First Nation-Leased Solar and Battery Project to Power Macpass Camp, Reducing Emissions, and Boosting Economic Opportunities for Dena Nezziddi Development Corporation.
Dena Nezziddi Development Corporation (DNDC), Fireweed Metals Corp., and Solvest Inc. have partnered to enhance sustainable, economic resource development at the Macpass Project, located in the Traditional Territories of the Kaska Dena Nation and the First Nation of Na-cho Nyäk Dun. DNDC, based in Ross River, Yukon, through its wholly owned company, Tu-Lidlini Petroleum LP (TLP), has entered into a 5-year lease with Fireweed for the renewable power equipment. Solvest, renowned for its expertise in renewable energy solutions, is providing the design, construction, and maintenance of the facility.
The renewable power system includes a 70 kW DC ground mount solar array, and a containerized power system comprised of a 144 kWh battery, 54 kW inverters, switchgear, and controllers.
Diesel fuel savings from this project are estimated by Solvest at about 24,000 L per season, equivalent to more than an 80% reduction in carbon emissions directly for its Sekie Camp power. Other benefits include a significant reduction in camp noise from operating diesel generators, lower cost of power, and the ability to redeploy the power system.
This is the first renewable power project for TLP, which envisions transitioning to provide both traditional and renewable forms of energy to its clients. This project demonstrates Fireweed’s commitment to sustainably explore and develop critical mineral assets in Canada through progressive leadership, high standards, innovation, and collaborative partnerships for the benefit of present and future generations. The Macpass Project is one of the largest, undeveloped primary-zinc projects globally and is accessible by the North Canol Road, approximately 200 km from Ross River in eastern Yukon.
Solvest provided about 25% of the funding for the project with additional funding provided by The Government of Yukon through the Innovative Renewable Energy Initiative (IREI) and from the Government of Canada, Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada (CIRNAC) through the Northern REACHE program. The funding support acknowledges the project’s goals: to reduce diesel consumption and GHG emissions at an exploration camp; and to support economic development opportunities for Dena Nezziddi Development Corporation.
Pictured: Cynthia Dick, General Manger of Tu-Lidlini Petroleum LP; Colin MacKenzie, Operations of Dena Nezziddi Development Corp; Graham Gill, Operations Manager of Fireweed Metals
"Tu-Lidlini Petroleum has been a trusted supplier of fuels for our exploration operations for several seasons, and this collaboration with TLP and Solvest makes financial, operational and environmental sense. Fireweed will continue to look for opportunities to work alongside partners like TLP and DNDC to both enhance our environmental performance and provide economic benefits to the local communities we work with."
Peter Hemstead, Interim President and CEO, Fireweed Metals Corp.
"DNDC and TLP are excited to be developing projects in the renewable energy field. While allowing renewable energy to complement our existing energy business it also provides us an opportunity to work on reducing our footprint in our territory which we all need to strive towards. The partnership with Solvest and Fireweed Metals has provided an excellent opportunity to make this a reality."
Cynthia Dick, General Manger, Tu-Lidlini Petroleum LP
"This project builds on our track record of developing meaningful projects in northern Canada that provide opportunities for our clients and partners to realize their visions of sustainable project development and to enhance ESG attributes. This project is important to us as it is in our home territory and is the first project with both DNDC and Fireweed Metals. We appreciate this opportunity to collaboratively develop a creative commercial structure and to co-invest in another power project, adding to our EPC and O&M services to provide a full-service solar and energy storage product. We acknowledge the support of the territorial and federal grant agencies that were able to confirm funding support for DNDC in a short time frame."
Ben Power, CEO & Co-founder, Solvest
Key Partners:
Dena Nezziddi Development Corporation (DNDC), a wholly owned entity of the Ross River Dena Council, executes a variety of economic development strategies and initiatives that directly contribute to the well-being of their Nation. Ross River Dena Council is part of the larger Kaska Nation, whose traditional territory extends from Macmillan Pass along the Yukon/NWT border southward, encompassing southeastern Yukon, southern Northwest Territories, and northern British Columbia.
Solvest Inc. is the leading provider of renewable energy services in Northern and remote areas. Specializing in reducing reliance on costly diesel power generation, Solvest aims to empower individuals and communities, foster energy sovereignty and promote environmental stewardship. Solvest’s services include solar and energy storage project development, design, procurement, construction, operations and maintenance and equipment leasing, including fostering collaborative partnerships with Indigenous partners and mining companies.
Fireweed Metals Corp. is a Canadian, publicly listed company advancing projects in the Macmillan Pass critical minerals district including the Macpass Project and Mactung Project in the Yukon and the Gayna Project in NWT. Guided by its core value of respect for people and the environment, the company is focused on sustainably exploring and developing critical metals assets to support the transition to a low-carbon economy.
Social Media:
- Websites: DNDC, Fireweed, Solvest
- Facebook: Fireweed, Solvest
- LinkedIn: Fireweed, Solvest
- YouTube: Fireweed, Solvest
- Instagram: Fireweed, Solvest
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