Enhanced Connectivity for Hydro Power Plant: A Case Study in Greenland
The Challenge: Connecting a Remote Hydropower Plant in the Arctic
Greenland's government-owned energy company Nukissiorfiit operates one of the most isolated hydroelectric power facilities on Earth at Buksefjord. The power generated from there is transferred 57 km (35 miles) to the capital Nuuk, and to remote towns and settlements across the southwest. The same conditions that made this hydropower facility viable—abundant water resources and mountainous terrain—also challenged the communications infrastructure needed to run it. Staff onsite monitor turbine performance, check on equipment and track water supplies to ensure power grid stability. Whilst stationed at Buksefjord, their welfare is critical.
The Critical Need: Connectivity for Renewable Power Grid Stability and Supply
Nukissiorfiit currently generates 72% of its electricity from renewable sources, primarily hydroelectric plants, and is on track to achieve completely fossil-free operations by 2030. The infrastructure to achieve this needs robust, reliable connectivity at every site. Hardware and installations have to be resilient to challenging conditions; strong winds and freezing temperatures can cause service degradation if equipment is not mounted correctly. Connectivity needs to be low latency and fast enough for data transmission in real-time, with service plans that can prioritize traffic for critical operational data as well as support voice communications.
The Solution: LEO Satellite Services for Reliable Arctic Communications
In 2024, Greenland’s telecommunications service provider and Eutelsat partner Tusass switched on a low Earth orbit satellite-based service plan for the hydroelectric plant: easy-to-use connectivity for voice, critical operations and continuous remote monitoring. Parabolic antennas were mounted securely at Buksefjord for reliable service in touch conditions and minimal onsite maintenance and repairs. The low latency and high speed broadband meant data could be shared and tracked reliably in real-time and engineers could do their job to ensure grid stability.
Customer Impact and Key Results
“It’s very important because this is remote… Especially if there's a failure on the transmission line or with the grid in Nuke..”
Nukissiorfiit teamleader
Eutelsat's LEO network delivered the low-latency and resilient communications needed to support operational telemetry - SCADA, sensor readings etc. The deployment gave staff and colleagues at Nukissiorfiit's remote hydroelectric plant greater assurance in their communication lines and site monitoring capabilities. It also established a replicable model for other remote energy sites that face similar challenges. Energy infrastructure - remote hydropower plants, wind farms, and solar installations- increasingly extend into isolated regions where terrestrial networks cannot reach.