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)