SaskPower’s First Community Microgrid Energizes Descharme Lake
March 10, 2026
SaskPower’s first microgrid project is bringing a new source of power to the small community of Descharme Lake and helping reimagine what a modern, reliable power solution can look like for northern Saskatchewan’s most remote areas.
- SaskPower’s first microgrid project is bringing a new source of power to the small community of Descharme Lake and helping reimagine what a modern, reliable power solution can look like for northern Saskatchewan’s most remote areas.
- It’s a custom-built solution that combines solar panels with battery energy storage and diesel generators to power the community year-round.
- Electricity Canada inducted the project into its Centre of Excellence in 2025.
For decades, Descharme Lake residents relied on a 96-kilometre (km) power line stretching north from La Loche through rugged boreal forest to the small village of about 20 homes. The line was built more than 60 years ago and is difficult and costly to maintain. Due to its location, it’s also vulnerable to weather-related outages that can take more time than normal to repair because of reduced access. We took the challenge to innovate a new way to power the community and ensure a more reliable service overall.
In April 2025, the Descharme Lake Microgrid came online. It’s a custom-built solution that combines solar panels with battery energy storage and diesel generators to power the community year-round.
Electricity Canada inducted the project into its Centre of Excellence in 2025.
