HomeMy WebLinkAboutIgiugig-GrantApp 8-26-2011-deliveredIGIUGIG TRIBAL VILLAGE COUNCIL
AX.A.Igiugig Village Council
P.O.Box 4008
Igiugig,AK 99613
Phone:(907)533-3211 Fax:(907)533-3217 w\..w.igiugig.com
e-mail:igiugigrQ.brislolbay.com
August 26,201 J
Renewable Energy Grant Fund
Alaska Energy Authority
813 West Northem Lights Blvd.
Anchorage,AK 99503
Re:Igiugig ViHage Council -Renewable Energy Fund Grant Application -Round 5
Letter of Commitment
Igiugig Village Council d/b/a Igiugig Electric Company is pleased to submit the attached application to
the Renewable Energy Fund Grant for the continued funding of our river in-stream energy conversion
(RlSEC)project an eligible renewable energy project as defined under HB 152.Igiugig Village Council
is authorized by the Regulatory Commission of Alaska to provide power to the community of Igiugig
under Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity,CPC&N No.681.
The attached Application documents and describes the RISEC project which we have undertaken as
viable technology to improve the operational efficiency of our electric utility and to help reduce the
community's reliance on diesel fuel.The Kvichak River RJSEC Project received partial funding for
Feasibility and Conceptual Design under REF Funding Agreement Number 2195466.Thjs funded the
initial energy resource assessments,historical fish studies and preliminary device development as well as
identification of multiple devices for testing.However,additional funrung is needed to procure and
deploy RISEC devises by the second quarter 2012.The total estimated project cost is $9,807,768.The
estimated fuel savings as a result of the commercial scale project is 15,000-gallons starting in year 3.
Igiugig Village Council has contributed $44,200 in Match contributions during REF Round 2,and further
commits to this project Match contributions of up to $171,480.Additional Match in the amount of
$1,198,076 brings the Total Match Contribution to $1,413,756.Igiugig Village Council requests REF
Grant funding in the amount of $7,274,277.
Igiugig Village Council strives to keep electric costs as low a possible by maximizing operating
efficiencies and reducing operating costs.Tills project wilJ provide a significant improvement toward
meeting this continued goal,and will greatly benefit the community of Igiugig,as well as other rural
Alaska communities interested in implementing a RlSEC teclmology project.
Igiugig ViIJage Council welcomes and fully supports this opportunity to work with the Alaska Energy
Authority to implement this innovative RISEC project,and requests the Review Committee carefully
review the merits ofthis application.
We welcome your review and evaluation of our proposal,and look forward to working with you on this
project.If you have any questions about this project,please feel free to contact me at (907)533-3211.
Sincerely,
Igiugig Village Council
~-&~
AlexAnna Salmon
President
Renewable Energy Fund Round 5
Grant Application
AEA 12-001 Application Page 1 of 30 7/1/2011
Application Forms and Instructions
The following forms and instructions are provided to assist you in preparing your application for
a Renewable Energy Fund Grant. An electronic version of the Request for Applications (RFA)
and the forms are available online at: http://www.akenergyauthority.org
Grant Application
Form
GrantApp5.doc Application form in MS Word that includes an outline of
information required to submit a complete application.
Applicants should use the form to assure all information is
provided and attach additional information as required.
Application Cost
Worksheet
Costworksheet
5.doc
Summary of Cost information that should be addressed by
applicants in preparing their application.
Grant Budget
Form
GrantBudget5.
doc
A detailed grant budget that includes a breakdown of costs by
milestone and a summary of funds available and requested to
complete the work for which funds are being requested.
Grant Budget
Form Instructions
GrantBudgetIn
structions5.doc
Instructions for completing the above grant budget form.
Authorized
Signers Form
Authorized
signers
form5.doc
Form indicating who is authorized to sign the grant, finance
reports and progress reports and provides grantee information.
• If you are applying for grants for more than one project, provide separate application
forms for each project.
• Multiple phases for the same project may be submitted as one application.
• If you are applying for grant funding for more than one phase of a project, provide
milestones and grant budget for completion of each phase.
• If some work has already been completed on your project and you are requesting
funding for an advanced phase, submit information sufficient to demonstrate that the
preceding phases are satisfied and funding for an advanced phase is warranted.
• If you have additional information or reports you would like the Authority to consider in
reviewing your application, either provide an electronic version of the document with
your submission or reference a web link where it can be downloaded or reviewed.
REMINDER:
• Alaska Energy Authority is subject to the Public Records Act AS 40.25, and materials
submitted to the Authority may be subject to disclosure requirements under the act if no
statutory exemptions apply.
• All applications received will be posted on the Authority web site after final
recommendations are made to the legislature.
• In accordance with 3 AAC 107.630 (b) Applicants may request trade secrets or
proprietary company data be kept confidential subject to review and approval by the
Authority. If you want information is to be kept confidential the applicant must:
o Request the information be kept confidential.
o Clearly identify the information that is the trade secret or proprietary in their
application.
o Receive concurrence from the Authority that the information will be kept
confidential. If the Authority determines it is not confidential it will be treated as a
public record in accordance with AS 40.25 or returned to the applicant upon
request.
Renewable Energy Fund
Grant Application Round 5
AEA12-001 Grant Application Page 2 of 30 7/1//2011
SECTION 1 – APPLICANT INFORMATION
Name (Name of utility, IPP, or government entity submitting proposal)
Igiugig Village Council d/b/a Igiugig Electric Company
Type of Entity: Certificated Electric Utility Fiscal Year End
Tax ID # 92-0072200 Tax Status: For-profit or X non-profit ( check one)
Mailing Address
Igiugig Village Council
PO Box 4008
Igiugig, Alaska 99613
Physical Address
Same
Telephone
907.533.3211
Fax
907.533.3217
Email
igiugig@bristolbay.com
1.1 APPLICANT POINT OF CONTACT / GRANTS MANAGER
Name
AlexAnna Salmon
Title
Igiugig Village Council President
Mailing Address
Igiugig Village Council
PO Box 4008
Igiugig, Alaska 99613
Telephone
907.533.3211
Fax
907.533.3217
Email
igiugig@bristolbay.com
1.2 APPLICANT MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS
Please check as appropriate. If you do not to meet the minimum applicant requirements, your
application will be rejected.
1.2.1 As an Applicant, we are: (put an X in the appropriate box)
X An electric utility holding a certificate of public convenience and necessity under AS
42.05, or
An independent power producer in accordance with 3 AAC 107.695 (a) (1), or
A local government, or
A governmental entity (which includes tribal councils and housing authorities);
Yes
1.2.2. Attached to this application is formal approval and endorsement for its project by
its board of directors, executive management, or other governing authority. If the
applicant is a collaborative grouping, a formal approval from each participant’s
governing authority is necessary. (Indicate Yes or No in the box )
Yes
1.2.3. As an applicant, we have administrative and financial management systems and
follow procurement standards that comply with the standards set forth in the grant
agreement.
Yes
1.2.4. If awarded the grant, we can comply with all terms and conditions of the attached
grant form. (Any exceptions should be clearly noted and submitted with the
application.)
Yes
1.2.5 We intend to own and operate any project that may be constructed with grant
funds for the benefit of the general public.
Renewable Energy Fund
Grant Application Round 5
AEA12-001 Grant Application Page 3 of 30 7/1//2011
SECTION 2 – PROJECT SUMMARY
This is intended to be no more than a 1-2 page overview of your project.
2.1 Project Title – (Provide a 4 to 5 word title for your project)
Kvichak River RISEC Project
2.2 Project Location –
Include the physical location of your project and name(s) of the community or communities that will
benefit from your project.
The Village of Igiugig is located at the outlet of Lake Iliamna, 240 air miles southwest of Anchorage, on
the southern shore of the Kvichak River. Igiugig has a year-round population of 56 (predominantly
Yupik, Aleut, and Athabascan) rising in summer to about 75. Igiugig also provides goods and services to
six area tourism lodges and their respective clients and workforce of 90 additional persons per week.
2.3 PROJECT TYPE
Put X in boxes as appropriate
2.3.1 Renewable Resource Type
Wind Biomass or Biofuels
Hydro, including run of river Transmission of Renewable Energy
Geothermal, including Heat Pumps Small Natural Gas
Heat Recovery from existing sources X Hydrokinetic
Solar Storage of Renewable
Other (Describe)
2.3.2 Proposed Grant Funded Phase(s) for this Request (Check all that apply)
Reconnaissance X Design and Permitting
Feasibility X Construction and Commissioning
Conceptual Design
2.4 PROJECT DESCRIPTION
Provide a brief one paragraph description of your proposed project.
The continued objective of this project is to install a RISEC device on the Kvichak River near the village
of Igiugig. This lake outlet location provides an ideal site for the study, testing and implementation of
river in-stream energy conversion (RISEC) that will also benefit other Alaska communities considering
this renewable energy. A RISEC plant will convert available river kinetic energy into electric power, and
feed into the existing Igiugig electric grid to reduce diesel fuel consumption at the Igiugig power plant.
Renewable Energy Fund
Grant Application Round 5
AEA12-001 Grant Application Page 4 of 30 7/1//2011
2.5 PROJECT BENEFIT
Briefly discuss the financial and public benefits that will result from this project, (such as reduced fuel
costs, lower energy costs, etc.)
Local economic benefits
Direct beneficiaries include the Lake and Peninsula School District (LPSD) and Igiugig electric service
customers. While the research and developmental portion of the project does not have a simple payback,
the estimated payback period for the commercial scale facility is 3 to 4 years, at an avoided cost of diesel
fuel at 70-90 cents/kWh, including the initial capital outlay and ongoing operation and maintenance cost
of the RISEC plant. Additional benefits include the development of an emissionless renewable energy
resource and a reduction in carbon footprint, as well as local economic development during the
installation, monitoring, and evaluation phases of the project.
Benefits to Alaskan public
The primary benefit of this project reaches far beyond the Village of Igiugig. As a demonstration project,
the resulting data will aid the Authority and other Alaska communities considering RISEC renewable
energy and help to evaluate the current technology, provide a decision-making framework, advance
subsequent design and permitting processes, and ultimately refine and reduce installation and operating
costs. Due to the extended months of open water and crystal clear waters, the Igiugig RISEC Project also
functions as a test bed for RISEC technology developed by other vendors for other markets.
2.6 PROJECT BUDGET OVERVIEW
Briefly discuss the amount of funds needed, the anticipated sources of funds, and the nature and source
of other contributions to the project.
The estimated project cost for full development is $9,807,737 Of this amount, $707,250 has been secured
through REF Round 2 funds. The Round 2 grant was executed late February 2011. Of the $330,000
Round 2 funds encumbered, $171,683 has been expended on completed tasks. IVC has committed to
provide match in the amount of $171,480, in addition to contribution in aid of construction match from
RISEC vendors of $1,198,076. The balance requested for this project from the Renewable Energy Grant
Fund Round 5 is $7,274,277.
Although there may be a variety of funding sources available for this project, including Department of
Agriculture, Rural Utilities Service grants and loans, Denali Commission funding, Bristol Bay Economic
Development Corporation funding, private financing and commercial loans, due to the potential for
widespread application of this technology in Alaska, and the extensive project testing and environmental
evaluation costs to document the viability of this technology, IVC is requesting full funding from the
Renewable Energy Fund grant program so that this project may continue to proceed to benefit the
community and all of rural Alaska.
Renewable Energy Fund
Grant Application Round 5
AEA12-001 Grant Application Page 5 of 30 7/1//2011
2.7 COST AND BENEFIT SUMARY
Include a summary of grant request and your project’s total costs and benefits below.
Grant Costs
(Summary of funds requested)
2.7.1 Grant Funds Requested in this application. $7,274,277
2.7.2 Other Funds to be provided (Project match) $2,122,006**
2.7.3 Total Grant Costs (sum of 2.7.1 and 2.7.2) $9,395,283
**NOTE: $707,250 is REF Round 2 Funding (included so total Grant Cost is correct)
Project Costs & Benefits
(Summary of total project costs including work to date and future cost estimates to get to a fully
operational project)
2.7.4 Total Project Cost (Summary from Cost Worksheet
including estimates through construction)
$9,395,283
2.7.5 Estimated Direct Financial Benefit (Savings) $100,050/yr
2.7.6 Other Public Benefit (If you can calculate the benefit in
terms of dollars please provide that number here and
explain how you calculated that number in your application
(Section 5.)
$ Refer to Section 2.5
Renewable Energy Fund
Grant Application Round 5
AEA12-001 Grant Application Page 6 of 30 7/1//2011
SECTION 3 – PROJECT MANAGEMENT PLAN
Describe who will be responsible for managing the project and provide a plan for successfully
completing the project within the scope, schedule and budget proposed in the application.
3.1 Project Manager
Tell us who will be managing the project for the Grantee and include contact information, a
resume and references for the manager(s). If the applicant does not have a project manager
indicate how you intend to solicit project management support. If the applicant expects project
management assistance from AEA or another government entity, state that in this section.
Due to the complexities of developing an R&D project in remote Alaska, IVC requested that AEA manage
the Igiugig RISEC REF Round 2 grant funds. IVC requests that AEA continue to provide grant
management services for this RISEC project on behalf of the community of Igiugig.
AlexAnna Salmon, Igiugig Village Council President, will continue to be the Grant Manager. She will
be the single point of contact with AEA and will execute all grant, contractual and administrative
responsibilities. Ms. Salmon graduated from Dartmouth College with a dual Bachelor’s degree in Native
American Studies and Anthropology. After graduating, she returned to work for the Igiugig Tribal Village
Council as President and Acting Administrator. She also serves as a member of the Igiugig Native
Corporation board, recently on the Lake and Peninsula Borough Planning Commission. She is skilled in
tracking grants, communications, and deals smoothly and professionally with executive officers, upper
management, employees, vendors, and customers in day-to-day and occasionally adverse situations.
Brian C. Gray, P.E., AE&E , will continue to serve as the Project Manager. He will work with the Grant
Manager to commit essential engineering disciplines to ensure a successful project. For the past 20 years
he has served as project manager and project engineer for the design and construction of rural power
generation, fuel storage, and energy-related projects in Alaska communities totaling more than
$110 million. His responsibilities have included feasibility analysis, program development, budgeting,
design, permitting, construction management, and system startup. For this project, Mr. Gray will establish
specific man-hour and reimbursable budgets, and schedule the necessary technical staff. He will track
specific contractual deliverables against the schedule to ensure adequate resources are available to meet
critical milestones. He will analyze all relevant issues such as available shipping options, permitting and
site control issues, and procurement requirements. Drawing on the expertise of our team, he will assign
specific project tasks to responsible team members. Mr. Gray will oversee all technical work and
coordinate the efforts of our team to ensure the efficient and cost effective production of project designs.
He will develop a realistic project schedule to address critical issues in proper sequence to minimize cost
and maximize construction resources.
