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Electricity is produced in the Yukon from hydro power and diesel.
Mining and oil and gas extraction accounted for 9.2 per cent of Yukon's gross domestic product in 2010. Utilities accounted for another 2.2 per cent.
The Yukon government received $239,342 in oil and gas revenues in 2011.
There are currently 34,306 people living in the Yukon and 936 of these people are employed in the energy sector.
Discover the key energy facts about Yukon.
By the numbers (1MB PDF)
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Crude Oil
Yukon contains eight on-shore sedimentary basins with the potential of oil and gas resources. The crude oil potential is estimated to be 790 million barrels.
Discovered crude oil resources are estimated to be 11 million barrels; however, there has been no oil production in Yukon.
Offshore resources in the Beaufort Sea are estimated at 4.5 billion barrels of oil.
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Natural Gas
Yukon contains eight on-shore sedimentary basins with the potential of oil and gas resources. The potential natural gas resource for these eight basins is estimated at 17 trillion cubic feet
Discovered natural gas reserves for Yukon total 0.5 trillion cubic feet.
The Kotaneelee gas field is the only currently producing gas field in the Yukon. There are two active wells located at this gas field which produced an average 4.4 million cubic feet per day in 2011.
Offshore resources in the Beaufort Sea are estimated at 40 trillion cubic feet of natural gas.
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Natural Gas Pipelines
The Duke Energy Gas Transmission Pointed Mountain Pipeline, which runs from the Northwest Territories to British Columbia transports the natural gas produced at the Kotaneelee gas field in the southeast part of the Yukon.
The proposed Alaska Highway Pipeline project would run 750 kilometres, or about 30% of its route through the Yukon and will have an estimated throughput of 4.5 to 5.9 billion cubic feet of natural gas per day.
This project could be on stream as early as 2018 and would employ Yukon residents both in construction and operations once construction is complete.
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Hydro Power
The Yukon is not connected to the North American power grid; instead, the territory relies on its own systems.
The Yukon Energy Corporation operates three hydro power facilities, with a combined installed capacity of 75.4 megawatts that produce electricity in the Yukon. The Whitehorse and Aishihik facilities serve about half the communities, and the Mayo/Dawson City hydro facility serves Mayo and Dawson City.
Yukon Electrical Company purchases power from Yukon Energy Corporation, for distribution to its customers in various communities throughout the Territory. It also operates the 1.3 megawatt Fish Lake Hydro plant near Whitehorse.
Total installed hydroelectricity capacity for Yukon is 76.7 megawatts or 55.1 per cent of total Yukon installed capacity.
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Wind
There are currently two wind turbines in the Yukon which combine to give the territory 0.81 megawatts of installed capacity, or 0.6 per cent of total Yukon installed capacity.
The two turbines are located in the Whitehorse area on Haeckel Hill and have capacities of 0.15 MW and 0.66 MW. The smaller of the two turbines created by Bonus Energy was installed in July 1993, while the larger turbine, a Vestas V47-660, came online in the fall of 2000.
Through operating these wind turbines, Yukon Energy is demonstrating that wind power has promise in northern locations. Together, these turbines have the capability of providing clean, renewable energy to 150 homes.
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Thermal Electricity Generation
Yukon Energy operates diesel-fuelled generators with an additional 48.1 megawatts of installed capacity, which are only used as back up.
Yukon Electrical Company operates diesel-fired generating stations in 11 communities in Yukon, with a combined installed capacity of 15 megawatts.
Total installed diesel-fired generation is 61.8 megawatts or 44.4 per cent of total Yukon installed capacity.
