October 29, 2024 | Vancouver Sun via UVic News
A collaboration between the Haida Nation and the University of Victoria’s Pacific Regional Institute for Marine Energy Discovery (PRIMED) is exploring renewable energy sources like offshore wind, tides, and waves Haida Gwaii’s reliance on electricity from diesel. Haida Gwaii, which consists of over 200 islands off the coast of Northern B.C., is isolated from the main B.C. Hydro power grid and heavily depends on diesel, using over 8.7 million litres annually for a population of about 5000.
UVic’s Riley Richardson explains that the project’s goals include assessing renewable energy resources around Haida Gwaii and ensuring that the research aligns with the Haida Gwaii Marine Plan, all while avoiding areas of high cultural, socio-economic, and environmental value. The project, which is strictly research-based and does not indicate the actual site for energy production, is using a small yellow buoy anchored 10 km off Gadsguusd North Beach in Haida Gwaii to collect data on wind, waves, and currents until September 2025. This data will help the Council of the Haida Nation make informed decisions about their energy systems, quantify renewable energy resources, and identify suitable locations for sustainable energy projects.
In his role as project manager for PRIMED, Richardson oversees this research project, working closely with the Haida Nation to ensure the project aligns with the Haida Gwaii Marine Plan and respects cultural, socio-economic, and environmental values. This collaboration aims to provide the Haida Nation with data to make informed decisions about sustainable energy solutions. Richardson, who completed his M.Sc. in Geography at UVic, also serves as the Engagement Lead from PRIMED, and currently works on an array of research topics such as “spatial analysis, economic analysis, community engagement, and regulatory & policy guidance.”
In 2021, Riley Richardson published his thesis on the holistic development of tidal stream energy for remote coastal diesel-reliant Indigenous communities, which is available at our institutional repository UVicSpace.
Photo by cnicbc from Getty Images Signature