Mr. Gray will be directly responsible for the quality of all work produced by our team. He will oversee and
review all critical tasks and provide input and support on all significant design issues. He will ensure that
design review comments from the Authority and the Village of Igiugig are adequately addressed and
incorporated into final design documents, and he will manage the logistics of construction support. His
working relationship with Authority staff dates to the early 1990s. Mr. Gray has the authority to assign the
technical personnel and resources necessary to successfully complete this project.
3.2 Project Schedule
Include a schedule for the proposed work that will be funded by this grant. (You may include a
chart or table attachment with a summary of dates below.)
See Next Page
Renewable Energy Fund
Grant Application Round 5
AEA12-001 Grant Application Page 7 of 30 7/1//2011
PHASE I. RECONNAISSANCE Status Start Date Completion Date
Igiugig Electric Hydropower Scoping Brief (1/08) Complete ‐ Jan 2008
Alaska RISEC Final Feasibility Study Report (10/08) Complete ‐ Oct 2008
PHASE II. RISIEC FEASIBILITY ANALYSIS &
CONCEPTUAL DESIGN Status Start Date Completion Date
1
Existing Energy Assessment (Igiugig RPSU CDR
11/08) Complete ‐ Nov 2008
2
Kvichak River Current Profile, Bathymetry and
Preliminary Geotechnical Study In Work June 2011 Nov 2011
3
RISEC Device Design, Solicitation and Preliminary
Development In Work July 2011 Oct 2011
4 Develop Biological Monitoring Program In Work July 2011 May 2012
5 ReVision Consulting (Mirko Previsic) In Work Aug 2011 Dec 2012
6
Phase II Engineering, Permitting and Project
Management In Work Feb 2011 Sept 2012
PHASE III. FINAL DESIGN AND PERMITTING Status Start Date Completion Date
1
Continued Energy Resource Monitoring and
Geotechnical Study Oct 2011 Nov 2012
2 Initial Biological Impact Study Sept 2011 May 2013
3 Complete RISEC Device Design and Development In Work Oct 2011 Dec 2012
4 Phase III Analysis and Recommendations July 2011 Dec 2012
5
Phase III Engineering, FERC Permitting and Project
Management In Work Sept 2011 May 2014
PHASE IV. CONSTRUCTION, COMMISSIONING,
OPERATION & REPORTING Status Start Date Completion Date
1 Construction Scheduling and Procurement Jan 2012 June 2013
2
Build Infrastructure and Electrical Distribution
System Feb 2012 June 2013
3 Procure RISEC Devices Jan 2012 June 2013
4 Transport RISEC Devices May 2012 July 2013
5 Deploy RISEC Devices June 2012 Sept 2013
6 Conduct RISEC Demonstration Project June 2012 May 2013
7 Conduct RISEC Pilot Project June 2013 May 2018
8
Environmental and Biological Monitoring of RISEC
Installation June 2013 June 2018
9 RISEC Installation Geotechnical Investigation Aug 2014 Sept 2014
1
0 Phase IV Analysis and Recommendations Oct 2014 March 2015
1
1
Phase IV Engineering, FERC Permitting and Project
Management June 2014 March 2018
PHASE V. FERC COMMERCIAL LICENSE COMPLETION Status Start Date Completion Date
Phase V Engineering Support and FERC Permitting Sept 2015* Sept 2018*
*Pending Receipt of Additional Funding
Renewable Energy Fund
Grant Application Round 5
AEA12-001 Grant Application Page 8 of 30 7/1//2011
3.3 Project Milestones
Define key tasks and decision points in your project and a schedule for achieving them. The
Milestones must also be included on your budget worksheet to demonstrate how you propose to
manage the project cash flow. (See Section 2 of the RFA or the Budget Form.)
• Kickoff Meeting (Previously Completed)
o As this is a continuation of an existing project, the kickoff meeting will be a continuation
of ongoing communications. Communication methods and channels are detailed in the
application.
• RISEC Device Design/Solicitation
o The RFP for RISEC test devices will be completed during third quarter 2011 based on data
from acoustic Doppler current profiles, bathymetric surveys and preliminary Geotechnical
studies of the Kvichak River. Preliminary proposals have been received from ORPC and
Whitestone Power.
• Permitting, Environmental Monitoring Plan
o The fish impact study plan and the appropriate permits should be in hand by the second
quarter of 2012, ready for arrival of the RISEC devices and demonstration testing. The
FERC Preliminary Permit is in place, and FERC Pilot Project License should be in hand
by second quarter of 2013, ready for commencement of Pilot Project Testing.
• Demonstration Testing
o Testing of the RISEC devices will take place from mid 2012 to mid 2013. Upon
completion of demonstration testing a Go/No Go decision for Pilot Project testing will be
made based on a comprehensive financial, performance, and environmental analysis.
• Pilot Project Testing
o Testing of the RISEC devices will take place following successful completion of
Demonstration testing. Upon completion of testing and inspections, a Go/No Go decision
for commercial design & permitting will be made based on a comprehensive financial,
performance, and environmental analysis. During Pilot Project Testing the final business
plan and operational plans will be completed as well as permitting with Alaska Coastal
Management, Corps of Engineers, Fire Marshal, and others. Site control will be secured.
• Commercialization
o Based on successful completion Pilot Project testing, commercial installation and
operations will proceed with installation of grid integration equipment and cable interties.
Juvenile and adult fish will be monitored during each salmon season following the
commercial RISEC installation to verify the response is as predicted, and per FERC
requirements. The FERC Commercial License is anticipated to be acquired in 2018.
• Final Report/Continuing Long-term Monitoring
o The success of the RISEC plant will be analyzed with recommendations by the end of
2015. ReVision, LGL, and IVC will continue to remotely monitor the Igiugig RISEC
system for at least three years following the completion of the project in order to provide a
long term performance evaluation of the RISEC technology employed and to determine
the overall benefits to the community.
Renewable Energy Fund
Grant Application Round 5
AEA12-001 Grant Application Page 9 of 30 7/1//2011
3.4 Project Resources
Describe the personnel, contractors, equipment, and services you will use to accomplish the
project. Include any partnerships or commitments with other entities you have or anticipate will
be needed to complete your project. Describe any existing contracts and the selection process
you may use for major equipment purchases or contracts. Include brief resumes and references
for known, key personnel, contractors, and suppliers as an attachment to your application.
In addition to the Grant Manager and Project Manager described in Section 3.1, our team includes the
following personnel, contractors, equipment and services. IVC will be the single point of contact and will
execute all grant and contractual responsibilities. AE&E will provide all design, permitting, system
integration, and construction management. Re Vision Consulting LLC will serve as RISEC technical
consultant. LGL Limited Environmental Research Associates (LGL) will plan and implement fish studies
and environmental monitoring. TerraSond will conduct ADCP, Bathymetric and geometric studies of the
river conducting the energy assessment. Golder Associates will provide geotechnical services, as needed.
Alaska Energy & Engineering, Inc.
AE&E is an Alaska-owned, Anchorage-based firm incorporated in 1993 specifically to provide design and
project management services for rural energy projects. AE&E has built its reputation on the ability to
provide practical design solutions and hands-on construction support to effectively meet the challenges of
rural Alaska. AE&E has fostered excellent working relationships with permitting and regulatory agencies,
which ensures that our projects comply with current interpretation of state and federal regulations. The
engineering staff of AE&E has extensive experience designing and constructing projects in remote sites
throughout the state with particular emphasis in western Alaska. Our primary field of expertise is electric
power generation and distribution, rural fuel storage and handling facilities, and energy systems
integration.
Bill Price, EIT, AE&E, will be the lead Design Engineer/Construction Manager. For the past 10
years he has served as Project Manager and Engineer for gas field services, manufacturing firms and
product design/fabrication. As the Director of Operations Support, he was responsible for supporting assets
totaling over 50 Million dollars of investment. Tasked included engineering support and management of
capital improvement projects. He has spent his career taking conceptual designs for a product of process
from concept, to manufacturing or fabrication, to product.
Steven J. Stassel, P.E., AE&E president, will accomplish the Environmental Permitting. He has
more than 25 years of engineering experience, including rural Alaska energy projects in more than 125
communities. He has been responsible for permitting and fulfilling all regulatory and environmental
compliance requirements (Wetlands, Flood Mitigation, Coastal Zone, NEPA Environmental review) and
state and federal agency coordination. He has successfully permitted more than 40 energy-related projects
in rural Alaska.
ReVision Consulting
Mirko Previsic, P.E., Re-Vision LLC, will provide RISEC Technical Consulting from his 10 years
of experience with the design, evaluation and optimization of renewable power generation systems,
theoretical modeling, resource assessments, feasibility studies, and environmental impact studies with an
emphasis on wave and tidal power conversion. He has had primary technical responsibility in many high-
profile studies of wave, tidal and river-in-stream power conversion for various state and federal
government agencies, research institutes, technology development companies and utilities. He is the
Technology Lead in the RISEC projects for EPRI Ocean Energy programs and was instrumental in the
baseline RISEC study in Igiugig.
TerraSond Ltd.
David Oliver, Geophysicist, TerraSond, will develop the Energy Resource and Hazard
Assessment for the project. Mr. Oliver has over 20 years of experience in the geotechnical and geophysical
industries. Recent work has focused on development of in-stream hydrokinetic, ocean current, and tidal
Renewable Energy Fund
Grant Application Round 5
AEA12-001 Grant Application Page 10 of 30 7/1//2011
renewable energy feasibility programs. His expertise includes program design, field data collection, as well
as the precise management and spatial analysis of remotely sensed data.
LGL
Michael Link, LGL Alaska Research Associates, President, will develop the Environmental
Monitoring plan, perform and evaluate fisheries studies, and interface with the Alaska Department of Fish
and Game. He has spent two decades designing and implementing fisheries research and management
programs in Alaska and western Canada. LGL uses its technical expertise to devise and conduct scientific
research and monitoring to improve management of fish stocks, fisheries, and the environments of the
Bristol Bay region. LGL is currently under contract to manage an ongoing seasonal Kvichak River smolt
outmigration study for the Alaska Department of Fish and Game. Mr. Link leads the interdisciplinary team
to improve management of area fish stocks and to increase participation by locals by establishing in-house
expertise and knowledge. LGL maintains an established base camp near Igiugig with on-site personnel
experienced in the operation of both traditional single beam upward-looking sonar and side-looking
imaging DIDSON sonar equipment. LGL on-site presence will provide substantial savings for the RISEC
fish impact study.
Golder Associates
Duane L. Miller, P.E., Golder, will provide Geotechnical Services as a subconsultant to AE&E. He
has more than 36 years of experience as a geotechnical engineer on a variety of projects onshore and
offshore in Alaska, California, and Guam. He has special training and experience in arctic engineering,
engineering geology, and coastal and earthquake engineering. Mr. Miller has provided geotechnical
engineering services on architectural, civil, mining, petroleum, and military projects across Alaska since
1973 and has worked extensively with the Authority and AE&E.
Igiugig Village Council
Igiugig Village Council has an extensive Infrastructure. The community has a 3,300-foot airport
runway with AWOS and GPS approach. Barge service via Bristol Bay is available August through
September most years. The community is barge-accessible from Anchorage/Kenai/Homer May through
October via the Pile Bay/Williamsport Road, and across Lake Iliamna. The IVC owns a 30’ x 80’
FlexiFloat flat deck barge capable of carrying 225,000 pounds and distributes 90% of non fuel-related
goods for all the communities and businesses of the Lake Iliamna region. Local residents have multiple
32’x13’ aluminum 450HP plus diesel-powered fishing boats that pull or push the FlexiFloat when needed.
Many power skiffs ranging from 18’ to 24’ and 80 to 150HP are available as well to assist in any potential
installation and/or operational activities.
Iliamna Lake Contractors, LLC
Igiugig Village Council is an owner of a Tribal Heavy Construction Firm, Iliamna Lake Contractors
LLC, and has access to a large inventory of heavy equipment that is fully operational, modern and well
maintained, including:
• Cat 330 and 320 excavator
• Cat 966 and 950 loaders, buckets and forks
• 10 yard cement truck and fill hopper
• Cat 163 grader and JD 572 grader
• Numerous 10/12 yard end dumps, 20 yard Cat D300E articulating dump
• Plasma cutter/welders, aluminum, steel, etc.
• Cat D7, Cat D6, Cat D4, 2 JD 450 dozer/backhoes
• 40’ boom truck, 15,000 lb. crane
• Numerous light and heavy power tools, winches, etc.
All of the above can operate off of FlexiFloat barge.
Ocean Renewable Power Company LLC (ORPC)
Ocean Renewable Power Company, LLC, and their wholly owned subsidiary ORPC Alaska, LLC (referred
Renewable Energy Fund
Grant Application Round 5
AEA12-001 Grant Application Page 11 of 30 7/1//2011
to collectively as “ORPC”) develop technology and projects generating emission-free electricity from
water currents. ORPC technology includes the proprietary RivGen™ Power System, designed for
micorgrid applications in rivers and shallow tidal sites. As a hydrokinetic industry pioneer, ORPC has
gained unmatched multi-seasonal marine operations experience over the past several years in deploying,
testing and monitoring two first-of-a-kind tidal in-stream energy conversion devices in the Bay of Fundy’s
adverse marine and weather environments. The key to ORPC’s success has been the collective experience,
technical expertise, dedication, commitment, and leadership of the company’s professional team. ORPC
has held a staffed office in Anchorage for over three years as they develop their Alaska projects and
company technology tailored for Alaska. The RivGen™ Power System is such a product designed from
the start with the rural Alaskan energy market in mind. See Appendix F for additional details.
Monty Worthington – Director of Project Development, Alaska. Mr. Worthington has over 10
years of experience designing and implementing renewable energy systems in Alaska, the Pacific
Northwest and Asia. He has managed renewable energy projects for both private companies and nonprofit
organizations and also has extensive experience in the design, installation and maintenance of marine
electrical systems.
Whitestone Power and Communications (WPC)
Whitestone has developed a device specifically engineered for deployment in Alaska Riverine
Environments. In designing the RHK100 WPC has drawn on the extensive experience of many engineers,
scientists, regulatory agency personnel and independent contractors in order to develop a product which
can help answer Alaska’s sustainable energy dilemma. Additional details of the Poncelet device and of
Whitestone Power and Communications are included.
Steven Selvaggio – President, Whitestone Power and Communications. is the director of WP&C, a
rural power utility that has successfully operated for the last 20 years. He is also the project director and a
design contributor of the WP&C owned Poncelet device. He has three decades of experience in rural
power plant design, operations, and maintenance. He has developed the skill to design and build generating
systems for commercial and rural needs. His skills are used state wide to trouble shoot difficult remote
commercial and rural power plant issues.
Additional RISEC technology providers
Additional RISEC technology vendors will be selected based on a competitive RFP process tailored
specifically to the characteristics of the Igiugig project. As the Igiugig RISEC project proceeds, additional
RISEC device vendors will be evaluated for use at the Igiugig site. Additional companies currently under
consideration are; Hydro Volts, Free Flow Power, and New Energy.
