As the world contends with the pressing issues arising from fossil fuel dependency, many initiatives are emerging to promote and implement renewable energy strategies. Among these is Nukissiorfiit, a government-owned utility company in Greenland, which has set an ambitious target: to transition to 100% renewable energy by the year 2030. To do so, they’ve turned to solar cells and battery banks to support the island’s energy needs.
In Greenland, diesel is king: Here’s how Nukissiorfiit is aiming to dethrone it
Greenland is the largest island in the world. Approximately 85% of its landmass is covered by ice, yet it is home to a relatively small population of 56,000 spread over an area of more than two million square kilometers. Despite this, climate change is taking a toll on its environment, causing the ice to melt at alarming rates. Residents’ reliance on diesel—their primary energy source—to cope with harsh weather conditions also contributes to the island nation’s greenhouse gas emissions.
In response to this situation, Nukissiorfiit took their first step towards sustainability in 2020: they allocated over €1 million ($1,07 million) to create a project dedicated to advancing renewable energy implementation and usage.
The primary objective of this project is to phase out diesel-powered generators in remote communities and replace them with sustainable alternatives.
Hybrid power plants are reshaping Greenland’s energy landscape for the better
Following the project’s launch, Nukissiorfiit established hybrid power plants, which combine solar cells and battery banks, across the island. These were put into operation in key locations, including Ammassivik in the south and Ikerassaarsuk in the west. In the northern region, solar cells were installed in Uummannaq.
Initial assessments indicated promising results, with the plants in Ammassivik and Ikerassaarsuk projected to replace diesel-powered generators for a majority of the summer and half of the winter.
Currently, approximately 72% of the energy provided by Nukissiorfiit has already been derived from renewable energy sources, thanks to these plants.
Adverse weather conditions threaten to jeopardize the transition to clean energy
While Nukissiorfiit seems to be on track to achieve its goal, with plans to expand the hybrid power plants and increase the capacity of solar cell installations in the near future, the biggest challenge that they face is Greenland’s weather.
Cicilie Senderovitz, CEO and energy director at the utility company, explains: “Storms and unpredictable weather in general make it difficult at times to go forward as planned. Sometimes the weather has huge consequences for Nukissiorfiit, as we witnessed in 2021 when Nuuk, the capital, experienced a major blackout.
“New procedures were implemented, and we are still working daily on improving ways to make sure an incident like this does not happen again,” Senderovitz continues. “However, there are no guarantees when you are located in the Arctic, with the weather that comes with that.”
Although the plants were constructed to withstand these extreme weather conditions, it is clear that Nukissiorfiit will need to keep adapting and maintaining these plants to guarantee reliability, resilience, and a consistent energy supply to communities across the island. Failing to do so could lead to interruptions that could totally undermine the transition to renewable energy.
Overall, it is an ambitious quest for Nukissiorfiit to achieve 100% renewable energy in Greenland. However, the progress made thus far, coupled with ongoing adaptations and improvements, shows exceptional promise, especially if it’s already providing a considerable amount of power to most of these communities and reducing their greenhouse emissions. As they continue to pursue their vision, perhaps other regions grappling with similar issues can follow their example, ensuring that the world moves towards a more sustainable future.