On Sept. 16, 2026, Mitigation Specialist Maxime Dubeau joined residents of Naujaat, representatives from Qulliq Energy Corporation (QEC), Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated and Ikayuut project partners to mark the completion and connection of the Ikayuut Solar and Energy Storage Project.
The project name, Ikayuut means “help, support or resources”. It was selected by Hamlet councillors because of how it reflects the project’s purpose and connection to the community. Ikayuut is expected to provide approximately 30 per cent of Naujaat’s electricity and offset an estimated 400,000 litres of diesel each year.
What can Ikayuut do?
Ikayuut includes approximately 3,000 solar panels, with about 1.4 megawatts (MW) of solar generation capacity and one megawatt-hour (MWh) of battery storage.
To put those numbers in perspective, at maximum output, the solar panels can generate enough electricity to power approximately 100,000 10-watt LED light bulbs all at once. When fully charged, the battery can power those same light bulbs for about one hour.
How Ikayuut came together
Ikayuut grew out of several years of community energy planning and partnership. Early work included the development of a Community Energy Plan for Naujaat, which helped contribute to the development of the solar and battery project.
Community involvement continued as the project moved into construction. Naujaat residents were involved in building the project, helping develop local experience and capacity around renewable-energy infrastructure.
Designed for the North
Designed for Nunavut’s Arctic environment, Ikayuut uses bifacial solar panels. These panels can generate electricity from light reaching both the front and back.
This means light reflected from snow beneath the panels can also contribute to electricity generation.
What this means for Nunavut
Ikayuut is the first project to operate under Qulliq Energy Corporation’s Independent Power Producer program.
Naujaat, like many Nunavut communities, has its own isolated electricity system. Ikayuut demonstrates how an independently developed renewable-energy project can connect to a QEC community grid and supply electricity alongside the community’s existing power system.
Experience gained from Ikayuut can help inform future projects across the territory and support Nunavut’s transition to cleaner, more renewable sources of electricity.
Learn more about Ikayuut by visiting the project page.