out.

Nevertheless, NRStor vice president Jason Rioux

remains convinced that energy storage can

help communities achieve energy independence.

Two projects being completed in Arviat and

Kugluktuk could eventually help to eliminate

9,000 tonnes of atmospheric emissions of CO2

and 2 million litres of diesel consumption every

year.

NRStor teams up with communities in order to

identify needs, select appropriate technologies and define economic parameters to

develop comprehensive and viable energy solutions.

Jason RiouxVice President, Chief Development Offi cer, NRStor

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A New Microgrid Planning Method to Capitalize on the Synergies between Energy Efficiency, Renewables and Storage Programs

“Whether it’s the person living at the project site or the expert in one particular aspect of the project, responsibilities must be shared.”

The future is not necessarily a continuation of the past, and in this regard, integrating renewables implies a long-term vision requiring a broad outlook that is possible only through collaboration, evolution and simplicity.

It is with these watchwords that SG2B proposes a

collaborative tool in which different stakeholders are

invited to enrich the planning process. According to

SG2B’s chief technology officer Jonathan Coulombe,

integrating renewable energies in electrical grids

will be possible only when different components

that have never before been integrated begin to

work in tandem.

In this context, simulations are indispensable; however, they remain contingent

on the quality of inputs and the sharing of responsibilities amongst stakeholders

throughout the region.

Jonathan CoulombeChief Technology OfficerSG2B

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Challenges of Integrating Renewables into Stand-alone Grids

Hydro-Québec intends to convert 22 autonomous generating plants to cleaner and less costly energies.

To do so, the Hydro-Québec Research Institute

(IREQ) has developed technical and financial

models that have been integrated into the

operation stimulator OPERA (French acronym

for stand-alone grid planning and operation

tools).

IREQ researcher Jacques Brochu also

presents Explora, an optimization tool for

stand-alone grid operations. Forecasts,

current technologies, microgrid behaviour, costs, and availability of dynamic models

and validated, high-performance simulation tools. Mr. Brochu compiles a list of the

challenges that remain to be overcome before use of these tools can be optimized.

Jacques BrochuResearcherHydro-Québec Research Institute (IREQ)

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Storage as a Means of Accelerating Renewables Deployment

“Improving energy access means improving quality of life.”

Despite the enormous potential they represent, renewable energies such as solar and wind are intermittent, hence the importance of storage technologies.

In this context, energy storage is the Achilles’ heel

of communities that wish to integrate renewable

energy. SIGMA Energy Storage CEO Martin

Larocque presents a cutting-edge compressed

air storage solution that can notably be deployed

in harsh environments such as those of sites

located in the Arctic or Antarctic.

Martin LarocqueCEO, SIGMA Energy Storage

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Ms. Hélène Fortier urges participants to take advantage of funding programs offered by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC).

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Workshops

“The excitement around wind power in the first decade of

the 21st century has now shifted to microgrids. However,

such solutions must be endorsed by the communities.

Markets will emerge in those places where the push comes

from the communities themselves, where the communities

seek equipment manufacturers and stakeholders to assist

them in implementing the solutions that they have selected

themselves to ensure their long-term prosperity.”

– Louis Robert

Market

Wide-ranging effort has been

made in terms of the technical

and technological feasibility of

renewable energy integration

projects, but beyond these

developments, what are the

elements that will allow these

technologies to enter the market?

Does the “business case” of these

projects exist? Are there turn-key

solutions to install systems that

can be deployed more simply and

more quickly? What do we have at our disposal to facilitate microgrid projects?

Such questions spark interesting exchanges between participants, who share their

respective experiences and the conclusions they draw from them.

Many believe that we’re currently at an excellent conjuncture here, in Africa and

elsewhere for rural electrification and affordable and available technologies, notably

in the markets of Ontario, the eastern US and California, where energy rates are high.

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Project Deployment and Sustainability

“It’s impressive to see the number of technologies

and methods that can be used to integrate renewable

energy into microgrids. However, this integration

must be achieved in a manner that is compatible

with the energy security of the community. Only by

collaborating with the communities will we succeed in

resolving the microgrid issue.” – Cédric Arbez

Does the increased integration

of renewables call for greater

use of solar? Wind? Geothermal?

Battery storage? Compressed

air storage?

Should we be concentrating on

generating energy for heating?

Or electricity production? Or

both?

The issue of integrating renewables into microgrids requires the validation of a

number of solutions, none of which offers clear advantages or major disadvantages.

Workshop participants are of the opinion, however, that microgrid development

will require a balance between integrating different types of energy and storage

solutions while maintaining energy security and generating economic advantages for

the community. To achieve this balance, it is crucial that market players continue to

collaborate in order to ensure the energy transition of these systems in the medium

term.

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Workshops

Technology Development

“The issue of penetration rate remains fundamental. In

fact, it is a question of optimizing project profitability

without sacrificing the reliability or quality of energy

in the microgrids. Further, the integration of heat

production into microgrids will represent one of the

main development thrusts over the next few years.”

