The overall technical supply in Municipality Qeqertalik is handled by the autonomous Nukissiorfiit, which produces and distributes water, electricity and heat to the majority of the municipality's inhabitants. Nukissiorfiit operates via local energy services in Qasigiannguit, Aasiaat/Kangaatsiaq and Qeqertarsuaq.
Technical supply
There is generally great variation in the supply structure in the individual towns and settlements, partly due to local resource and terrain conditions. The current local conditions are thus described in more detail in the main structure for the individual town and settlement.
The electricity supply is primarily based on diesel-powered generators, but new hydroelectric power plants are planned, partly at Kuussuup Tasia between Aasiaat and Qasigiannguit, and partly on Disko Island (north of Qeqertarsuaq), cf. the "Sustainability" section. The municipality's existing and planned hydroelectric power plants are shown on the main structure map.
Heat supply in the municipality's towns and villages is provided by oil boilers – either as district heating, central heating or from individual oil boilers.
Water supply varies from place to place depending on natural resources and the season. The majority of towns and villages are supplied with surface water from local drinking water lakes and distributed via a network of electrically frost-proof, pre-insulated pipes, water tankers and tap houses. In other places, the supply is made with seawater or melted ice, which is led through desalination plants. The primary supply areas (lakes or lake systems) are covered by a closed zone, which includes restrictions on uses and construction possibilities.
As is the case with the water supply, there are also large local variations in waste management – especially in relation to nighttime cleaning and the further treatment of the waste. All towns and villages have a dump – typically located on the coast – where waste from businesses and private households is burned, deposited or sorted for recycling. In the larger towns, an actual incineration plant has been established where combustible waste is disposed of. In general, there is a picture that the dumps in several places are inappropriately located in relation to neighboring activities, infrastructure and future urban and business development. In the long term, it will therefore be relevant to find new and more suitable location options for the purpose.
The management of wastewater and nighttime sanitation is based on several strands. In sewered areas, wastewater (black and grey) is discharged via sewers to the sea, and in areas with tanks and emptying of bag toilets/nighttime sanitation, grey wastewater is discharged to the terrain, while black wastewater is discharged to the sea via nighttime sanitation facilities or ramps. Surface water from roofs, roads and squares is discharged to the terrain and ditches, etc.
Furthermore, since 2013, new regulations have been prepared for waste management – both for commercial waste, private household waste and nighttime cleaning. The intention of the new regulations is to ensure both efficient and environmentally friendly waste management and to prevent pollution and unhygienic conditions. Furthermore, it is hoped that a resource gain will also be achieved by promoting and systematizing recycling – also from a sustainability perspective.
Telecommunication systems, etc.
The quality and coverage of telecommunications and internet services are crucial for strengthening dialogue and IT infrastructure in the world's largest municipality in the future. The large geographical distances between the municipality's settlements mean that extra effort must be made to ensure both access to good technical solutions and new democratic forms of communication. The demand for better communication frameworks is particularly prominent in the settlements.
All telecommunications in Greenland are handled by TELE Greenland A/S, which has telecommunications masts in most of the municipality's towns and villages with connections to the main radio chain. The main radio chain is connected to the rest of the world via a fiber-optic submarine cable – Greenland Connect. With the installation of the submarine cable to Kangaatsiaq and Aasiaat and the reinforcement of the radio chain to Qasigiannguit and Qeqertarsuaq, there is full 3G coverage in all towns in the municipality.
Finally, TELE Greenland is responsible for the coastal radio, which constitutes the emergency and safety watch for shipping in Greenlandic waters. The coastal radio is located in Aasiaat.
Risk plant
There are one or more hazardous facilities in all towns and settlements in the form of tank farms, explosives depots, etc. All hazardous facilities are covered by restricted zones / safety distances, which regulate the use – including any construction possibilities – within the zone.
The restricted zones have great significance for the surroundings and the adjacent activities, but also for the development possibilities of the city or settlement. It is therefore important that the integration of new high-risk facilities as well as the relocation of existing ones takes place with close consideration of the surroundings and future urban development.
Sustainability
More than ever, there is a focus on promoting green and sustainable solutions – both for the benefit of the environment, nature and the economy. There is a particular focus on the various options for producing renewable energy.
The greatest potential is directly linked to hydropower, where there are plans to establish two hydroelectric power plants, one at Kuussuup Tasia between Aasiaat and Qasigiannguit, and the other north of Qeqertarsuaq on Disko Island. It is expected that the construction of the plants will reduce CO2 emissions by more than 20 tons annually. The two areas have been incorporated into the municipal plan, but the specific plants have not yet been determined.
Other potentials for renewable energy are related to the utilization of thermal heat and possibly the installation of solar cell or solar heating systems as well as wind turbines. The plan thus provides the opportunity to integrate solar energy systems in connection with renovation and new construction. Actual land allocations for wind farms and solar cell farms are still under further assessment.
Finally, there is potential for construction, infrastructure and waste management – especially low-energy construction with a focus on materials, insulation, solar orientation, etc. – but also sustainable urban development, where considerations of climate adaptation, densification and infrastructure play a central role. Promoting sustainable transport solutions is primarily linked to improving and expanding the road network in and around cities. The efforts regarding waste management are described in the section "Technical supply".