The project will be constructed using primarily utility and local force account labor. Locally available
contractors will be used for the assembly and installation of the RISEC devices, with support of the RISEC
vendor. All procurement and construction contracts will be in accordance with the Alaska Energy
Authority procurement policies.
Our proposed organization chart (below) for this project introduces and identifies key members of our
team and shows the lines of authority. Each engineering discipline is led by a professional engineer
registered in the State of Alaska. All engineering documents will be stamped by Alaska registered
engineers.
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Refer to Appendix A for resumes of key personnel
3.5 Project Communications
Discuss how you plan to monitor the project and keep the Authority informed of the status.
Alaska Energy and Engineering is in communication with AEA staff on almost a daily basis on a wide
variety of active projects. The Authority Project Manager will be kept up to date on the RISEC project
status by periodic email and/or verbal status reports, in addition to written quarterly reports. Periodic
reports will provide general information regarding project status and any unforeseen circumstances that
need to be resolved. The quarterly reports will include specific information on project completion status vs.
project schedule; project labor reports – including hours, rates and costs; and current project expenditures
relative to budgeted project costs.
In addition to regular email updates and quarterly reports, a minimum of four briefings will be conducted:
• a briefing of the current project accomplishments and project implementation,
• a review at completion of final design and permitting,
• a review at the completion of the Demonstration Project,
• a review at the completion of the Pilot Project,
• a final briefing of all project results and commercialization determination.
AE&E has provided design and construction support services on over 80 energy infrastructure-related
projects throughout Alaska over the past 15-years. Our long-term working relationship with the Authority
assures well-tested monitoring methods and seamless channels of communication.
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3.6 Project Risk
Discuss potential problems and how you would address them.
The risk associated with developing this emerging RISEC technology will be mitigated by implementing a
risk identification and mitigation program for the duration of the project. At this proposal stage, the
primary risks and our proposed mitigation plan are as follows:
1. Risk of increased project cost – the cost estimate to construct and operate the commercial plant is
currently at the preliminary design stage of development. There is a risk that the cost estimate will
increase as final design and permitting is completed. This risk will be mitigated by the
development and testing performed during the Demonstration and Pilot Project phases, by
deferring selection of a final RISEC technology provider until the final commercialization phase,
and by developing a concise and specific solicitation for selecting RISEC technology providers.
2. Risk of measurable environmental affects – As RISEC technology is emerging; there is currently
uncertainty about interactions between the RISEC turbines and the environment from which they
are generating electricity. The primary purpose of a pilot plant is to gain technical, environmental,
and commercial confidence in a technology. To minimize risk and maximize the outcome of this
RISEC pilot project, the Village of Igiugig is enlisting the services of LGL to develop a study plan
to identify the horizontal and vertical turbines’ effects on the spring out-migration of smolt and
summer return of adult fish. Environmental effects will be monitored and mitigated, if possible, or
the RISEC turbines will be removed from the water. The Kvichak River Resource Assessment,
completed to date, provides a baseline of existing river conditions. Risk of potential damage to the
river will be monitored and mitigated by TerraSond.
There are additional elements of risk that arise in any rural Alaska construction project; however, the risk
associated with this project is well managed. A highly competent team of professionals has been assembled
with the skills and motivation necessary to see this project through to successful completion. The project
has been devised to proceed in distinct phases, with carefully planned go/no go decision intervals. In the
event that the Demonstration and Pilot Projects are deemed unsuccessful, or the Village of Igiugig changes
its direction or power production needs, the latter phases of the project may be postponed or cancelled with
little additional risk.
IVC understands the potential risks from this project, but seeks to be an early adopter of RISEC technology
and realize the benefit of reduced diesel fuel consumption by utilizing a readily available renewable
resource. Demonstration of increased cost certainty and minimal environmental effects of this technology
at Igiugig will benefit many remote villages in Alaska. IVC is willing to accept these challenges.
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SECTION 4 – PROJECT DESCRIPTION AND TASKS
• Tell us what the project is and how you will meet the requirements outlined in Section 2 of
the RFA.
• The level of information will vary according to phase(s) of the project you propose to
undertake with grant funds.
• If you are applying for grant funding for more than one phase of a project provide a
plan and grant budget form for completion of each phase.
• If some work has already been completed on your project and you are requesting funding for
an advanced phase, submit information sufficient to demonstrate that the preceding phases
are satisfied and funding for an advanced phase is warranted.
4.1 Proposed Energy Resource
Describe the potential extent/amount of the energy resource that is available.
Discuss the pros and cons of your proposed energy resource vs. other alternatives that may be
available for the market to be served by your project.
The Kvichak River current flowing past Igiugig is a renewable resource identified as one of the prime sites
in Alaska for a River In-Stream Energy Conversion project. The Phase I Reconnaissance study, prepared
by EPRI, determined the discharge rates and related power-densities at Igiugig are more consistent year-
round than the typical summer peak found in other rivers. Lake Iliamna, the Kvichak’s source, smoothes
the summer/winter variability. The demonstration project will utilize existing available RISEC turbines
rated between 10 & 20 kW. The commercial RISEC plant is expected to be rated at least 40kW to meet the
community’s base electric load.
The river is relatively shallow and velocities are highest in the middle of the channel and near the surface.
The water depth at the site of interest limits rotor size. Unlike areas farther downstream, this portion of the
river remains ice-free during the winter. During spring breakup of Lake Iliamna (about two weeks) and
during occasional wintertime wind-driven lake ice releases, the turbines may need to be removed to
protect them from ice flows.
The Kvichak River bed is believed to consist of a fine silt base and an overburden of cobbles, rocks and
gravel, depending on current and location of river width. As an example, directly adjacent to the
powerhouse the riverbed is characterized by rocks approximately 6”- 12” in diameter interlaced with
stones, sand, and gravel for a protective barrier to the underlying silts. River depth raises approximately 4
to 6 feet May through October with temporary wind-driven increases of an additional 6” to 2’. Greatest
depths occur in late fall (September/October) and lowest depth after ice cover loss on Lake Iliamna in
April/May.
Total river freeze-over is rare in this area and usually requires a freeze/thaw/wind event to push ice out of
the lake and fill the river. Twenty-five years of local experience estimates that this portion of the river is
frozen over completely less than two weeks of the year. Some years no ice has formed or discharged down
the Kvichak. Spring breakup usually occurs March through May, with ice passage lasting approximately
two to three weeks. Thickness of passing ice ranges from 3” to 4’. Final commercial design will
incorporate methods to protect the RISEC system from potential ice damage.
Water clarity is extremely high during periods of calm wind with visual bottom observation possible at 10
feet or more. Prevailing east winds may increase turbidity with organics and silt, but these readily settle
depending on direction and change of wind speed. The Kvichak River has little to no large debris, as
sparse vegetation and its close proximity to the outlet doesn’t allow these obstructions to accumulate. The
west end of Lake Iliamna is virtually free of large debris.
The Kvichak River is a navigable waterway that allows a range of marine traffic from a skiff to a LCM
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barge that may draw up to 8’. Directly adjacent to the powerhouse, traffic is minimal due to the heavy
current and lack of infrastructure requiring access. The USGS maintained a stream gauging station on the
Kvichak River at Igiugig (Station# 15300500 Kvichak River at Igiugig), with 21 years of daily discharge
records over the period between 1966 and 1987. This historical data was used to establish a data set for
evaluating RISEC technology at various locations of the river. First a relationship between discharge rate
and velocity was established; that relationship function is then applied to the full data set to determine the
statistical parameters for each transect of interest.
The velocity profiles and associated power densities below are valid for the USGS station site. This data
was used to calibrate the flow and velocity data for the EPRI Reconnaissance level assessment.
USGS Station Summary
Station Name: Kvichak River at Igiugig, AK
Station ID: 15300500
Lake And Peninsula Borough, Alaska
Hydrologic Unit Code 19030206
Latitude 59°19'44", Longitude 155°53'57"
Drainage area 6,500.00 square miles
Gage datum 45.00 feet above sea level
Resource Data Overview
Velocities Unit
Average Velocity m/s 1.41
Average Mid-Channel Velocity m/s 1.84
Power
X-Section Average Power Density kW/m^2 1.48
Mid-Stream Average Power Density kW/m^2 3.24
Average Total Kinetic Power kW 719
Dimensions (During Typical Discharge Conditions)
Discharge Rate for Referenced Dimensions m^3/s 487
Cross-Section m^2 365
Width m 152
Average Depth m 2.4
Deepest Point m 3.7
Discharge
Average m^3/s 507
Maximum m^3/s 1,277
Minimum m^3/s 181
Maximum Stage Differential mNA
In June 2011 TerraSond Ltd. performed the hydrological resource assessment of the Kvichak river at
Igiugig. The results are included in Appendix F. Discharge measurements were acquired at ten transects
for velocity, depth, and power density. Additionally, high-density bathymetric survey of the river bottom
in the project area was completed. The short-term ADCP measurements support extrapolation of the
historical USGS data which provides an annual flow profile at the selected RISEC site without the need
for multiple years of local velocity measurements.
Based on evaluation of the resource data, Site 9 is the preferred RISEC test location due to high
current velocity, depth of water, and optimum power output. Site 9 is located at the southwest
corner of the first island approximately 0.6-miles downstream of the IVC power plant. Site 6 is
the alternate site and is located upstream of the first island approximately one-half mile
downstream of the power plant (refer to Appendix F). Additional resource assessment is currently
underway to substantiate Site 9 data, and to investigate if another site just downstream may be
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more favorable.
There does not appear to be another more viable energy alternative to RISEC power, at this time. Although
the R&D costs associates with the development of the RISEC project are high, the implementation costs of
the commercial RISEC plant are anticipated to be relatively low, since the existing community
powerhouse and electric distribution system are located adjacent to the river/hydro source.
4.2 Existing Energy System
4.2.1 Basic configuration of Existing Energy System
Briefly discuss the basic configuration of the existing energy system. Include information about
the number, size, age, efficiency, and type of generation.
In 2011 the Alaska Energy Authority completed a Rural Power System Upgrade (RPSU) project on behalf
of the Village of Igiugig. The scope of the project included the following:
• Renovation of the existing building including installation of new insulated wall and roof panels,
new doors and windows, and new interior partition walls. The renovated building consists of a
generation room, a control room, and a parts storage room.
• Installation of three new diesel generators. All three units are 65kW prime power capacity and are
equipped with marine manifolds to enhance heat recovery.
• Renovation of the existing heat recovery system. A new heat recovery system was installed in the
power plant and new arctic pipe was run to the adjacent water treatment plant/washeteria.
• Installation of new mechanical systems including coolant piping, engine exhaust, fuel piping, and
ventilation.
• Installation of fire suppression. The plant was equipped with fire detection and alarm in all rooms
and a high pressure nitrogen/water mist fire suppression system in the generation room.
• Installation of new electrical systems including power and control wiring, plant grounding,
lighting, and station service.
• Installation of inductive reactors. The existing distribution system was highly capacitive due to
long runs of buried primary cable. This required the utility to run an oversized generator to
control reactive power and reduce voltage fluctuations. Three new inductive reactors were
installed to correct the power factor to unity, which now allows the 65kW generators to operate
appropriately.
• Installation of new automatic paralleling switchgear. The switchgear is designed for fully
automatic operation including auto start and stop of individual generators. Multiple generators
can be operated in parallel to meet high peak loads that exceed the capacity of an individual
generator. The switchgear is controlled by a Programmable Logic Controller (PLC) with open
architecture that allows modification to accommodate control of future alternative energy systems.
• Installation of a Supervisory Control And Data Acquisition (SCADA) system. The SCADA
system allows remote access for monitoring of all critical systems in the new plant. It also allows
technicians remote access for programming changes of the PLC through password protection. The
SCADA system also utilizes open architecture that will allow future expansion to monitor
alternative energy.
The IEC diesel power plant has been the sole source of power generation for Igiugig and it is anticipated it
will continue to be the prime power source even as other alternative energy projects are developed.
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4.2.2 Existing Energy Resources Used
Briefly discuss your understanding of the existing energy resources. Include a brief discussion of
any impact the project may have on existing energy infrastructure and resources.
Diesel fuel is delivered to Igiugig by barge in summer and stored in bulk at a tank farm adjacent to the
powerhouse. The proposed RISEC project will displace diesel fuel but will not completely replace the
diesel generation capability. The RISEC system will be sized to provide sufficient energy for the lowest
load day of the year. Diesel generation will be used for load following.
4.2.3 Existing Energy Market
Discuss existing energy use and its market. Discuss impacts your project may have on energy
customers.
A power recorder was installed in the Igiugig power plant in December 2007 to gather community power
demand data for the RPSU project design. Data from this recorder was downloaded in September 2008.
The data shows a winter peak daily load of around 52kW in January 2008 and the summer peak daily load
of around 42kW in June 2008.
Steady growth in Igiugig summer peak loads and annual generation are likely over time due to expected
increases in tourism as well as planned new developments including a clinic, water treatment plant and
subdivision development.
In 1983 IEC successfully supplied power to several lodges near Igiugig after installing a submarine cable
across the Kvichak River directly below the power plant. However the cable was left in during the winter
and was damaged by lake ice in the spring and has not been replaced. These lodges have recently
approached IEC about resuming this service. With better boats and equipment available in the community
now, IEC is considering a seasonal service with the submarine cable removed each year prior to freeze-up.
It is projected that this additional seasonal load would cause summer peak and monthly demand to
approach the current winter loads.
Based on these factors, it is estimated that annual generation requirements will grow to over 250,000kWH
and peak demand loads will reach 75kW or more within five years.
A successful commercial RISEC installation and a corresponding decrease in local electricity rates would
encourage both public and private facilities to increase the use of electric space heating in the future,
potentially increasing peak demand and further increasing annual generation requirements.
4.3 Proposed System
Include information necessary to describe the system you are intending to develop and address
potential system design, land ownership, permits, and environmental issues.
4.3.1 System Design
Provide the following information for the proposed renewable energy system:
• A description of renewable energy technology specific to project location
• Optimum installed capacity
• Anticipated capacity factor
• Anticipated annual generation
• Anticipated barriers
• Basic integration concept
• Delivery methods
Phase I – Scoping Brief and RISEC Reconnaissance level feasibility study are complete.
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Phase II – RISEC FEASIBILITY ANALYSIS AND CONCEPTUAL DESIGN
Building on information gathered in Phase I, this phase will establish the project configuration and
specifications that will be used to guide construction, test RISEC device technology, refine project cost
estimates, finalize business plans, and obtain land use and resource authorizations required for
construction. Work shall address the information and tasks below.
Task II.1 – Existing Energy Assessment (Igiugig RPSU CDR 11/08)
The Existing Energy Assessment was completed 11/08 during the Igiugig RPSU CDR.