– Karim Belmokhtar

Workshop participants discussed

the relationship that exists

between the development of

technologies and the success

of renewable energy projects in

remote communities.

Impact of the availability of

technologies on renewable

energy penetration rates in

microgrids, integration of loads

such as space or water

heating, solar panel orientation,

availability of telecommunication networks, storage systems, absence of regulatory

frameworks, unavailability of certain technologies (e.g. wind turbines rated between

200 kW and 900 kW) tested in the Far North, permafrost... the number and diversity

of topics addressed in the course of this Workshop was impressive.

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Participants are unanimous in recognizing that in order

to move forward, we must draw from projects completed

in the past.

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Michel CarreauDirector Hybrid PowerHatch

Global Energy Transition: Impact and Opportunities

The technology exists. The biggest challenge now is to complete more projects.

The vectors of change that will pave the

way toward an energy transition are all

here: the urgency to act to curb climate

change, the Paris Agreement (COP21),

carbon exchanges, cost reduction

of alternative energies, proliferation

and accessibility of technological

innovations, including energy storage.

These vectors of change have raised

serious questions that translate into a

strong desire to shift toward green energy. Electrification of transport, subsidies for

innovations, waste recovery, hybrid power plants... things are changing and more

than 100 major companies, including Google and Facebook, have announced their

intention to become carbon neutral within a few years.

According to Hatch’s director of hybrid power Michel Carreau, this context is

favourable for the take-off of a promising market that will offer exciting opportunities

for key players of the energy transition. Some off-grid sites are already innovating,

thereby paving the way to numerous renewable integration projects. Change is

possible!

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Next Steps for Integrating Renewables into Stand-alone Microgrids

In 37 months of operation, the wind turbine installed at the Raglan mine has helped offset 6.7 million litres of diesel in one of the most fragile environments on the planet, where wind gusts have been recorded at over 145 km/h and temperatures can drop to as low as -26°C.

Recap of a positive experience that, according

to TUGLIQ CEO Pierre Rivard, paves the way

for numerous renewable energy integration

projects in stand-alone grids, whether they

are for communities or mining companies.

Energy storage, community and industrial

technology showcasing, storage systems, transport electrification... Quebec-based

businesses such as TUGLIQ are working together to develop innovative solutions for

the integration of renewable energies not only here in Quebec, but also throughout

Canada and around the world.

Pierre RivardCEO, TUGLIQ

“China has installed a 40 MW floating solar plant and cancelled the construction of 103 coal plants.”

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Export Development Canada and Clean Technologies

Contract financing, collateral instruments, accounts receivable insurance...Export

Development Canada’s senior account director Luis Torres presents an

overview of clean energy support programs.

Luis TorresSenior Account DirectorExport Development Canada

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Closing remarks

This concludes this year’s Fall Technical Workshop. In closing, I would like to join the entire TechnoCentre éolien team to extend my sincere gratitude to the speakers, the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada as well as the Canadian Trade Commissioner Service for their involvement in this event. I would also like to thank all of you for your participation and your interest in renewable energy integration.

We rose to the challenge of bringing together experts and stakeholders around an important issue for the energy transition. Beyond wind, we have created a tremendous opportunity to take the pulse of a sector that is even more vast – integrating renewables into microgrids – a topic on which the TechnoCentre éolien has been working for several years, as evidenced by the 5-year research program for which we received NSERC funding. Furthermore, we set the stage for exchanges and networking, and that is also the expertise of the TechnoCentre éolien, which for almost 20 years now has been supporting the cultivation of know-how and the growth of businesses.

At the end of the day, participants – whether researchers, equipment manufacturers or developers – were unanimous in affirming that we offered them content that was of exceptional quality, dense, diversified and relevant, and in this regard, we are hopeful that we can continue the discussion. And so I say to you all, until next time!

Frédéric CôtéGeneral Manager, TechnoCentre éolien

“I’d also like to take the opportunity to invite you to attend the 12th edition of the Quebec Wind Energy Conference, which is scheduled for June 11-13, 2018 in Carleton-sur-Mer. Mark your calendars!”

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TechnoCentre éolien70, rue BolducGaspé (Québec) G4X 1G2CanadaTél. : +1 418 368-6162www.eolien.qc.ca

Thanks to our partners

www.eolien.qc.ca/2018conference@TCEolien #TCE

MARK YOUR

CALENDAR!

Wind Meetings

11 /12 /13 June 2018Carleton-sur-Mer, Québec

QUEBECWIND ENERGYCONFERENCE

12 th

Thanks to our partners

www.eolien.qc.ca/2018conference@TCEolien #TCE

MARK YOUR

CALENDAR!

Wind Meetings

11 /12 /13 June 2018Carleton-sur-Mer, Québec

QUEBECWIND ENERGYCONFERENCE

12 th