Natural Resources, Mining, Industry and Energy Engineering a Better Canada Award and Award of Excellence
Fort Severn First Nation Solar Array Hedgehog Technologies
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A project revisited In 2016, FSFN hired a contractor to manage a solar project. Given the remote nature of the community and the corresponding complexity, including seasonal weather challenges, the contractor underestimated the project’s needs, exceeded the budget and had to be replaced. Hedgehog principal engineer Michael Wrinch, P.Eng., subsequently visited Fort Severn to learn about the unique aspects of local culture, foreseeable challenges and how to revive the project within the client's budget. The nature of the project involved several key stakeholders beyond FSFN, including Hydro One Remote Communities, the Electric Safety Authority of Ontario (ESA), the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation (NOHFC), Indigenous Services Canada (ISC), the National Research Council of Canada (NRC) and Ontario’s Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO). Working with all of these parties, Hedgehog applied a risk-based project management approach to complete the 18
CANADIAN CONSULTING ENGINEER
deliverables. This approach included conducting studies, including a projection of annual power generation, and co-ordinating protective devices to ensure the solar array would not cause disruptions for the local utility. Through the dedication of each party, the once-abandoned project became a reality. Agile risk management Renewable energy system projects in remote regions are challenging to manage in terms of location, harsh weather conditions, availability of resources and communications. To navigate these challenges, Hedgehog adopted an innovative strategy that combined agile and riskbased project management. Compared to a typical resource-based project plan, where sequential steps are interdependent, agile risk management uses a standard list of objectives in conjunction with a regularly updated project
risk register. This allows for ‘sprints’ to address higher-risk activities—i.e. those that could result in technical, financial or indefinite delays and a failed project—and for real-time re-ordering of prioritization. (A medium-risk activity could cause significant delays or costly remediation, while a low-risk activity would be considered non-contentious and not change the project’s direction.) The agile risk management approach to project planning helped the team react to unpredictable events, such as severe weather impacts, the COVID-19 pandemic, equipment failure and major design modifications—while remaining on schedule and within budget. Challenging logistics Fort Severn is located close to the mouth of the Severn River, which spills into Hudson Bay. FSFN has relied on diesel generators to power its infrastructure, but September/October 2022
PHOTOS COU RT E SY H E D G E HO G T EC H NOLO G I E S
s protectors of a declining polar bear population in Northern Ontario, the Fort Severn First Nation (FSFN) has a vision for renewable energy to power its remote community. Part of this vision is a 300-kW solar array. Hedgehog Technologies led the project management, engineering and co-ordination of logistics. Community training programs were also developed to support maintenance of the project after its completion.