Task II.2 – Kvichak River Current Profile, Bathymetry and Preliminary Geotechnical Study
In order to determine the optimal site for deployment of the RISEC device, a geodetic control network was
established in the vicinity of Igiugig. The datum’s previously established by the USGS was found to be
unrecoverable. Initial Hydrological and Bathymetric surveys of the Kvichak River near Igiugig were
completed in June 2011 The data provided specific river flow information and identified a preferred
RISEC installation site and an alternate. The Bathymetric survey provided a contour map identifying the
thalweg and a contour map of the river bottom (see Appendix F). During the month of August 2011, a
second series of transects are being collected. These data sets will be combined with those collected and
will also identify other potential sites downstream. In October 2011, selected sites will be measured again,
yielding a set of data points established throughout the spring and summer months, and identifying the
energy resource available during high and low water flow rates.
A preliminary geotechnical evaluation will also be performed. The primary objective of this evaluation is
to define and describe the riverbed substrates and the geomorphology of the proposed site and surrounding
area including the shoreline and associated banks where applicable. This evaluation may also include
descriptions of the wetlands, riparian habitats and littoral in the project area, where applicable. This
evaluation will be used to select appropriate sites for mooring and anchoring in the event that the device(s)
require attachment to the bank or river bottom.
Task II.3 – RISEC Device Design, Solicitation and Preliminary Development
RISEC devices are at an early stage of development. The RISEC equipment will be selected specifically
for the Kvichak River using results of the River Energy Assessment, device availability and probability of
success. Proposals from Whitestone Power and Communications (WPC) and Ocean Renewable Power
Company (ORPC) have been received. Other companies under consideration are Free Flow Power in
Boston MA, New Energy in Calgary Alberta and Hydro Volts located in Seattle WA. Each of these
companies has been contacted related to the Kvichak River RISEC Project. Devices are summarized
below.
Considered
Manufacturer
Considered
Device
Development
Stage
Device
Style
Device
Location
ORPC RivGEN Construction/Testing
Horizontal Cross
Flow Riverbed
Whitestone Power RHK100 Design Paddlewheel Surface
New Energy EnCurrent Construction/Testing Vertical Cross Flow Surface
Hydro Volts
Class III
Turbine Construction/Testing
Horizontal Cross
Flow Subsurface
Vortex Hydro VIVACE Design Oscillating Cylinders Riverbed
Free Flow Power FFP Turbine Construction/Testing Axial Flow Turbine Subsurface
Hydro Green
Energy HE Turbine Construction/Testing Axial Flow Turbine Subsurface
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Ideally any device selected would operate for 3-5 years to illustrate reliability and sustainability. However,
due to the high cost of developing, permitting and monitoring a RISEC Project in Igiugig Alaska, the
demonstration project will select and test multiple RISEC technologies in a side-by-side evaluation. These
demonstrations will be conducted while adhering to all local and state regulations, while holding FERC
Preliminary Permit #P-13511. The objective of this test is first to prove mechanical viability of the device,
and secondly to conduct fish monitoring and other biological testing as required.
Task II.4 – Develop Biological Monitoring Program
LGL Alaska Research Associates has begun an evaluation of the historical evaluation of fish and other
biological resources (see Appendix F for draft evaluation). This evaluation will function as a foundation
for biological impact studies and monitoring prior to installation of any RISEC device. LGL will work
with IVC to develop specific biological monitoring plans based on selected RISEC device designs. The
project level NEPA review will also be initiated and comments solicited for federal and state regulators
and project stakeholders.
The biological monitoring plan will incorporate the summary of existing fish resources, design of
appropriate data collection systems, methods of analysis and criteria, and potential impact of the RISEC
device on the fish populations. The monitoring plan will describe methods of visual observation,
biological interpretation, sonar or video at strategic locations, and biological sampling using nets to
characterize fish and their behavior around the devices.
Task II.5 – ReVision Consulting
In order to objectively compare each device, ReVision Consulting (Mirko Previsic) will conduct an
evaluation of each design, and build a computer model which will simulate the device in the river.
ReVision’s initial evaluation of the Whitestone undershot waterwheel is included in Appendix F.
Task II.6 – Engineering, Permitting and Project Management
Data collected during the Energy Assessment shows the Kvichak River has adequate power density to
support the installation of a RISEC device. When compared to other rivers in Alaska, the Kvichak is clear,
debris free, and rarely freezes.
There is a significant amount of data available detailing fish patterns and numbers to support ongoing fish
monitoring. The additional data collected during the fish monitoring plan discussed during Task II.4 will
further support the deployment of the RISEC device(s).
There are several vendors capable of furnishing a RISED device for testing during the second and third
quarters of 2012. These devices will be mechanically tested (not electrically connected) and fish
integration studies will be conducted to support the FERC Pilot Project License Application.
Based on the findings todate from Phase II – Feasibility and Conceptual Design, proceeding to Phase III &
IV of the Kvichak River RISED Project is warranted.
Phase III – FINAL DESIGN AND PERMITTING
Per FERC regulations, a Preliminary Permit authorizes limited testing subject to the following criteria: the
project must be experimental in nature, testing must be short period related to conducting studies
necessary to prepare a license application, and not connect to or displace power from the interstate power
grid. Upon completion of the Demonstration Project, the device(s) considered for the FERC Pilot Project
will be selected, and the data collected will be used to complete and submit the FERC Pilot Project
License Application.
Task III.1 – Continued Energy Resource Monitoring and Geotechnical Study
Prior to the commencement of the Igiugig RISEC Demonstration Project, additional data will be collected
in order to accurately model the river flow information. An array of sensors and devices will be located
and monitored on the river bottom in the preferred site for 1 year, starting during the 4th quarter of 2011.
The objectives of this yearlong monitoring will be to determine; how the river current changes over the
year, the vertically distributed power density, depth of the river in phase with current velocity, wave
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magnitude and direction, frazil ice generation, tracking surface debris, and sediment migration.
Task III.2 – Initial Biological Impact Studies
LGL will provide a biologist, technician and other support staff as required to conduct a single season fish
impact study monitoring each installed device. The study will use (as needed) side-looking imaging
(DIDSON) sonar, single-beam up-looking sonar arrays, net sampling and physical observation to evaluate
the response of juvenile and adult salmon to the deployed RISEC devices. Field data will be compiled and
a fish impact study report will be completed for all RISEC devices.
Task III.3 – Complete RISEC Device Design and Development
Upon completion of the review of proposed RISEC technologies, depending on availability of funding, at
least two RISEC pilot devices will be selected and procured for long-term installation and testing. This
task will also include specifying, procuring and installing the wireless remote RISEC performance
monitoring/SCADA equipment, current measurement devices and load banks for installation on the
RISEC devices. Materials will be specified and procured for RISEC anchoring systems. All materials will
be purchased FOB Homer, barged to Williamsport on the west shores of Cook Inlet at Kamishak Bay, and
then trucked over Pile Bay Road to Pile Bay on the eastern shore of Lake Iliamna. Materials will then be
freighted by ILC flexi-float to Igiugig for installation.
The RISEC devices will be assembled at Igiugig and the outfitted with a load bank and telemetry
equipment. The anchoring systems will have been previously fabricated and the RISEC devices deployed.
See the project schedule for expected deployment timelines.
During Task II.3, multiple devices were considered. Product information has been received from ORPC
and Whitestone, and is included in Appendix F.
Task III.4 – Analysis & Recommendations
The Igiugig team will perform comprehensive financial, performance and environmental analysis of the
RISEC technologies tested. Careful consideration will be given to address performance vs. assessed
environmental affects. After careful evaluation of all aspects of the project, a Go/No-go decision will be
made for the Pilot Project scale RISEC power project in Igiugig.
Presuming a Go decision is reached, performance specifications and structural element conceptual design
for the RISEC Pilot Project will be finalized. It is anticipated that sufficient geotechnical data can be
acquired using echoic methods during the pilot project river current and bathymetry phase to support
detailed conceptual design. Due to the anticipated high cost of performing a full geotechnical evaluation of
the river floor using conventional drilling techniques, a detailed geotechnical study will not take place
until after a Go decision has been reached. The process of producing a draft business and operational plan
will be initiated at this step.
Task III.5 – Engineering, Permitting and Project Management
AE&E will continue to provide project management and engineering, prepare NEPA permitting, and
ensure quality control. Final design, permitting, site control, budgeting, and business operating plan will be
developed. A report will be prepared and issued detailing the final design recommendations, estimated
construction costs, construction plan and schedule.
PHASE IV – CONSTRUCTION, COMMISSIONING, OPERATION & REPORTING
Per FERC regulations, a Pilot Project License will be required to connect a test device to the existing
power distribution grid. Phase III will consist of up to 5 years of continued testing and monitoring to
qualify and refine the RISEC device and supporting systems. By the second year of the Pilot Project, the
device considered for a FERC Commercial License will be selected, the data collected will be used to
complete and submit the FERC Commercial License Application.
Task IV.1 – Construction Scheduling & Procurement
The commercial RISEC power units, as well as grid integration equipment, switchgear, power cables, and
all other required construction materials will be procured and consolidated in Homer, Alaska for shipment
via the Pile Bay road to Igiugig. Throughout the procurement and construction, actual project costs will be
tracked against budgeted costs to ensure the project stays on budget. Contract(s) will be negotiated for on-
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site construction or off-site fabrication of the structural element(s) depending on the final foundation or
anchoraging requirements for the commercial RISEC installation.
After the delivery/installation of all required structural elements, equipment and supplies, IVC crews and
RISEC device technical support personnel will field assemble and deploy the RISEC devices. The IVC
line crew will install and connect all grid integration equipment and cable interties.
Upon completion of installation AE&E and AEA personnel will supervise the commissioning of the
RISEC plant, including load bank testing to verify system output, testing of dump-load system if required,
demonstration of automatic paralleling capabilities with existing diesel generation, remote monitoring /
SCADA system functionality, and testing of all required protective devices.
Task IV.2 – Build Additional Infrastructure and Electrical Distribution System
Once the Pilot Project design is completed and device(s) selected, the requisite infrastructure and electrical
distribution systems to support a long term deployment of the RISEC device will be constructed. This may
include; mooring/anchoring structure construction, out building procurement and construction, electrical
distribution cabling installation to connect the device to the Igiugig grid, and any infrastructure required
for deploying and removing the device. This Task may have partially been completed during the previous
Phase.
Materials, equipment and tools, including pontoons and anchoring hardware if required for RISEC
installation, will be barged to Pile Bay and trucked over Pile Bay road to Williamsport on Lake Iliamna.
The ILC Flexi float will be used to mobilize materials and equipment across Lake Iliamna to Igiugig.
If a pile-based structural element is incorporated into the design, all equipment, piles, supplies and crew
required for pile installation will be transported by barge up the Kvichak River to Igiugig in early spring or
as soon as river conditions allow. IVC will provide locally based crews for both the RISEC deployment
and the grid integration portions of this project so no crew mobilization/ demobilization will be required
for this portion of the project.
Tasks IV.3 thru 5 – Procure. Transport and Deploy RISEC Devices
Before completion of the demonstration project, up to two RISEC pilot devices will be selected and
procured for installation and Pilot testing. This task will also include specifying, procuring and installing
all remaining wireless remote RISEC performance monitoring/SCADA equipment, current measurement
devices and load banks for installation on the RISEC pilot devices. Materials will be specified and
procured for RISEC anchoring systems. All materials will be purchased FOB Homer, and transported to
Igiugig for installation via the Pile Bay Road.
Task IV.6 – Conduct RISEC Demonstration Project
The Demonstration project will not be grid-connected and will continue for one season. Coincident with
the fish impact study, daily RISEC demonstration device performance and river current data will be
collected. The collected information will be used to corroborate and improve the models created by
ReVision Consulting. During this timeframe, periodic on-site inspections and maintenance of RISEC pilot
devices will be performed. It is expected the RISEC unit(s) will remain in the water until the risk of
damage from lake ice increases. RISEC device performance data will be compiled and assessed and
performance reports prepared and distributed.
Task IV.7 – Conduct RISEC Pilot Project
The Pilot project will be grid-connected and will continue for up to 3 to 5-years. Coincident with the fish
impact study, daily RISEC Pilot device performance and river current data will be collected. The data will
be verified and compared to the model projections provided by ReVision Consulting. During this
timeframe, periodic on-site inspections and maintenance of RISEC Pilot devices will be performed. It is
expected the RISEC units will remain in the water each season until the risk of damage from lake ice
increases. RISEC Pilot device electro-mechanical performance data, including grid-connection and power
quality, will be compiled and assessed and final performance reports prepared and issued.
Task IV.8 – Environmental and Biological Monitoring of RISEC Installation
LGL will provide a biologist and technician to conduct an abbreviated fish study during the first salmon
run following the commercial RISEC installation. This study will employ the same methodology and sonar
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equipment used for the pilot phase fish impact study in order to verify that the response of juvenile and
adult fish to the commercial RISEC installation is as predicted.
After all final environmental data is gathered, LGL and AE&E will compile and issue all final
environmental reports required by the permitting agencies.
In conjunction with the Pilot Project development the commercial scale NEPA environmental review
process will commence, including Alaska Coastal Management, Corps of Engineers, Fire Marshal, and
other state and federal regulatory agencies. Site control requirements will also be finalized and site control
secured as required.
Task IV.9 –RISEC Installation Geotechnical Investigation
It is anticipated that sufficient geotechnical data will be acquired from bathymetry using echoic methods to
support the demonstration and pilot project phases. Due to the anticipated high cost of performing a full
geotechnical evaluation of the river floor using conventional drilling techniques, the final geotechnical
study will not take place until after a Go decision has been reached.
Task IV.10 – Final Analysis & Recommendations
The Igiugig team will perform comprehensive financial, performance and environmental analysis of the
RISEC technologies tested. Careful consideration will be given to address performance vs. assessed
environmental affects. After careful evaluation of all aspects of the project, a Go/No-go decision will be
made for the commercial scale RISEC power project in Igiugig.
Task IV.11 – Engineering, Permitting and Project Management
Project management and quality control will be ongoing throughout Phase IV. All final design, permitting,
site control, budgeting, and the business operating plan will be finalized. A report will be prepared and
issued detailing the final design recommendations, estimated construction costs, construction plan and
schedule.
PHASE V – FERC COMMERCIAL LICENSE COMPLETION
Upon project completion the business plan will be updated and the RISEC power rate will be recalculated
based on actual project costs. A final RISEC project report will also be issued, complete with as-built
drawings, O&M manual, a project analysis and final recommendations.
The Igiugig RISEC project will be remotely monitored for three years following the completion of the
project in order to provide a long term performance evaluation of the RISEC technology employed and to
determine the overall benefits to the community.
The FERC Commercial License process will continue while conducting long-term sustainability tests.
4.3.2 Land Ownership
Identify potential land ownership issues, including whether site owners have agreed to the
project or how you intend to approach land ownership and access issues.
