Liidlii Kue/Fort Simpson - An in-stream hydro-kinetic turbine operating in the Mackenzie River at Fort Simpson is the first of its kind in the territory.

Installed on June 18 the unit is part of a one-year pilot project to test the design and functionality of the hydro-kinetic turbine.

A Cooper Barging Service Ltd.'s barge and boat moves the Northwest Territories Power Corporation's in-stream hydro-kinetic turbine into place on the Mackenzie River at Fort Simpson. - Roxanna Thompson/NNSL photo

The project, which has a total cost of between $225,000 and $275,000, was identified as part of the territorial government's energy priorities framework that calls for the exploration of renewable and alternative energy sources and the reduction of imported diesel fuel.

The Northwest Territories Power Corporation has been tasked with carrying out the pilot project.

"I'm personally very excited over it," said Mike Ocko, the director of the corporation's thermal region.

"The whole Power Corporation's excited."

Ocko said his excitement stems from having the turbine in Fort Simpson and the chance to test new technology. Cooper Barging Service Ltd. moved the turbine, which is affixed to a pontoon boat, into place on June 18. The boat is located 200 metres from the riverbank by the corporation's power station and is held in place by a 1,500 pound anchor.

Lowered into the water off the pontoon boat the turbine, which is approximately four metres long, has four blades that spin with the river's current. The turbine is connected to an inverter building on the shore by means of an underwater power cable.

The turbine is expected to produce 25 kilowatts per hour - approximately enough energy to power eight houses - which will be fed into the electricity distribution system for the community.

The pilot project will be considered a success if the turbine operates reliably over four months, said Eileen Hendry, a maintenance technologist and the acting co-ordinator of business and energy development with the corporation.

The turbine should produce a measurable amount of electricity to offset some of the diesel fuel that would have been used otherwise, Hendry said. A metre will monitor how much electricity the unit is producing.

Part of the pilot project examines the logistics of moving the turbine and pontoon boat in and out of the water with the equipment available in the community. The success of the installation on Friday was a good sign, she said.

To protect the turbine from debris such logs, a deflector made out of timber was placed in front of the unit. The turbine is marked by flashing lights to warn boaters and is registered with the Coast Guard. A fence, marked with safety signs, encloses the turbine on the pontoon boat.

If everything goes well the plan is to install the turbine yearly, Hendry said. The unit does have to be removed while there's ice on the river.

Nahendeh MLA Kevin Menicoche was one of the people who arrived on the riverbank on Friday to watch the installation.

"I'm quite excited we finally get to try out some alternative energy generating systems," Menicoche said.

People are always talking about wind, solar and geothermal energy but here in Fort Simpson we have the opportunity to try hydro-generation, he said. Menicoche added he's looking forward to seeing the results of the project.

If it goes well Menicoche said he'd be willing to advocate for similar turbines to be installed in other communities in the region.