Renewable Energy in Canada

Current Status and Near-Term Developments in Nunavut

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Nunavut

Single Inuksuk or Inukshuk landmark covered in snow on the top of the hill in the community of Rankin Inlet, Nunavut, Canada.

Nunavut’s electricity system faces distinct challenges due to remote, widely dispersed communities and harsh Arctic climate. Nearly all electricity is generated by diesel, with each of the territory’s 25 communities operating an isolated off-grid system. These systems are managed locally by Qulliq Energy Corporation (QEC), Nunavut’s government-owned utility, which is responsible for generation, transmission, and distribution.

With no interconnected grid or permanent road connections between communities, electricity in Nunavut is among the most expensive in Canada.Footnote 1 As of November 2022, the uniform electricity rate across the territory was set at 62 cents per kilowatt-hour. In comparison, residential rates ranged between around 8 and 20 cents per kilowatt-hour in major Canadian cities that same year.Footnote 2 Diesel fuel is delivered by ship in bulk during the short summer season and stored in local tank farms for year-round useFootnote 3Footnote 4.

Programs such as the Sustainable Energy Support Policy (SESP)Footnote 5, which provides grants and subsidies to off-grid and Inuit-led Independent Power Producer Projects, are supporting growing renewable energy development in the territory while ensuring this development is locally driven and culturally aligned.

Key Takeaways

  • Nunavut is almost entirely reliant on petroleum for its electricity generation. In 2023, it generated 194 gigawatt-hours (GWh) of electricity, all with petroleum except for 0.1 GWh of solar.
  • Solar capacity was at or near zero until 2023, when it reached 0.1 megawatt (MW).
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Electricity and Renewable Energy Trends

Diesel consistently accounts for nearly all of Nunavut’s electricity generation. Between 2010 and 2023, electricity production increased from 162 GWh to 194 GWh, driven by modest population growth and community demand. Renewable contributions remain marginal but are beginning to emerge.

The territory’s first steps toward renewable energy include pilot-scale solar projects and micro-wind demonstrations. In 2023, Nunavut produced 0.091 GWh from solar.

Figures 1 and 2 show historical trends in generation and installed capacity, respectively. Figure 2 also includes planned capacity additions for 2024–2030. The planned portion of the figure may be conservative; additional projects could be announced and come online before 2030 and some projects in the outlook might not proceed.

Figure 1: Electricity Generation by Type in Nunavut

Figure 1: Electricity Generation by Type in Nunavut

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Source and Text Alternative

Source: The primary source for electricity generation data comes from Statistics Canada. Table 25-10-0020-01, 25-10-0084-01, and 25-10-0028-01 are combined to display data for all categories and years.

Data: Electricity Generation by Type in Nunavut [XLSX 19 KB]

Text Alternative: This graph illustrates electricity generation from 2010 to 2023 in Nunavut. In 2010, Nunavut’s total generation was 162 GWh, and exclusively diesel generated (0.0% renewable). In 2023, total generation was 194.1 GWh (0.0% renewable).

Figure 2: Electricity Capacity and Future Changes in Nunavut

Figure 2: Electricity Capacity and Future Changes in Nunavut

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Source and Text Alternative

Source: The primary source for electricity generation capacity data comes from Statistics Canada. Table 25-10-0022-01 and Table 25-10-0023-01 are combined to display data for all of the categories. It is supplemented by additional project-level data for planned capacity from provincial governments, utilities, and system operators, as well as industry associations.

Data: Electricity Capacity and Future Changes in Nunavut [XLSX 19 KB]

Text Alternative: This graph illustrates historical electricity generation capacity from 2010 to 2030 in Nunavut. In 2010, the province’s total installed electricity capacity was 54 MW (0.0% renewable). In 2023, capacity had grown to 78 MW (0.0% renewable). In 2030, based on planned capacity additions, capacity reaches 80 MW (2.5% renewable).

Given the extreme cold, long winter darkness, and logistical constraints, integrating renewable energy requires localized, innovative solutions. Interest is growing in hybrid diesel-renewable systems, battery storage, and smart controls to improve reliability and reduce diesel relianceFootnote 6Footnote 7Footnote 8. Nunavut has 1 MW of battery energy storage under construction, with an additional 1 MW planned to come online before 2030Footnote 9.

In 2023, the territory had 0.8 MW of distributed solar power capacityFootnote 10Footnote 11.

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Recent and Planned Renewable Electricity and Energy Storage Projects

This section highlights selected renewable power and energy storage projects in Nunavut, either recently completed or planned for development between 2025 and 2030. This list is not comprehensive and is based on information available as of September 2025.

  • Sanikiluaq Wind – A wind project owned by the Nunavut Nukkiksautiit Corporation, plans to add 1 MW of power, along with a 1.4 MWh storage battery. It is expected to be commissioned in 2026Footnote 12.
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