The power plant site is entirely contained within Tract H-2, Igiugig Community Facilities Subdivision.
The surface estate of Tract H-2, power plant site, is owned by the State of Alaska, Department of
Community, Commerce and Economic Development, in trust for a future city in Igiugig. The Igiugig
Village Council has a long-term lease from the State for the power plant site.
The preferred RISEC hydroelectric Site 9 is located approximately 6-tenths of a mile south of the IVC
power plant at the southwest tip end of the first island. Site access requirements will be investigated with
the State of Alaska, Department of Natural Resources, as part of the preliminary permitting effort.
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4.3.3 Permits
Provide the following information as it may relate to permitting and how you intend to address
outstanding permit issues.
• List of applicable permits
• Anticipated permitting timeline
• Identify and discussion of potential barriers
The proposed RISEC project is subject to regulations of both State and Federal agencies including the
Alaska Coastal Management Program, the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation (ADEC),
the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Army Corps of Engineer, Alaska
Department of Natural Resources (DNR), Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G) and the
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) regulations as well as tideland survey requirements.
FERC has adopted the Hydrokinetic Pilot Project Licensing Process to define and streamline permitting
requirements for these projects during pilot plant operation, testing and monitoring. In addition to the
FERC licensing process, a NEPA project level environmental review will be performed to demonstrate
and confirm the project will not have a negative impact on the human environment. There are no wetlands
in the project area, an evaluation will be made to ensure there are no known archaeological or historic
properties within the area of potential effect, and that no birds or mammals listed as endangered or
threatened that will be impacted by the project.
Should the project advance to commercialization, final FERC license and project permitting is anticipated
to be completed in 2018.
4.3.4 Environmental
Address whether the following environmental and land use issues apply, and if so how they will
be addressed:
• Threatened or Endangered species
• Habitat issues
• Wetlands and other protected areas
• Archaeological and historical resources
• Land development constraints
• Telecommunications interference
• Aviation considerations
• Visual, aesthetics impacts
• Identify and discuss other potential barriers
Environmental Considerations
The Kvichak River supports populations of all five species of Alaska Salmon, as well as an abundant stock
of Rainbow Trout, Grayling, Dolly Varden, Whitefish, Pike, Ling Cod, and others. Annual smolt
outmigration generally occurs in May/June for approximately three weeks, with peak passage occurring in
the cover of nightfall. Adult salmon return to spawn from mid-June to mid-July.
The primary environmental concern is expected to be fish migration and spawning habitat. None of the
fish are endangered or threatened, but salmon and salmonid species such as trout are vital economically
and culturally to the region. The effects of RISEC machine/rotors on anadromous fish is unknown. LGL
will develop and conduct monitoring studies using side-scan sonar, bottom sonar arrays and net sampling
for migrating young smolt from May 15 to June 15. Similarly, LGL will monitor any effects on adult fish
using observers in shore tower, underwater videography, and side-scan sonar from June 15 to July 15
during the demonstration and pilot project, and again during commercial RISEC installation. Mitigation
efforts to deflect fish passage, removal or shutdown of equipment may be required to manage potential
conflicts.
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AE&E has provided NEPA project level environmental permitting on over 40 energy related projects
throughout Alaska during the past 10 years. Our understanding of the NEPA process and potential
environmental impacts of our projects allows us to mitigate possible negative affects early in the design
stage. Environmental permitting for the demonstration project is anticipated to be completed by spring of
2012.
4.4 Proposed New System Costs and Projected Revenues
(Total Estimated Costs and Projected Revenues)
The level of cost information provided will vary according to the phase of funding requested and
any previous work the applicant may have done on the project. Applicants must reference the
source of their cost data. For example: Applicants Records or Analysis, Industry Standards,
Consultant or Manufacturer’s estimates.
4.4.1 Project Development Cost
Provide detailed project cost information based on your current knowledge and understanding of
the project. Cost information should include the following:
• Total anticipated project cost, and cost for this phase
• Requested grant funding
• Applicant matching funds – loans, capital contributions, in-kind
• Identification of other funding sources
• Projected capital cost of proposed renewable energy system
• Projected development cost of proposed renewable energy system
The cost information provided in this application is a composite of a variety of sources, including
engineers estimates, budget proposals for geotechnical and bathymetry efforts, cost data from EPRI’s prior
projects, and AE&E’s 15-years of successfully designing and constructing energy related projects
throughout Alaska. The hands-on construction management of our projects helps keep us current with ever
escalating construction costs.
Total anticipated project cost: $9,395,283
Phase I & II (Reconnaissance & Concept Design): $ 601,950
Phase III (Final Design & Permitting): $1,677,565
Phase IV (Commercialization and Monitoring): $7,115,768
Requested Round V grant funding: $7,274,277
Applicant matching funds –
loans, capital contributions, cash: $1,413,756
Identification of other funding sources: IVC & ORPC
Projected capital cost of renewable energy system: $3,114,292
Development cost: $6,280,991
4.4.2 Project Operating and Maintenance Costs
Include anticipated O&M costs for new facilities constructed and how these would be funded by
the applicant.
(Note: Operational costs are not eligible for grant funds however grantees are required to meet
ongoing reporting requirements for the purpose of reporting impacts of projects on the
communities they serve.)
The O&M costs for a RISEC project are as yet unknown because currently there are no commercial-scale
RISEC projects in operation. This proposal’s goal is to implement a RISEC project to ferret out real costs
based on remote Alaska application. Although the specific costs associated with operating and maintaining
a RISEC plant are unknown, the AE&E team has continually demonstrated its ability to use innovative
technologies throughout rural Alaska that are highly cost effective and that result in low O&M costs. A
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significant component of the RISEC project is to confirm that the benefits of this renewable resource are
not discounted due to poor reliability and high operational costs.
Real O&M costs obtained during the pilot project will be incorporated into the business plan and will
weigh heavily in the decision to advance the pilot project to commercialization.
4.4.3 Power Purchase/Sale
The power purchase/sale information should include the following:
• Identification of potential power buyer(s)/customer(s)
• Potential power purchase/sales price - at a minimum indicate a price range
• Proposed rate of return from grant-funded project
IVC is the electric utility and project operator; therefore, there will be no power purchase agreement.
Due to the infancy of this technology and many unknowns yet to be determined during the project, the cost
of power from RISEC technology is unknown.
4.4.4 Project Cost Worksheet
Complete the cost worksheet form which provides summary information that will be considered
in evaluating the project.
The cost worksheet is included as Appendix B.
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SECTION 5– PROJECT BENEFIT
Explain the economic and public benefits of your project. Include direct cost savings,
and how the people of Alaska will benefit from the project.
The benefits information should include the following:
• Potential annual fuel displacement (gal and $) over the lifetime of the evaluated
renewable energy project
• Anticipated annual revenue (based on i.e. a Proposed Power Purchase Agreement price,
RCA tariff, or cost based rate)
• Potential additional annual incentives (i.e. tax credits)
• Potential additional annual revenue streams (i.e. green tag sales or other renewable
energy subsidies or programs that might be available)
• Discuss the non-economic public benefits to Alaskans over the lifetime of the project
The Igiugig RISEC project will advance the technical design, permitting, and environmental knowledge of
RISEC for use by other Alaskan communities considering this form of renewable energy. The project will
also boost the expertise of the industry and potentially reduce manufacturing and operations costs.
Economic benefits
The estimated annual fuel displacement from a 40kW commercial scale project is 15,000 gallons/year.
This equates to approximately 300,000 gallons over a twenty-year anticipated useful life of the project.
The anticipated cost savings to the electric utility based on reduced diesel fuel use is $100,050 per year
based on the current fuel cost of $6.67/gallon.
Non-economic benefits
There are no known tax credits or other subsidies for a project of this type.
Non-economic benefits to Alaskans include the reduction in diesel exhaust emissions realized by using a
renewable RISEC resource, short term job creation during testing and construction, as well as the
improved long term viability of the Igiugig utility.
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SECTION 6– SUSTAINABILITY
Discuss your plan for operating the completed project so that it will be sustainable.
Include at a minimum:
• Proposed business structure(s) and concepts that may be considered.
• How you propose to finance the maintenance and operations for the life of the project
• Identification of operational issues that could arise.
• A description of operational costs including on-going support for any back-up or existing
systems that may be require to continue operation
• Commitment to reporting the savings and benefits
IVC will own and operate the RISEC facility. IVC owns, operates, and maintains the Igiugig Electric
Company power plant and distribution system. IVC is a non-profit entity focused on delivering reliable,
low cost electric energy.
As discussed in Section 4.4.2 and prior sections, a Business Operating Plan will be prepared for the project
that identifies long term operations and maintenance, as well as renewable and replacement costs for the
useful life of the project.
Once this RISEC pilot project has been demonstrated commercially viable, a draft Business Plan will be
prepared and completed during Phase III, final design and permitting of the commercial scale project. IVC
has prepared a Business Operating Plan for its RPSU powerhouse upgrade project and has the resources
and ability to integrate the RISEC project into its operating assets. AE&E has assisted communities in
preparing Business Plans for over a dozen AEA/Denali Commission projects.
The EPRI reconnaissance level feasibility study includes a simple payback period calculation for
an assumed built out commercial scale plant for a remote grid scenario, refer to Appendix F of the
2008 Round 2 REF application.
IVC will commit to monitoring and reporting the Project savings and benefits as required by the REF grant
funding, and to demonstrate the viability of this renewable project
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SECTION 7 – READINESS & COMPLIANCE WITH OTHER GRANTS
Discuss what you have done to prepare for this award and how quickly you intend to proceed
with work once your grant is approved.
Tell us what you may have already accomplished on the project to date and identify other grants
that may have been previously awarded for this project and the degree you have been able to
meet the requirements of previous grants.
Since 2006, IVC has worked with the Alaska Energy Authority to renovate and upgrade aging community
infrastructure. A Rural Power System Upgrade project, which constructed a desperately needed state of the
art diesel generation power plant, was completed in 2011. This newly constructed power plant is designed
to accommodate installation and operation of a RISEC device(s).
During the execution of Phase II, funded by REF Grant Funding (round 2), it was determined that
insufficient funding was available to test a device in the Kvichak River. This is due to the high cost of
Hydrokinetic device development and construction. This is also due to the high cost and effort to complete
the FERC process, which will be required for electrical grid integration testing. Phase II will continue until
the second quarter of 2012, at which remaining funds will have been expended. Pending receipt of
additional funding, IVC will be ready to test a device(s) in the Kvichak River in the second quarter of
2012.
ORPC has offered to contribute to this project in the form of deferring the cost of their device and
development costs. ORPC has requested that IVC furnish the cost to ship and deploy the device. Although
the Match contributions approach 1.2 Million dollars, there is insufficient funds to support device testing
in conjunction with environmental monitoring.
In addition to testing the ORPC RISEC, this project also funds completion of the Whitestone Poncelet
RISEC device, overall site design, and acquisition of required permits and licenses to test the device at
Igiugig. Funding to support testing of up to 3 additional devices is also included. The majority of the
funding is related to Phase IV Construction of devices and infrastructure to support device testing to begin
by the third quarter 2012, Due to the large capital cost of these devices, and the emerging nature of the
industry, these devices have long lead times. Also, the FERC Licensing process requires extensive testing,
which necessitates access to funding to support biological and environmental studies requested by FERC.
Therefore, it is imperative that equipment is ordered in 2012 to support the goal of providing electric
power to Igiugig by third quarter 2013.
This project does not fund completion of the FERC Commercial License, or ongoing operations of the
devices. Pending the results of the Pilot Testing to be completed during Phase IV, a Commercial License
will be pursued through additional funding.
Please refer to Appendix F – Technical Data for a description of work completed to date.
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SECTION 8– LOCAL SUPORT
Discuss what local support or possible opposition there may be regarding your project. Include
letters of support from the community that would benefit from this project.
The Lake and Peninsula Borough and Lake and Peninsula School District support the development of
RISEC energy in Igiugig. The Village of Igiugig is eager to develop an available energy resource that will
reduce dependency on diesel fuel, and help reduce and stabilize long term electric rates.
Refer to letters of support included in Appendix E.
SECTION 9 – GRANT BUDGET
Tell us how much you want in grant funds Include any investments to date and funding sources,
how much is being requested in grant funds, and additional investments you will make as an
applicant.
Include an estimate of budget costs by milestones using the form – GrantBudget5.doc
Total estimated project cost is $9,395,283. The Round 5 REF grant request is $7,274,277. Igiugig Village
Council has contributed $44,200 in Match contributions from REF Round 2, and further commits to this
project Match contributions of up to $171,480. Additional Match in the amount of $1,198,076 from
RISEC vendors brings the Total Match Contribution to $1,413,756. Refer to Grant Budget worksheet in
Appendix C.
APPENDIX A
PROJECT RESUMES
AlexAnna Salmon, IVC
Brian C. Gray, AE&E
William J. Price, AE&E
Steven J. Stassel, AE&E
John T. Dickerson, AE&E
Mirko Previsic, ReVision
David Oliver, TerraSond
Michael Link, LGL
Duane Miller, Golder Associates
Steven M. Selvaggio, WPC
Monty Worthington, ORPC
.
APPENDIX B
COST WORKSHEET
Renewable Energy Fund Round 5
Project Cost/Benefit Worksheet
RFA AEA12-001 Application Cost Worksheet Page 1 7-1-11
Please note that some fields might not be applicable for all technologies or all project
phases. The level of information detail varies according to phase requirements.
1. Renewable Energy Source
The Applicant should demonstrate that the renewable energy resource is available on a
sustainable basis.
Annual average resource availability. 3.24 kW / square meter mid-stream power density
Unit depends on project type (e.g. windspeed, hydropower output, biomasss fuel)
2. Existing Energy Generation and Usage
a) Basic configuration (if system is part of the Railbelt1 grid, leave this section blank)
i. Number of generators/boilers/other 3 Gensets
ii. Rated capacity of generators/boilers/other 195 kW
iii. Generator/boilers/other type Diesel
iv. Age of generators/boilers/other 2010
v. Efficiency of generators/boilers/other 14 kWh/Gallon
b) Annual O&M cost (if system is part of the Railbelt grid, leave this section blank)
i. Annual O&M cost for labor $10,500
ii. Annual O&M cost for non-labor $8,500
c) Annual electricity production and fuel usage (fill in as applicable) (if system is part of the
Railbelt grid, leave this section blank)
i. Electricity [kWh] 230,000
ii. Fuel usage
Diesel [gal] 23,000 Gallons
Other
iii. Peak Load 52 kW
iv. Average Load 25 kW
v. Minimum Load 16 kW
vi. Efficiency 14 kWh/Gallon
vii. Future trends 75 kW Peak and 250,000 kW Annual Production Within 5-years
d) Annual heating fuel usage (fill in as applicable)
i. Diesel [gal or MMBtu] N/A
ii. Electricity [kWh] N/A
iii. Propane [gal or MMBtu] N/A
iv. Coal [tons or MMBtu] N/A
v. Wood [cords, green tons, dry tons] N/A
vi. Other N/A
1 The Railbelt grid connects all customers of Chugach Electric Association, Homer Electric Association, Golden Valley Electric
Association, the City of Seward Electric Department, Matanuska Electric Association and Anchorage Municipal Light and Power.
