KarunaNews Story

Residents of Greenland’s most northern town are working with US scientists and engineers to bring renewable energy there. Dartmouth College engineer Mary Albert sees it as a potential model for sustainability efforts worldwide. Qaanaaq’s electricity comes from a diesel generator, and most homes are heated with oil. Fuel is delivered once a year in summer and many families spend more on heat and electricity than on food. With $2.6 million from the National Science Foundation, Albert pulled together a team of Dartmouth researchers to begin crafting a strategy to meet Qaanaaq’s needs. It includes designing a modular home that suits Greenlandic conditions and looking at how Qaanaaq could shut down its diesel generators for half the year, saving between $10,000 and $200,000 annually.