THE CHALLENGES
Addressing growing threats of energy security
Climate change is shortening the diesel fuel hauling season on the winter ice road in Fort Chipewyan, putting the community’s energy and food security at risk. Both situations are compounded by summer river traffic being hampered by changing water levels, again caused by climate change.
THE SOLUTIONS
Research, analysis, and planning to develop community energy and food security
Featured are hauling trucks crossing the winter ice road to deliver a load of the framework required for the solar farm in Fort Chipewyan. A barge also carries the wood processor for future fuel production that is offloaded by a backhoe and set up nearby the solar farm.
THREE NATIONS ENERGY
Canada’s largest remote community solar farm
Our foundational project, the Three Nations Energy (3NE) solar farm is a $7.76 million project with a capacity of 2.2 megawatts. Together with the adjacent farm owned by ATCO, 
this system will supply Fort Chipewyan with some 3,200 megawatt-hours of electricity each year, reducing diesel consumption by 25% and we are only getting started!
SOLAR ON THE LAND
Bringing power to remote locations
Greenplanet Energy Analytics has designed this project to locally construct off-grid, independent, solar PV systems for remote cabins across the Athabasca delta. This replaces gasoline generators and the toxic fumes with quiet, clean, reliable energy. The program now includes all 3 nations: the Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation, the Mikisew Cree First Nation and Fort Chipewyan Metis Association. The first year saw solar PV installations at nine cabins and has given an opportunity to train local people on building and maintaining solar PV systems.
WOOD FUEL HEATING
Improving home comfort with renewable heating sources.
Sustainable forestry practices include small-scale timber that is salvaged and processed locally into wood fuel. Wood fuel is considered an environmentally friendly, renewable energy heat source that reduces reliance on fossil fuels and improves home comfort.
SUSTAINABLE FOOD PRODUCTION
Aquaponics and hydroponics to reduce dependence on food imports.
State-of-the-art container farming system and sustainable food production centre that use hydroponics and aquaponics to grow fresh leafy vegetables and herbs year-round. The climate-controlled environment uses an on-site supply of renewable electricity.
ENERGY EFFICIENCY
Upgrades and retrofits for more energy-efficient homes.
Energy-efficient homes reduce water, electricity, and heating costs for homeowners. By saving money on utilities, while simultaneously improving home comfort, homeowners will drastically reduce their impact on the environment long term.
ENERGY REVEALED PROGRAM
Education programs and hands-on experience.
Energy Revealed is a national pilot program exploring ways to make energy visible in schools. This program enables students and staff to reduce energy use in their school while providing a fun, engaging and curriculum driven experience! for them to become energy efficient experts. GEA worked with ACEE (Alberta Council for Environmental Education) and GreenLearning Canada to get CircuitMeter™ technology installed in 9 Alberta schools and to support the teachers and staff with in-class training and customized educational support materials.