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Project Cost/Benefit Worksheet
RFA AEA12-001 Application Cost Worksheet Page 2 7-1-11
3. Proposed System Design Capacity and Fuel Usage
(Include any projections for continued use of non-renewable fuels)
a) Proposed renewable capacity
(Wind, Hydro, Biomass, other)
[kW or MMBtu/hr]
40 kW
b) Proposed annual electricity or heat production (fill in as applicable)
i. Electricity [kWh] 160,700 kWh/yr
ii. Heat [MMBtu] -----
c) Proposed annual fuel usage (fill in as applicable)
i. Propane [gal or MMBtu] -----
ii. Coal [tons or MMBtu] -----
iii. Wood [cords, green tons, dry tons] -----
iv. Other -----
4. Project Cost
a) Total capital cost of new system $3,114,292
b) Development cost $6,280,991
c) Annual O&M cost of new system To Be Determined During Pilot Phase of Project
d) Annual fuel cost N/A
5. Project Benefits
a) Amount of fuel displaced for
i. Electricity 15,000 gallons
ii. Heat
iii. Transportation
b) Current price of displaced fuel $6.67/Gal
c) Other economic benefits To Be Determined
d) Alaska public benefits Test Bed Facility for Rural Alaska
6. Power Purchase/Sales Price
a) Price for power purchase/sale N/A
7. Project Analysis
a) Basic Economic Analysis
Project benefit/cost ratio N/A
Payback (years) N/A
APPENDIX C
GRANT BUDGET
Renewable Energy Fund Grant Round V Grant Budget Form 7-1-11 Milestone or Task Anticipated Completion Date RE- Fund Grant Funds Grantee Matching Funds Source of Matching Funds: Cash/In-kind/Federal Grants/Other State Grants/Other TOTALS (List milestones based on phase and type of project. See Attached Milestone list. ) Phase 1 – Reconnaissance Complete $----- $9,200 Cash / In-Kind $9,200 Phase 2 – RISEC Feasibility Assessment & CDR December 2012 $----- $592,750 Cash / In-Kind $592,750 Phase 3 – Final Design & Permitting May 2013 $1,142,225 $535,340 Cash / In-Kind / Industry Match $1,677,565 Phase 4 – Construction, Commissioning, Operation & Reporting June 2018 $6,132,052 $983,716 Cash / In-Kind / Industry Match $7,115,768 *NOTE: This total includes REF Round 2 funding of $707,250 TOTALS $7,274,277 $2,121,006** $9,395,283 Budget Categories: Direct Labor & Benefits $---- $----- Industry Match $----- Travel & Per Diem $----- $20,000 Cash $20,000 Equipment $----- $----- ----- $----- Materials & Supplies $2,188,472 $382,000 Cash / In-Kind $2,570,472 Contractual Services $3,105,055 $1,180,090 Cash $4,285,145 Construction Services $1,980,750 $538,916 Cash / In Kind $2,519,666 Other (Freight) $----- $----- ----- $----- TOTALS $7,274,277 $2,121,006** $9,395,283 Applications should include a separate worksheet for each project phase (Reconnaissance, Feasibility, Design and Permitting, and Construction)- Add additional pages as needed
Kvichak River RISEC Project
REF Round 5 Application
Cost Estimate
PHASE I. RECONNAISSANCE Round 2 Grant Matching Funds Grant Request Totals
Igiugig Electric Hydropower Scoping Brief (1/08)‐‐
Alaska RISEC Final Feasibility Study Report (10/08)9,200$ 9,200$
PHASE I TOTAL 9,200$ 9,200$
PHASE II. RISIEC FEASIBILITY ANALYSIS & CONCEPTUAL DESIGN Round 2 Grant Matching Funds Grant Request Totals
Existing Energy Assessment (Igiugig RPSU CDR 11/08) 35,000$ 35,000$ 70,000$
Kvichak River Current Profile, Bathymetry and Preliminary Geotechnical Study 115,000$ 115,000$
RISEC Device Design, Solicitation and Preliminary Development 157,500$ 157,500$
Develop Biological Monitoring Program 30,500$ 30,500$
ReVision Consulting (Mirko Previsic) 38,500$ 38,500$
Phase II Engineering, Permitting and Project Management 108,500$ 108,500$
Phase II Contingency @ 15% 72,750$ 72,750$
PHASE II TOTAL 557,750$ 35,000$ 592,750$
PHASE III. FINAL DESIGN AND PERMITTING Round 2 Grant Matching Funds Grant Request Totals
Continued Energy Resource Monitoring and Geotechnical Study 130,840$ 219,160$ 350,000$
Initial Biological Impact Study 100,000$ 100,000$
Complete RISEC Device Design and Development 255,000$ 526,000$ 781,000$
Phase III Analysis and Recommendations 68,751$ 68,751$
Phase III Engineering, FERC Permitting and Project Management 30,000$ 179,328$ 209,328$
Phase III Contingency @ 15% 19,500$ 148,986$ 168,486$
PHASE III TOTAL 149,500$ 385,840$ 1,142,225$ 1,677,565$
PHASE IV. CONSTRUCTION, COMMISSIONING, OPERATION & REPORTING Round 2 Grant Matching Funds Grant Request Totals
Construction Scheduling and Procurement 89,664$ 89,664$
Build Infrastructure and Electrical Distribution System 24,000$ 531,000$ 555,000$
Procure RISEC Devices 170,000$ 1,607,972$ 1,777,972$
Transport RISEC Devices 315,000$ 315,000$
Deploy RISEC Devices 501,916$ 597,000$ 1,098,916$
Conduct RISEC Demonstration Project 79,480$ 643,840$ 723,320$
Conduct RISEC Pilot Project 208,320$ 810,000$ 1,018,320$
Environmental and Biological Monitoring of RISEC Installation 300,000$ 300,000$
RISEC Installation Geotechnical Investigation 100,000$ 100,000$
Phase IV Analysis and Recommendations 68,751$ 68,751$
Phase IV Engineering, FERC Permitting and Project Management 268,992$ 268,992$
Phase IV Contingency @ 15%799,833$ 799,833$
PHASE IV TOTAL 983,716$ 6,132,052$ 7,115,768$
PHASE V. FERC COMMERCIAL LICENSE COMPLETION Round 2 Grant Matching Funds Grant Request Totals
Phase V Engineering Support and FERC Permitting 358,656$
Phase V Contingency @ 15%53,798$
PHASE V TOTAL 412,454$
Round 2 Grant Matching Funds Grant Request Totals
PROJECT Summary 707,250$ 1,413,756$ 7,686,731$ 9,807,737$
Round 2 Match Funds 44,200$
Local Allocated Match Funds 171,480$
ORPC Match Funds and Contributions 1,198,076$
TOTAL ROUND 5 GRANT REQUEST (Through Phase IV)7,274,277$ 9,395,283$
(Not Including Phase V)
Kvichak River RISEC Project
ORPC Preliminary Cost Estimates
Benchmark Date Start Date End ORPC Cost Sharing Estimate ORPC Funding Request Comment
Bottom Support Frame (BSF) Desing and
Fabrication 7/1/2011 9/1/2011 220,000.00$ -$
RivGen Turbine Generator Unit (TGU)
Fabrication and Assembly 8/1/2011 1/31/2012 1,350,000.00$ -$
Bottom Support Frame (BSF) Testing 170,000.00$ this may be done in Maine or Alaska
ReDesign Anchor System for Kvichak River (if
needed)1/2/2012 2/1/2012 -$ 10,000.00$
Fabricate Kvichak Anchors 2/1/2012 3/1/2012 -$ 81,000.00$
RivGen TGU Testing in Maine (mounted on
ORPC testing barge)2/1/2012 3/1/2012 100,000.00$ -$
RivGen Transport to Alaska 3/15/2012 4/1/2012 -$ 50,000.00$
Test Deployment with TGU mounted on
Bottom Support Frame (BSF) with anchoring
system (possibly in Cook Inlet)4/15/2012 5/15/2012 150,000.00$ -$ this may be done in Maine before it (and the BSF) ship to Alaska
Modifications if Needed 5/15/2012 5/31/2012 5,000.00$ -$
Ship to Igiugig 6/1/2012 6/15/2012 -$
AEE to come up with estimate for
shipping
One Connex Container with the TGU (approximate weight: 10,000lbs),
One half Connex Container with the power electronics (approximate
weight: 2,500lbs), anchors (size and weight will vary with Kvichak River),
and the BSF which can be reduced to 42ft x 12ft x 8.5ft (approximate
weight: 35,000lbs)
Assemble RivGen in Igiugig 6/15/2012 6/29/2012 -$ included in deployment cost
Deploy RivGen System 7/2/2012 7/6/2012 -$ 182,000.00$
Operate RivGen System 7/6/2012 6/30/2013 -$ 170,000.00$ assumes approximately 1 year of operation
Removal of RivGen in Igiugig 170,000.00$
ORPC Labor (Portland and Anchorage)$430,756
ORPC on-sit labor Total 33,200.00$
ORPC Billeting 37,960.00$
Total ORPC Cost Share Total ORPC Funding Request
2,276,915.94$ 591,840.00$
*the cost of ORPC on-site labor and billeting has been subtracted from
this. Also this does not include the cost of transporting the RivGen
between Igiugig and Anchorage
Whitestone Power and Communications
Cost Estimate for Igiugig Installation of a Poncelet Kinetics RHK100
Prototype
Manufacturing
and Testing at
Whitestone
Manufacturing
$659,242
Shipping $29,800
Assembly and Deployment $239,000
Testing $104,000
Project Management and Contracting Fees $335,750
SUBTOTAL $1,367,792
Installation at
Igiugig
Disassemble and Crate RHK100 at
Whitestone $50,000
Site Engineering $106,000
System Modifications for Igiugig $60,000
Project Management and Contractors Fees $215,000
FERC License Exhibits A and F $50,000
On Site Training and Operational Crosscheck $25,000
SUBTOTAL $506,000
PROJECT
TOTAL $1,873,792
APPENDIX D
ELECTRONIC COPY OF APPLICATION
(REFER TO ENCLOSED DISC)
APPENDIX E
RESOLUTION & SUPPORTING LETTERS
Grant Documents Authorized Signers
Igiugig Village Council (IVC) Authorizing Resolution
Lake and Peninsula School District letter of support
Lake and Peninsula Borough letter of support
Grant Documents Authorized Signers
Please clearly print or type all sections of this form.
Community/Grantee Name: Igiugig Village Council
Regular Election is held : December 2011 Date:
A th . d G t S· ( ) u orlze ran Igner s :
Printed Name Title T erm
AlexAnna Salmon President 2011
I au t horize the above person(s) to sign Grant Documents :
(Highest ranking organization/community/municipal official)
Printed Name Title Term
AlexAnna Salmon President 2011
Gr antee Contact Information'
8/25/2011
Signature
~~
Signature
~Q.D
Mai l ing Address: P.o. Box 4008 , Igiugig, AK 99613
Phone Number: 907-533-3211
Fax Number: 907-533-3217
E-mail Address: igi ugiglalbristolba~ .com
Fiscal Year End : September 30, 2011
Ent ity Type (For-profit or non-profit status): Non-profit
Federal Tax ID #: 92-0072200
Please submit an updated form whenever there is a change to the above information.
Please return the original completed form to :
Alaska Energy Authority
813 W. Northern Lights Blvd.
Anohorage , AK 99503
Attn: Butch White , Grants Admin istrator
Macintosh HD :Users:SALMON 11 :Downloads:GrantDocumentsAuthorizedSigners5 a·25 -2 011 .doc
ALAS KA
ENERGY AUTHORITY
Igiugig Villag~Council
RF,.SOLlTTJON II-JI
A RESOLUTION OF TnE IGIUGIG VILLAGF.COUNCIL ON BEliALI'Of Tilt;HF-SIDENTS
OF ,CWCIC AUTIIORIZING THE COUNCIL TO SUBMIT AN APPLICATION UNDER THE
ALASKA ENt:RGY AUTHORITY RENEWAKU:EN~;RGY rUNO GRANT I'ROGRAM t'OR
CONTINUE!>fUNDING 01<'A RF.NEWARLE ENERGY PROJECT AND AUTHORIZING THE
COUNCIL I'RESIDENT TO EXEClTfE ANY SUOS.:QUENT OOC'UMENTS NECESSARY TO
SECURE GRAIIo,."UNI)ING .-OR TII.E PROJECT.
WIIEREAS.Igiugig Village Council (Council).dlb'a 19iU&!K Electric Company,is authoria:d 10 provKIe
electric power 10 the communit)·of Igiugig under Certlf~of Public Com=iencc and NeCessity.
CPC&N"No.68I.issued by the Regu1alooy 0:JnunisIii0n of Abska.and
WHEREAS.il is ~that the n:sidcnlll and infrasuuc1un:in the community Igiugig are dept.'fldml
on the elccuic utility to opcr:lte in 11 005l effective and reliable 1TIaI1lla".and
\VHEREAS.the Alaska Energy Authority has recently COlllple1L'li construction of a I1Cw L"IlC<yy efficient
power plnn!with new switchgear.aOlo sta.rtlslop and pa.-.dlclmg capability,and
WHEREAS,the Alaska Energy Authority bas issued a request for applications for Round 5 of the
Renc....'llble EIIeTgy Gr.mt Progmm authoriz1xI Wldcr HB 152 for Rene:wable Energy ProjcclS.and
WHEREAS.!he Council has WJdcrtaI,:cn a Rhu In-Suearn Energy Con\'aSioo (RISEC)pn:;oct lIS a
,'iabIe ~to imprvvc tbc:op=ttiona.I effK:icn:;y oflhc ulil,ly and 10 Ix:lp reduc:c the oommunily's
rtlianc:c 00 dicsCI fucl.llrld
WlIEREAS.the Council oonlinucs to ranI::this projc:ct as one of the hijjlcst I?f:iorilic:s in tbe
oom~lK:nsive do,.....e:lopmcnt of the community:and me -Council is in good smnlling I'o,th respect to its
existmg credit and Federal T3l<Obligations.and
WIIEREAS.the Kvieiulk River RISEC P~ect.authoriz.cd by COWlCil Resolution 09-05,received partial
funding for Feasibility and O:!nceptuaJ Ocslgn undcT REF FWlding Agreement Nwuber 2195466,and
WHEREAS,initial c:roergy rcsotII'tt assc:ssments.,historical fish studies..and prelimill3J)'dev>cc
dcvdoplll.,"1 have lx:en c:omp...ted for the RlSEC p:oj..d and multiple devices have:lx:en identiflC(l for..........
