PBCN Community Leadership • Hybrid Clean Microgrid

Kinoosao Clean Energy
Transition & Microgrid

A community-led hybrid microgrid integrating high-albedo bifacial solar PV, containerized BESS storage, diesel reduction, and residential cold-climate heat pumps on Reindeer Lake, Saskatchewan.

Explore Architecture

450 kWdc

Bifacial Solar PV

1,200 kWh

LiFePO4 BESS Storage

60% – 80%

Diesel Displacement

100%

First Nation Owned

System Architecture

Interactive Hybrid Microgrid

Explore the autonomous balance between bifacial solar arrays, containerized LiFePO4 battery storage, diesel reduction, and cold-climate heat pumps.

100%

Integrated Microgrid

Autonomous hybrid balancing between solar generation, battery energy storage, and distribution.

Solar
→
Grid
→
BESS
→
Homes

Diesel Displacement

Estimated annual reduction

~43% fuel cut

Cutting costly diesel hauling across northern ice roads.

Indigenous Community Ownership (PBCN)

Peter Ballantyne Cree Nation co-leadership & stewardship.

Community Equity & Jobs

Interactive System Architecture

Click any component to inspect cold-climate performance

Solar PV Generation

450 kWdc

BESS Battery Storage

1,200 kWh

Inverters & Controls

Grid-Forming

Residential Heat Pumps

Community-Wide
Component 1 • Solar PV Array
High-Albedo Bifacial Modules

Captures direct sunlight plus snow and ice albedo reflections off Reindeer Lake, delivering up to +25% extra seasonal energy.

Acknowledging Partners

Our Strategic Coalitions

PBCN
PBCN Peter Ballantyne Cree Nation
Jobb Developments
SRC
Saskatchewan Research Council
SaskPower
🇨🇦
NRCan Natural Resources Canada
Northern Engineering

Subarctic Reliability Down to -40°C

The hybrid microgrid incorporates cold-hardened thermal protection, autonomous grid-forming inverters, and cold-climate residential heat pumps.

Thermal-Managed BESS

ISO containerized Lithium Iron Phosphate (LiFePO4) energy storage equipped with HVAC and active internal insulation.

Operating Range: -40°C to +35°C

Residential Heat Pumps

Replacing volatile heating oil boilers and wood stoves with cold-climate air-source heat pumps directly in Kinoosao homes.

COP Efficiency: >2.4 at -35°C

Automated Diesel-Off Mode

Sub-cycle microgrid controls safely idle diesel generators during sunlight hours, achieving completely zero-emission operation.

Grid Stability: Autonomous 60 Hz
Community Sovereignty

Peter Ballantyne Cree Nation Energy Autonomy

The Kinoosao Clean Energy Project guarantees that clean energy revenue, capacity building, and long-term infrastructure remain under community control.

Local employment & operator certification for PBCN members
Mitigation of hazardous diesel transport spills on Reindeer Lake
Reinvestment of fuel savings into local housing & elder programs

Projected 20-Year Environmental Metrics

Diesel Displaced 3,700,000+ Litres saved
GHG Emissions 10,250 Tonnes CO2e offset
Clean Solar Power 8,400 MWh generated
Community Homes 100% Residences served
Complete Master Brief

Consolidated Project Dossier & Governance

Full governance, procurement, asset ownership transitions, NRCan funding tables, and Master Deliverable Registers in original English.

01 1. Executive Summary & 2. Project Objectives

The Kinoosao Clean Energy Project is being developed as a community-wide hybrid energy project intended to reduce diesel fuel consumption and improve energy efficiency, reliability, resiliency, and long-term sustainability in Kinoosao.

Integrated Components:

  • Solar photovoltaic generation;
  • Battery Energy Storage System (BESS);
  • Inverters & Microgrid controls;
  • Existing diesel generation;
  • Residential heat pumps & electrical loads;
  • Distribution-grid infrastructure.

Key Objectives:

  • Reduce diesel fuel consumption in Kinoosao;
  • Evaluate community-wide residential heat pumps;
  • Integrate solar PV with BESS and existing diesel;
  • Build local employment, training and capacity;
  • Prioritize Indigenous contractors and providers;
  • Replicable model for remote northern communities.

