The challenge

Background and context

The demand for electrical power and space heating in the Canadian Subarctic and High Arctic is fulfilled almost exclusively with diesel-fired generators. DND/CAF is seeking to reduce reliance on fossil fuels for the generation of electrical power in the North to minimize operational, logistical, and environmental burdens. Wind turbines suitable for DND/CAF operations are in limited use in the North, as existing installations tend to fall outside the desired capacity range. While small units that deliver up to 6 kilowatts (kW) have been deployed in some communities, and commercial turbines typically exceed 1 megawatt (MW), there is a critical gap in the 25–100 kW range—an ideal scale for remote DND sites. In addition, northern operating conditions present major technical and environmental hurdles that must be overcome before wind turbines can be fully exploited as a source of alternative energy.

Canada's far North and Arctic regions are characterized by seasonally frozen ground, deep snow, rugged terrain, permafrost, and extreme temperatures that can reach –60 degrees Celsius (°C), with frequent high winds of 80–120 kilometers per hour (km/h). Ice rimming of wind turbine blades further threatens performance and efficiency. Innovative approaches are therefore needed to adapt conventional wind-powered electric generator designs to withstand these harsh northern conditions and operate effectively under both low and high wind scenarios.  Climate change creates additional complexity, as thawing and refreezing permafrost can cause buildings and foundations to sink, shift, or crack. While not the primary focus of the challenge, consideration must be given to the design of the foundations to keep the turbines level and stable despite seasonal ground movement.

There is a need for wind-powered electricity generators that are logistically efficient, easy to deploy, and maintainable in isolated northern locations. Many DND/CAF sites exist in remote areas or within small Arctic communities that have limited or no road access and must be reached by alternative means of transportation such as barges or heavy-lift aircraft. Consequently, new systems must feature modular designs that can be transported and assembled on site with minimal heavy-lift equipment by non-technicians using commonly available tools. To ensure sustained operation, proposed solutions should use readily available parts, be serviceable by local tradespeople, and operate with minimal human intervention once deployed.

Essential outcomes

The proposed solution must:

• Provide a design for a wind-powered electrical generation system in the 25–100 kW range, incorporating details of the structural, mechanical, electrical, and control elements required
• Provide integration and operational demonstration plan(s), showing how the wind-powered electric generation system can function in remote northern locations and operate and withstand northern environmental conditions, including extreme cold (down to –60 °C), high winds (up to 120 km/h), and icing conditions without intervention
• Integrate with existing electrical power systems or microgrids and enable coordinated operation with other energy sources and support performance under varying generation and load conditions
• Use a modular design that allows transport by air or ship — ensuring that individual components fit within a standard 20-foot sea container with maximum dimensions of 108 in. (2.74 m) wide × 268 in. (6.81 m) long × 96 in. (2.44 m) high and a maximum weight of 24,000 lb. (10,886 kg; 10.9 tonnes)
• The modular design must enable onsite assembly without the need for heavy-lift equipment
• Support maintainability and repairability in northern environments by ensuring the wind-powered electric generation system can be serviced using standard mechanical and electrical tools, without reliance on specialized proprietary equipment or manufacturer field support

Desired outcomes

 Proposed solutions should include capabilities and considerations such as, but not limited to, the following:

• Electromagnetic interference that complies with MIL STD 461G, Department of Defense Interface Standard for the Control of Electromagnetic Interference Characteristics of Subsystems and Equipment
• Foundation design that accounts for Arctic ground conditions, including permafrost, active-layer variation, and freeze-thaw effects, over the intended design life of the generator