A new solar farm at the Masset airport is now feeding electricity into the local grid, marking a major milestone for Haida Gwaii as communities work toward reducing their reliance on diesel power.
BC Hydro confirmed that the Solar North project, a two-megawatt solar farm owned and operated by Tll Yahda Energy, began supplying power on Dec. 5. The plant is expected to replace about 350,000 litres of diesel every year, which means fewer emissions and less fuel that needs to be shipped to the islands.
Tll Yahda Energy is a partnership between Old Massett Village Council, Skidegate Band Council and the Council of the Haida Nation. The project is the first Indigenous-owned renewable plant to come online in one of B.C.’s non-integrated areas, where communities produce their own electricity instead of drawing power from the provincial grid.
“For the Haida Nation, this project has been a long time coming,” said Haida Nation President Gaagwiis Jason Alsop. “It moves us toward a cleaner and more secure energy future, and it protects our lands and waters.”
Diesel power has long been the backbone of electricity generation on Haida Gwaii, especially in the north end. Every litre must be barged in, often through rough weather, and communities can feel the effects of both shipping delays and fluctuating fuel prices. Solar North helps reduce some of that pressure.
BC Hydro is also planning upgrades to the Masset microgrid, which will include new control systems and battery storage. Once those pieces are in place, the system will be able to use more of the solar energy produced at the airport, which could raise diesel savings to about 515,000 litres per year.
Adrian Dix, Minister of Energy and Climate Solutions, said the project shows what is possible when Indigenous Nations and BC Hydro work together.
The agreement between BC Hydro and Tll Yahda Energy includes an option to expand the solar farm in the future. Expanding the site would increase the amount of local power produced on Haida Gwaii and further reduce diesel use.
Construction on the microgrid upgrades is expected to begin in 2026. Tll Yahda Energy says Solar North is the first step in a longer plan to move Haida Gwaii toward cleaner, locally controlled power.