WlIEREAS.a/thoug.h the Feasibility and COIlOCptuaJ Design are funded.addiliooal funding is ,1CCdCd 10
procure:and deploy JUSEe devices by seoond quancr 20 12.NOW TItEREfORE.
BE IT RESOL YEO.tbat il L.tbc determination oftbis body to pursue a R<:fIe'\\'3ble F.nergy FWId Grnnt to
support the:OOrltinucd development of the RISEC projc-c:t in Igiugig to help reduce the oommunity's
dependency on diesel fuel,to e:ontinue to upgrade:our electrical system to a modem.safe:.und more
"fficien!standard in accordance with RUS ~and tMt lhe Villuge Council President,AkxAnna
Salmon.or their designee..is authorized and empowered to submit to AEA on bcbulf of the Council an
appliCUlioo for funding und<....the Rcncl'o'3ble r;a:rgy Grant ~AEA-12-OO1,to lIC1 as the !cad
OOlltaet in this project.and to execute aod submit any SUbsequenl documen!s 00 behalf of the CoUfiClll£l
sectn granl funding for the project.•Passcdon this 2~dayof~2011.bytheactioooflhc:manbcrsoflgiugig Village:Council.
CERTIFlCAlE
The Undersigned.A \e.xAnllR-SQ \:0::00 .....PJ"eSio.e ....i.of Igiugig Village COUIlciI.
docs herc!1 certify that at a mcctmg of the Igiugig vi'ltlge Council duly called and bcld on the
Q:~~day of Au,&uS'\.,2011 at Igiugig.which a 4UOlllrn was at all limes prcscnt
and votmg.the foregoing resolutIOn w duly adopted.
Daledthis Z3....dayof ~u.S-i..,20II,al :r~iLA'3·\'3 .A1aska
by,oM..N~2,~...-~
'!s'.PresjdC!nt
Lake and Peninsula Borough
Po. Box 495
King Salmon, Alaska 99613
Telephone: (907) 246-3421
Fax: (907) 246-6602
Renewable Energy Grant Fund
Alaska Energy Authority
813 West Northern Lights Blvd.
Anchorage, AK 99503
Subject: Village of Igiugig River In-Stream Energy Conversion (RISEC) Project
Renewable Energy Fund Grant Application -Letter of Support
Application Review Committee:
This letter is provided in support of the Village of Igiugig's Renewable Energy Fund
grant application. As you are aware, the high cost of fuel has created significant
economic hardship in rural Alaska communities. Due to the difficult logistics and
increased cost of barging fuel up the Kvichak River, the Village of Igiugig and other
Iliamna Lake villages suffer an even higher cost of fuel than many other coastal
communities in this region.
The salmon fishery is the most important commercial and subsistence resource in the
Bristol Bay region. The thorough environmental testing included in the pilot portion of
this project will document and mitigate any potential or unexpected adverse impacts on
adult and juvenile salmon. This will insure that any future commercial RISEC installation
will be done in an environmentally friendly manner and will have no negative impacts on
the salmon resource.
The proposed Kvichak River RISEC project has the potential to greatly reduce Igiuigig's
reliance on expensive imported diesel fuel for power generation and to lower the future
cost of electricity for the entire community. If successful, this project could also provide
a blueprint for other similarly situated communities to adopt RISEC technology, thereby
benefiting the entire Lake and Peninsula Bourough as well as other regions of the state.
Therefore the Lake and Peninsula Borough fully supports the efforts of the Village of
Igiugig to test and apply this technology through REF Grant Funds and requests that the
Review Committee carefully review the merits of this application.
Chignik Bay' Chignik Lagoon' Chignik Lake' Egegik' Igiugig' Iliamna· Ivano! Bay· Kokhanok· Levelock
Newhalen • Nondalton' Pedro Bay' Perryville' Pilot Point· Pope Vannoy' Port Alsworth' Port Heiden' Ugashik
If you have any questions please call me at (907) 246-3421, or fax your comments to
(907) 246-6602.
Sincerely,
Lake and Peninsula Borough
({]; /7/~/
I)~!/!Y~
i
Lamar Cotten
Borough Manager
cc: Dallia Andrew, President, Igiugig Village Council
APPENDIX F
TECHNICAL DATA
Project Schedule
Energy Resource Assessment Data
Biological Assessment Data
ORPC Device Information and Proposal
Whitestone Poncelet Information and Proposal
ReVision Preliminary Assessment of Whitestone Poncelet
PROJECT SCHEDULE
Kvichak River RISEC Project
REF Round 5 Application
Project Schedule
PHASE I. RECONNAISSANCE Status Start Date Completion Date
Igiugig Electric Hydropower Scoping Brief (1/08)Complete -Jan 2008
Alaska RISEC Final Feasibility Study Report (10/08)Complete -Oct 2008
PHASE II. RISIEC FEASIBILITY ANALYSIS & CONCEPTUAL DESIGN Status Start Date Completion Date
1 Existing Energy Assessment (Igiugig RPSU CDR 11/08)Complete -Nov 2008
2 Kvichak River Current Profile, Bathymetry and Preliminary Geotechnical Study In Work June 2011 Nov 2011
3 RISEC Device Design, Solicitation and Preliminary Development In Work July 2011 Oct 2011
4 Develop Biological Monitoring Program In Work July 2011 May 2012
5 ReVision Consulting (Mirko Previsic)In Work Aug 2011 Dec 2012
6 Phase II Engineering, Permitting and Project Management In Work Feb 2011 Sept 2012
PHASE III. FINAL DESIGN AND PERMITTING Status Start Date Completion Date
1 Continued Energy Resource Monitoring and Geotechnical Study Oct 2011 Nov 2012
2 Initial Biological Impact Study Sept 2011 May 2013
3 Complete RISEC Device Design and Development In Work Oct 2011 Dec 2012
4 Phase III Analysis and Recommendations July 2011 Dec 2012
5 Phase III Engineering, FERC Permitting and Project Management In Work Sept 2011 May 2014
PHASE IV. CONSTRUCTION, COMMISSIONING, OPERATION & REPORTING Status Start Date Completion Date
1 Construction Scheduling and Procurement Jan 2012 June 2013
2 Build Infrastructure and Electrical Distribution System Feb 2012 June 2013
3 Procure RISEC Devices Jan 2012 June 2013
4 Transport RISEC Devices May 2012 July 2013
5 Deploy RISEC Devices June 2012 Sept 2013
6 Conduct RISEC Demonstration Project June 2012 May 2013
7 Conduct RISEC Pilot Project June 2013 May 2018
8 Environmental and Biological Monitoring of RISEC Installation June 2013 June 2018
9 RISEC Installation Geotechnical Investigation Aug 2014 Sept 2014
10 Phase IV Analysis and Recommendations Oct 2014 March 2015
11 Phase IV Engineering, FERC Permitting and Project Management June 2014 March 2018
PHASE V. FERC COMMERCIAL LICENSE COMPLETION Status Start Date Completion Date
Phase V Engineering Support and FERC Permitting Sept 2015*Sept 2018*
*Pending Reciept of Additonal Funding
ENERGY RESOURCE ASSESSMENT DATA
Narrative Description of Assessment
Data Collected During June 2011 Expedition
Description of Site 9
Description of Site 6
Hydrokinetic Power Generation
Feasibility Study
Phase One
Resource Reconnaissance and Site Selection
Prepared By:
P1177 – Phase One Proposal: Resource Reconnaissance and Site Selection
Page 1 of 7
TerraSond Ltd. is pleased to submit the following proposal to Alaska Energy and Engineering
(AE&E) for the Kvichak River Hydrokinetic Power Site near Igiugig, Alaska. All instrument
surveys will conform to accepted industry standards and practices and will be supervised and
approved by our geophysical staff and an Alaska State Registered Professional Land Surveyor.
History of TerraSond Ltd.
Originally formed as Terra Surveys, LLC in Alaska in 1994, TerraSond has specialized in
providing land, hydrographic, and marine geophysical surveys. Originally focused on Alaskan
waters, we now have facilities in Texas and Washington, surveying nationwide and in several
foreign countries. TerraSond has a staff of over 72 persons including: ACSM Certified
Hydrographic Surveyors, Registered Professional Land Surveyors (RPLS), and a supporting
group of hydrographers, land surveyors, marine geophysicists, geologists, oceanographers, GIS
specialists, IT professionals, and professional mariners. Our in-house equipment includes single
and multibeam sonar systems, land survey equipment, GPS survey equipment, geophysical and
oceanographic equipment, and over ten survey vessels. TerraSond’s client base includes
USACE, NOAA, pipeline, power, and international telecoms cable lay, mining, survey,
engineering, port authorities, shipping, dredging, and construction companies.
TerraSond is a partner in helping Alaskans accomplish our goal for long term, environmentally
benign, and carbon-free renewable power generation. Recent work has been focused upon the
development of in-stream hydrokinetic and tidal renewable energy feasibility programs. These
investigations have initially included resource assessment, site selection, and hazard
evaluation. Longer term goals include static and dynamic modeling of the energetic system for
hazard prediction and the cost benefit of power generation.
Proposed Goals and Methodology
The goal for Phase one of the Hydrokinetic Power Generation Feasibility Study will be to
accomplish a preliminary reconnaissance of the Kvichak River in the vicinity of the town of
Igiugig, Alaska. The purpose of this investigation will be to identify the most advantageous
location to install a hydrokinetic turbine for power generation.
The data necessary for year-round hydrokinetic turbine power production requires resource
assessment representative of all riverine environments and conditions throughout the year.
Although, this hydrokinetic turbine power project will require an ongoing accumulation of
empirical knowledge in order to build a competent database. TerraSond believes that this
exploratory dataset will accomplish a significant portion of the objective by targeting two
representative environmental and conditional river stages from a year’s cycle.
2011 Summer Expeditions
TerraSond will prepare and mobilize for this effort on a mutually agreed upon low-water event
coordinated with AE&E and other stakeholders. TerraSond is currently targeting to execute this
expedition in June, 2011. The summer expedition will mobilize two independent expeditions to
accomplish geodetic, bathymetric, and hydrokinetic measurements.
TerraSond will establish a geodetic control network in the vicinity of Igiugig, AK for the purpose
of this survey and all future work that may require repeatable results. This will require the
recovery of local monumentation and the establishment of no less than two (2) monuments.
TerraSond will recover and incorporate into this network any available USGS river gauge
infrastructure. If stream gauge infrastructure is available, TerraSond intends to use the USGS
historic vertical datum as the datum for this project in order to facilitate the use of historical
measurements for general power production expectations and evaluations. If the historic USGS
P1177 – Phase One Proposal: Resource Reconnaissance and Site Selection
Page 2 of 7
datum is unrecoverable, TerraSond will generate a logical datum based upon current river
height conditions. All measurements will be repeatable and will be able to be correlated into any
future vertical datum that may be established (If a commercial river gauge is established at a
later stage of this feasibility study, TerraSond will be able to translate our data to that datum).
TerraSond will establish a GPS base station with a high power amplifier and radio antenna to
broadcast Real-time Kinematic Global Positioning System (RTK GPS) quality corrections
throughout the prospect.
Once active on the site, TerraSond will accomplish a discharge measurement and confirm our
river stage within a typical yearly cycle graph. This measurement will be accomplished with an
Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler (ADCP) and will conform to the USGS standards and
operational procedures for USGS ADCP discharge measurements. We will acquire no less than
four (4) transects for this computation using a broad band ADCP along an continuous
measurement transect of the river. TerraSond will measure the moving bottom in no less than
three (3) locations along the prospect range. TerraSond has planned to avoid issues commonly
associated with ADCP operations such as moving bottom (a common problem in Alaskan rivers,
and especially the highly energetic waters associated with hydrokinetic power sites) or magnetic
fields associated with ferrous materials and vessel power production by recording heading from
a dual-antenna RTK-corrected GPS unit.
TerraSond will conduct a high density bathymetric survey over the extent of the prospect using
a Multibeam Echosounder (MBES). We estimate that we can acquire full swath coverage
approaching ~70% of the prospect area. The MBES data will be recorded using RTK precision
GPS while calibrated with an Inertial Navigation System (INS). Both the INS position (back-
computed for river surface elevation) and the riverbed will be recorded in the dataset to a high
level of precision. Where data density is inadequate to accommodate the normal decimated
surface generation available within our data processing software, a Triangular Irregular Network
(TIN) surface will be generated for areas which need interpolation. The combined full coverage
and the interpolated surface will allow for a very high quality illustration of the geomorphology of
the river bed.
This data will be used while in the field to identify the thalweg and the resulting Digital Terrain
Model (DTM) can be used for future computational power density production models further in
the project process. This data will be critical for Danger to Navigation (DtoN) and Hazard to
Construction (HforC) interpretation, and crucial for site selection of the pilot project hydrokinetic
power production site(s).
The resulting DTM will be a surface of very high quality and precision. The description of the
geomorphology may be used as a baseline sedimentation measurement for river conditions
prior to any build out. TerraSond believes that any site associated with Igiugig may need, at
some point in the future, to investigate the sedimentation transport in terms of scour and, in
particular, deposition. The data collected at this time is hoped to be of a sufficient quality to
provide an accurate snapshot of the geology prior to the introduction of new technology and
infrastructure. Although we can not guarantee that this surface will provide all of the answers
that may be asked at some future time, TerraSond will acquire our data with this intention as a
fundamental goal. Please reference Figure 1 for the planned area of coverage.
P1177 – Phase One Proposal: Resource Reconnaissance and Site Selection
Page 3 of 7
Figure 1. Proposed area to be surveyed with the MBES.
TerraSond will acquire no less than ten (10) ADCP transects at intervals to be determined once
TerraSond has had a chance to review the hydrodynamics of the river. This will be
accomplished with a single ADCP transect across the river predominately perpendicular to
current flow. The product of this transect is a measurement of the current-vector flow at different
vertical and horizontal positions within the river. It will be used to illustrate the peak flow and
current vector (magnitude and direction) at different depths below the river surface. This data is
crucial for site selection of the pilot project hydrokinetic power production site. Please reference
Figure 2.
P1177 – Phase One Proposal: Resource Reconnaissance and Site Selection
Page 4 of 7
Figure 2. Theoretical plan for ADCP transects while accomplishing the resource reconnaissance.
If, at any time during this field expedition, the Kvichak River at Igiugig experiences a significant
water level change, TerraSond will attempt to acquire another discharge value to ensure that all
current and vector information for the flow of the river can be referenced to the condition of the
river at that time.
All data will be processed at the TerraSond Processing Center in Palmer, Alaska. The riverbed
surface, DtoN, HtoC, and all conclusions will be presented in the final project report along with a
digital 3D presentation of the project.
TerraSond intends to support and to generally be available for consultation to AE&E and other
interested stakeholders during the presentation of this data while the most advantageous site
location is determined. Once AE&E has selected the candidate site(s), TerraSond will focus all
future efforts upon this selection.
