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Case Study - Alaska Wind-Diesel
 

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Banner Wind Project, Nome, Alaska
Banner Wind Project, Nome, Alaska

HOMER Energy will be working with the Alaska Energy Authority (AEA) to analyze wind-diesel systems for remote native communities. Until recently these communities have relied entirely on diesel for their energy needs, but fuel costs are rising rapidly. In 2009 diesel prices reported by rural utilities averaged $4 to $5 per gallon with some communities paying more than $7, including delivery costs. The HOMER software is being widely used in Alaska to realize wind energy’s promise of free fuel, predictable energy prices and lower energy costs overall.

St. Paul Wind Project, Alaska
St. Paul Wind Project, Alaska

Wind-diesel energy systems have been operating for more than ten years in rural Alaska. Back then, engineers had little experience with wind turbines in Alaska’s sub-zero temperatures and semi-continuous permafrost. New wind projects are far more successful, benefitting from the latest turbine technology, arctic adaptations and accumulated experience in construction and maintenance of wind farms. Now the Alaska Energy Authority is investing $20 million to $30 million a year building rural wind-diesel systems via the Alaska Renewable Energy Fund. While ten projects are under construction, another two-dozen are in feasibility studies. There are more than 150 other communities that are totally reliant on diesel, many of which could benefit from wind-diesel power systems.

HOMER wind-diesel schematic
HOMER schematic

The agency wants to make sure that new wind projects are designed as efficiently as possible to maximize the economic and environmental benefits of wind-diesel systems. That’s where HOMER comes in. HOMER Energy CEO Dr. Peter Lilienthal says that HOMER Energy and the Alaska Energy Authority will work together to make Alaska a leader in the wind-diesel industry. One of the project requirements is for HOMER to model ways that wind could reduce the use of diesel fuel for space heating. You can see in the schematic to the right how HOMER models the dump load for space heating. HOMER Energy will also train Alaskan HOMER users with newly developed training materials including Alaska-specific data.
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Best hourly assessment tool for hybrid renewable electric generation systems in the world – bar none.

Dr. Jan F. Kreider
Building Systems Program, University of Colorado, USA
 
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