Notice: No final partnership, ownership, procurement, operational or asset-transfer agreements have yet been executed with SaskPower or with PBCN Leadership. The information represents current discussions and working assumptions.

04 4. NRCan Design Funding Agreement ($500,000)

Jobb Developments has an NRCan Strategic Partnerships Initiative agreement providing up to $500,000 in non-repayable contribution funding for FEED and eligible development activities.

CategoryApproved Amount
Salaries & Benefits$12,000
Overhead$70,000
Professional / Scientific / Contracting$175,000
Travel / Meals / Accommodation$43,000
Equipment / Products$200,000
Total Approved Budget$500,000
Task 1: Management Project coordination, administration, and NRCan reporting.
Task 2: FEED System design, cost-benefit analysis, and site selection.
Task 3: PPA / Structure PPA framework with SaskPower and community entity structure.
08 8 & 9. Asset Ownership Structure & Commissioning Transition
Solar Array Ultimate Owner: PBCN

PBCN owns solar PV and manages operations, maintenance, and lifecycle.

Microgrid Assets Initial: PBCN → Post: SaskPower

BESS, inverters, diesel, and controllers transfer to SaskPower post-commissioning.

Distribution Grid Ultimate Owner: SaskPower

SaskPower retains utility ownership of distribution, protection, and communications.

Transition Sequence:

1. Before Commissioning PBCN initial ownership/procurement
→
2. Commissioning SRC & partners integrated testing
→
3. After Commissioning Solar → PBCN | Non-Solar → SaskPower
14 14. Consolidated Roles & Responsibilities Matrix
Area Primary Responsibility Status
NRCan design fundingJobb / NRCanEstablished by existing agreement
Entire microgrid designSRCEstablished / current arrangement
SaskPower functional requirementsSRC / SaskPowerCurrent structure
Energy sale / purchasePBCN / SaskPowerTo be formally documented
Design coordinationJobb / SaskPowerCoordination only
Initial microgrid asset ownershipPBCNProposed structure
Solar ownershipPBCNProposed ultimate ownership
Non-solar microgrid ownership after commissioningSaskPowerProposed transfer
Distribution-grid ownershipSaskPowerUtility responsibility
Solar O&MPBCNProposed structure
Microgrid asset O&MSaskPowerProposed post-transfer structure
Distribution O&MSaskPowerUtility responsibility
O&M technical supportSRCAs requested by owners
Indigenous contractingIndigenous contractors/providersTo be identified/prioritized
Financial modellingTrent HIdentified
PPA negotiationsSaskPower / PBCNLead TBC
Federal funding administrationSaskPower / Jobb / NRCanScope TBC
SRC partnership agreementJordan HIdentified
Asset transfersPBCN / SaskPowerProcess/details TBC
Distribution/non-microgrid scopeJordan HIdentified
Maintenance planningLee MIdentified
Capital microgrid procurementSRCLikely – TBC
Distribution procurementSaskPowerIdentified
18 18. Immediate Deliverables & Action Plan (Priorities 1 – 10)
Priority 1 Design Kick-Off Jobb + SRC scope & schedule formalization.
Priority 2 SaskPower Tech Data Protection, diesel & utility specs.
Priority 3 Integrated Design SRC system sizing, heat pumps & BESS.
Priority 4 Ownership Matrix Finalize solar vs. microgrid boundaries.
Priority 5 Partnership Agmt Draft tri-party roles, O&M & governance.
Priority 6 Legal Entity Counsel engagement for project vehicle.
Priority 7 PPA Framework PBCN & SaskPower energy transactions.
Priority 8 Procurement Plan Logistics, warranties & purchase orders.
Priority 9 O&M Plan Long-term operational model.
Priority 10 Capital Funding Application target: Oct-Nov 2026.
20 20. Master Project Flow & 22. Governance Principles
CONFIRMED / CONTRACTUAL

Existing NRCan contribution agreement and SRC design contracts.

CURRENT PROJECT STRUCTURE

Reflected in project diagrams and working group sessions.

PROPOSED / ASSUMPTIONS

Planned post-commissioning transfer of non-solar assets to SaskPower.

TO BE CONFIRMED (TBC)

Formal PPA pricing, capital procurement entity, and local service contracts.