Goodnews Bay, AK

Goodnews Bay, Alaska micro-grid powers water plant
Turbines offset the high cost of diesel-generated electricity for water treatment at a remote Alaska village.
We are very optimistic that this will be a very successful and interesting project for the state.
-John Warren, P.E., Engineering Services Director, DEHE, ANTHC
Customer
The Alaska Division of Environmental Health & Engineering (DEHE), Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium (ANTHC) provides planning, design, construction and operations support for clean water and sanitation projects.
Objectives
- Offset diesel use by the village’s water treatment facility, which requires about 18,000 kWh of electricity per year
- Serviceable by village residents
Project Requirements
- Reduce the cost and dependence of diesel fuel
- Provide redundant power supply for crucial infrastructure
- Feed excess electricity to village’s micro-grid
Site Details
- Average annual wind speed: 7.5 m/s (16.7 mph)*
- Average solar insolation: 3.0 kWh/m2/day*
- Location: 59.121408, -161.585836
- Install date: July 2012
Solution
- Three Skystream 3.7 turbines, 21 m (70 ft) guyed towers
- Turbines provide clean, ready-to-use AC power (noexternal inverter or controller required)
- “Behind the meter” connection reduces facility’s utilityenergy costs; excess generation feeds village micro-grid
- Chosen based on a proven performance throughout rural Alaska
Benefits
- Projected annual energy: 13,500 kWh (75% of waterplant’s electrical needs)
- Reduced diesel consumption
- Delivers potable water to village residents
Partners
- Susitna Energy Systems
- All Alaska Electric
- Alaska Village Electric Cooperative (AVEC)
- Alaska Rural Utility Collaborative (ARUC)
*Source: U.S. Dept. of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL)