A historic clean-energy milestone has been reached in Haida Gwaii, where British Columbia’s first Indigenous-owned and operated solar plant in a non-integrated area is now supplying electricity to BC Hydro’s Masset microgrid. The Solar North project, developed by Tll Yahda Energy, a partnership between the Skidegate Band Council, Old Massett Village Council and the Council of the Haida Nation, marks a major shift away from diesel dependence in one of the province’s remote regions.
Located at the Masset airport, the two-megawatt solar installation is expected to offset approximately 350,000 litres of diesel each year. The plant began delivering power on December 5 under a 20-year Community Electricity Purchase Agreement with BC Hydro. Leaders say the project strengthens energy security, reduces greenhouse gas emissions, and represents a significant step toward energy sovereignty for Haida Gwaii.
BC Hydro is already planning microgrid upgrades, including advanced grid controls and a battery energy storage system. Once complete, the improvements could boost diesel displacement to roughly 515,000 litres annually, equal to taking around 300 cars off the road. An option to expand Solar North could push total reductions to nearly one million litres per year by 2028, potentially making it the largest remote renewable project in Canada.
Construction on BC Hydro’s station upgrades will begin in spring 2026, alongside work by Tll Yahda Energy to grow the Solar North facility. Together, these efforts are expected to deliver cleaner, more reliable power and set a new benchmark for renewable energy in remote communities.
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