New Micro Energy Grid on Sable Island

Sable Island Goes Greener: A Major Step Toward Sustainable Operations

Yesterday, I attended an announcement by Parks Canada in Halifax about a $5.1 million investment to make Sable Island’s operations dramatically more sustainable, marking a big leap forward in protecting one of Canada’s most iconic and ecologically sensitive places.

However, this announcement wasn’t anything new to those of us who have visited Sable Island this summer and fall.

Parks Canada Press Release

Why This Matters for Sable Island

Because the island lies far offshore 300 km from Halifax, daily life — heating, lighting, hot water and power — have traditionally depended on diesel generators and fossil fuels shipped in by sea. Around 100,000 barrels of diesel fuel a year are consumed. This has meant massively elevated costs, constant noise, fumes and a larger environmental footprint than is ideal for a national park dedicated to conservation. Visitors to Sable could see the large volume of diesel barrels stored around Main Station.

This fall though we watched the solar project take shape as it was being installed on the island next to the helicopter landing pad at Main Station.

What’s Changed: A Sustainable Micro-Grid

Under the new project funded by Parks Canada and the federal Greening Government Fund, Sable Island will see a modern sustainable micro-grid system installed by East Point Energy. This includes:

• Solar panels to produce clean electricity

• A battery bank to store energy

• Variable speed generators that support power needs more efficiently

• Energy-efficiency upgrades to key buildings to cut electrical demand

As per Parks Canada staff, “Sable Island’s Main Station is powered by 70-kW diesel generators running 24/7 at a fixed speed, consuming nearly the same fuel regardless of demand. The new system will save roughly $290,000 per year and cut diesel consumption by over 50%”

A massive achievement in such a remote and challenging environment.

At the announcement I was chatting to a senior electrical engineer Sandy MacInnis with East Point Energy about the project which involved the installation of over 100 solar panels that can generate 540w each.

He shared that this project had the most involvement they’ve ever had by an end user, which allowed for everything so far to be completed on time and on budget. The Parks Canada staff who live on Sable Island were involved in every step over the 72+ project meetings to ensure the design and delivery met their electricity needs.

Construction began in late August 2025 and the island’s staff is scheduled to ‘flip the switch’ for a test run in January of 2026 to identify any hiccups before the project is officially completed in the spring.

What This Means for Conservation & Tourism on Sable Island

This project isn’t just about saving fuel and money — by installing a self-sufficient power plant on a sandbar out in the middle of the North Atlantic ocean — it creates a sustainable template for other remote communities in Canada, or around the world, to adopt as well.

For travellers and nature lovers, this means Sable Island will continue to be a living laboratory of environmental innovation, combining world-class wildlife viewing with Parks Canada’s forward-looking approach to sustainable operations.

Even this winter Parks Canada staff on Sable Island are are busy working on the project. Right now staff are building an electric fence around the solar panels to keep the wild horses from getting an elusive scratch by rubbing up against the panels.

And yes.., the electric fence will be powered by solar.

(PS – Click the image below to read the project proposal East Point Energy presented to Parks Canada in October 2024)