2011 August Expedition
TerraSond will prepare and mobilize for this effort as soon as possible once Notice to Proceed
has been issued through AE&E. TerraSond is currently targeting to execute this expedition in
August 9th, 2011. TerraSond will accomplish a discharge measurement and confirm our river
stage within a typical yearly cycle graph. This measurement will be accomplished with an
Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler (ADCP) and will conform to the USGS standards and
operational procedures for USGS
ADCP discharge measurements. We will acquire no less than four (4) transects for this
computation using a broad band ADCP along a continuous measurement transect of the river.
TerraSond has planned to avoid issues commonly associated with ADCP operations such as
moving bottom (a common problem in Alaskan rivers, and especially the highly energetic waters
P1177 – Phase One Proposal: Resource Reconnaissance and Site Selection
Page 5 of 7
associated with hydrokinetic power sites) or magnetic fields associated with ferrous materials
and vessel power production by recording heading from a dual-antenna RTK-corrected GPS
unit. TerraSond will also deploy a Flo-Mate and acquire measurements at ultra shallow depth of
~2 ft below the air/water interface (in order to better serve the planning for very shallow turbine
designs).
TerraSond will measure Lines 9 and 6 (the foremost optimal power generation sites at this
time). TerraSond has received a request for a power evaluation at Line 9a, TerraSond will
evaluate the current flow at this location and identify if an additional transect would help with the
evaluation of power production sites along the river.
Figure 1. Proposed transects to be measured with ADCP and Flo-Mate Sensors.
TerraSond will acquire no less than five (5) ADCP transects at intervals to be determined once
TerraSond has had a chance to review the hydrodynamics of the river. This will be
accomplished with a single ADCP transect and Flow-mate across the river predominately
perpendicular to current flow. The product of this transect is a measurement of the current
vector flow at different vertical and horizontal positions within the river. It will be used to illustrate
the peak flow and current vector (magnitude and direction) at different depths below the river
surface. Transects 11 - 15 will be selected while on site and during field operations, however,
Figure 1 demonstrates possible line placement for reference.
2011 Fall Expedition
Rivers, by nature, are highly dynamic. It is vital to gather complete and competent information
about the candidate site and vet the potential limitations for power production prior to moving
forward with the pilot project.
TerraSond recommends gathering river current data at representative water stages throughout
the year. The current magnitude often changes as the river discharge changes which can effect
P1177 – Phase One Proposal: Resource Reconnaissance and Site Selection
Page 6 of 7
the power production expectations. The most critical factor that should be evaluated is position
of the peak flow within the river at different river stages. TerraSond has identified several river
sites in Alaska that have shown that peak flow may drift or otherwise change horizontally as well
as vertically in the water column as the discharge seasonally matures. Although not impossible
to engineer around, this phenomenon may add significant cost to the project where another site
will not experience this drift and therefore may not require the extra cost for engineering
solutions in order to constantly maintain the hydroelectric turbine in the peak power production
zone.
This proposal includes one additional mobilization of a hydrokinetic crew and equipment to the
prospect for discharge and current velocity measurements during the peak flow event expected
to occur in Fall of 2011. At this time, TerraSond is planning for this expedition to occur during
the month of October, 2011.
This effort will acquire no less then four (4) transects and the product will be a computed
discharge value of the river at the candidate site location. The acquisition of this data will help
AE&E understand the Kvichak River at this dominant discharge stage for the purpose of
quantifying the resource available for power production during the peak event. This data will
also play a critical role for the feasibility study as the peak river flow will be monitored at different
river stages for horizontal and vertical migration or general instability.
Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions about the project scope or costing for
this proposal.
I wish your project great success.
David Oliver,
Geophysicist
TerraSond Ltd
Precision Geospatial Solutions ®
1617 South Industrial Way Suite 3, Palmer, Alaska 99645
(907) 745-7215 Office (907) 745-7273 FAX (907) 715-8144 Cell
doliver@terrasond.com www.terrasond.com
cc: Katie Mildon, Hydrographic Program Director
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3362006579400 65794006579600657960065798006579800658000065800006580200658020065804006580400Igiugig ADCP TransectsJune 2011
.
200 0 200100
Meters
Coordinate System UTM Zone 5 (meters)Horizontal Datum NAD 83Digital Ortho Photo Aquired 22 August 2011
ADCP Transects
#0 TerraSond Control
DRAFT 427 July 2011
Description of Energy Resource at Transect # 9:
The Kvichak River bed at Transect 9 is believed to consist mostly of cobbles with gravel and sands
presenting upon the embankment. Depending on discharge and location within the river concentrations of
clast size density may vary. River stage height raises the depth of this site approximately 2 to 3 meters
between the May - October season with temporary wind-driven increases reported to ranging from 15 to
60 cm which can generate significant across current wave formations. Greatest depths occur in late fall
(September/October) and lowest depth after ice cover loss on Lake Iliamna in April/May.
Prospective Turbine Site Summary
Prospect Location: Kvichak River at Igiugig, AK
Transect ID: Transect # 9
Project datum: undetermined at this time
Value Units
Discharge Date of Measurement (6/22/11) 335 m^3/s
Mean Yearly Minimum Discharge 1968 ‐1987 316 m^3/s
Mean Yearly Maxmum Discharge 1968 ‐1987 805 m^3/s
Velocities
Peak Velocity 2.5 m/s
Average Velocity (thalweg) 2.3 m/s
Average Velocity (entire transect) 1.9 m/s
Power
Peak Power Density 7.0 kWatts/m^2
Average Power Density (thalweg) 6.3 kWatts/m^2
Average Power Density (entire transect) 4.0 kWatts/m^2
Transect Description
Start of Line 59° 19.553579' N155° 54.847803' W ‐‐
End of Line 59° 19.559598' N155° 54.883189' W ‐‐
Thalweg 59° 19.555810' N155° 54.869180' W ‐‐
Direction of Acquisition West ‐
Cross River Extent 40 m
Deepest Depth 3.8 m
Average Depth 3 m
Transect 9 ‐ Resource Data Overview
Description of Energy Resource at Transect # 6:
The Kvichak River bed at Transect 6 is believed to consist mostly of fine silt with intermittent erratic
inclusions ranging in size from cobbles, gravel, to sands. Depending on discharge and location within the
river concentrations of clast size density may vary. River stage height raises the depth of this site
approximately 2 to 3 meters between the May - October season with temporary wind-driven increases
reported to ranging from 15 to 60 cm. Greatest depths occur in late fall (September/October) and lowest
depth after ice cover loss on Lake Iliamna in April/May.
Prospective Turbine Site Summary
Prospect Location: Kvichak River at Igiugig, AK
Transect ID: Transect # 6
Project datum: undetermined at this time
Value Units
Discharge Date of Measurement (6/22/11) 335 m^3/s
Mean Yearly Minimum Discharge 1968 ‐1987 316 m^3/s
Mean Yearly Maxmum Discharge 1968 ‐1987 805 m^3/s
Velocities
Peak Velocity 2.5 m/s
Average Velocity (thalweg) 1.8 m/s
Average Velocity (entire transect) 1.6 m/s
Power
Peak Power Density 4.9 kWatts/m^2
Average Power Density (thalweg) 2.8 kWatts/m^2
Average Power Density (entire transect) 2.0 kWatts/m^2
Transect Description
Start of Line 59° 19.687065’ N 155° 54.029970' W ‐‐
End of Line 59° 19.728729’ N 155° 54.022660' W ‐‐
Thalweg 59° 19.707687’ N 155° 54.026711' W ‐‐
Direction of Acquisition North ‐
Cross River Extent 90 m
Deepest Depth 3.04 m
Average Depth 2.3 m
Transect 6 ‐ Resource Data Overview
DRAFT FISH HISTROICAL ASSESSMENT AND MONITORING PLAN
Fish monitoring plan for the Kvichak River RISEC Project (Igiugig)
SUBMITTED TO:
Alaska Energy & Engineering
SUBMITTED BY:
LGL Alaska Research Associates, Inc.
2000 West International Airport Rd.
Suite C-1
Anchorage, AK 99502
August 2011
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1.0 Introduction ............................................................................................................... 3
1.1 Monitoring Plan Nexus .......................................................................................... 3
1.2 Study Area .............................................................................................................. 3
2.0 Existing Fish Resources ............................................................................................ 5
2.1 Species Composition .............................................................................................. 5
2.2 Subsistence Fish Harvest ....................................................................................... 5
2.3 Adult Sockeye ........................................................................................................ 8
2.3.1 Socioeconomic Importance ............................................................................. 8
2.3.2 Management .................................................................................................... 8
2.3.3 Timing ............................................................................................................. 9
2.3.4 Distribution .................................................................................................... 10
2.3.5 Abundance ..................................................................................................... 11
2.4 Juvenile Sockeye .................................................................................................. 16
2.4.1 Timing ........................................................................................................... 16
2.4.2 Distribution .................................................................................................... 18
2.4.3 Abundance ..................................................................................................... 20
3.0 Potential Environmental Effects .............................................................................. 21
4.0 Potential Mitigation Measures................................................................................. 21
5.0 Monitoring Methods & Criteria .............................................................................. 21
6.0 References ............................................................................................................... 22
7.0 Monitoring Program Budget ................................................................................... 26
8.0 Comments on Monitoring Plan ............................................................................... 26
9.0 Response to Comments on Monitoring Plan ........................................................... 26
1.0 INTRODUCTION
The FERC process requires the preparation of a Pre-License Monitoring Plan for fish
resources as part of a Draft License Application for a pilot hydrokinetic project. This
plan describes the methods and activities to collect fish resource data relative to the
operation of a RISEC device on the Kvichak River, AK, and identify any adverse effects
of the operation on the fish resource. The plan will be implemented upon operation of a
RISEC device.
1.1 MONITORING PLAN NEXUS
This document describes a rationale for preparing the monitoring plan, the objectives of
the plan, and how the objectives will be achieved (content as per FERC regulations
§5.6(d)(3)(i), §5.6(d)(3)(iv), §5.11, 5.18(b)(5)(ii)(B), and 5.18(b)(5)(ii)(C)). The primary
objective of the monitoring program is to address issues and uncertainties in how
migrating fish interact with and pass the RISEC devices. The tasks to achieve the
objectives include summarizing the existing fish resources of the Kvichak and their
management, designing an appropriate data collection system to conduct the monitoring
of fish passing in proximity to the RISEC devices, developing the methods of analysis
and criteria by which to evaluate potential effects, and describing the potential impact of
RISEC devices on the fish populations. Below we describe the methods to characterize
fish and their behavior in proximity to the devices. Monitoring activities are designed to
observe downstream migrating anadromous juveniles, upstream migrating anadromous
adults, and resident adults. Target species are those of particular importance to agencies
and subsistence fishers (e.g., salmon, trout). An implementation schedule, reporting
schedule, and a budget for the plan are presented.
1.2 STUDY AREA
The study area for this project centers on the Kvichak River at Igiugig, AK, although all
fish resources of the watershed that could be impacted by a hydrokinetic operation at this
location will be considered pertinent to assessments (Figure 1). More specifically, the
primary focus will be on the waters immediately surrounding a RISEC device which we
term the zone of influence (ZOI). The ZOI will extend to where fish can sense the device
due to its structure or operation, or have an opportunity to encounter the device or its
effected area. The ZOI will be qualified through observation and inference. The broader
watershed perspective will be used to context the localized project activities and effects.
Figure 1. Kvichak River watershed and location of study area.
2.0 EXISTING FISH RESOURCES
2.1 SPECIES COMPOSITION
Table 1 is a compilation of fish species known to reside in the Kvichak River basin and
have the potential to be observed in proximity to Igiugig. Each species has its own
unique aspects of timing and behavior that influence the likelihood for encountering or
being effected by a RISEC device(s). Further details are provided in later sections of this
document for high priority species.
Table 1. List of fish species in the Kvichak River.
2.2 SUBSISTENCE FISH HARVEST
For the communities within the Kvichak River watershed, the subsistence way of life has
always been a fundamental link to their cultural and physical wellbeing. Each year
residents harvest, distribute, and consume many of the fish species that are found in the
river (Table 1). Historically, salmon have been the mainstay for subsistence, but a
Common name Scientific name Subsistancea Use of study site b Timing Encounter
potential
Alaskan brook lamprey Lampetra alaskense No Migrant unlikely
Arctic-Alaskan lamprey L. camtschatica/alaskense No Migrant unlikely
longnose sucker Catostomus catostomus Yes Migrant Spring unlikely
northern pike Esox lucius Yes Migrant/Resident Spring/Fall unlikely
Alaska blackfish Dallia pectoralis Yes non-typical unlikely
rainbow smelt Osmerus mordax Yes Migrant Spring/Fall unlikely
broad whitefish Coregonus nasus Yes non-typical unlikely
humpback whitefish Coregonus pidschian Yes Migrant Fall unlikely
least cisco Coregonus sardinella Yes Migrant unlikely
pygmy whitefish Prosopium coulteri Yes Migrant unlikely
round whitefish Prosopium cylindraceum Yes Migrant unlikely
Arctic grayling Thymallus arcticus Yes Migrant/Resident Spring/Summer/Fall unlikely
pink salmon Oncorhynchus gorbuscha Yes Migrant Summer unlikely
chum salmon Oncorhynchus keta Yes Migrant Summer unlikely
coho salmon Oncorhynchus kisutch Yes Migrant Summer/Fall possible
rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss Yes Migrant/Seasonal Spring/Fall likely
sockeye salmon Oncorhynchus nerka Yes Migrant Spring/Summer likely
Chinook salmon Oncorhynchus tshawytscha Yes Migrant Summer possible
Arctic char Salvelinus alpinus Yes Migrant/Seasonal unlikely
Dolly Varden Salvelinus malma Yes Migrant/Seasonal Spring/Fall possible
lake trout Salvelinus namaycush Yes non-typical unlikely
burbot Lota lota Yes non-typical unlikely
threespine stickleback Gasterosteus aculeatus No Resident possible
ninespine stickleback Pungitius pungitius No Resident possible
slimy sculpin Cottus cognatus No Resident unlikely
Resident - Majority of life cycle could occur in study area
b Migrant - utilize study area seasonally as a migratory corridor
Seasonal - May reside in study area
non-typical - rarely encontered in study area
a Based on Kreig et al. 2003
considerable portion of the subsistence take is also comprised of non-salmon species that
can be harvested year round. Recent studies estimate that greater than 18,000 lbs of non-
salmon fish are harvested regionally on an annual basis (Krieg et al. 2005). Several
different harvest techniques including angling and nets are employed as the fish move
seasonally from their over-wintering grounds to summer spawning and feeding habitats
(Fall et al. 2010).
Of the 16 different non-salmon fish used by the people of Igiugig, seven of these are
estimated to be harvested by greater than 25% of the households in the village (Table 10;
Kreig et al. 2003). Rainbow, Dolly Varden, and Northern Pike comprise the species of
greatest subsistence harvest, in descending order (Kreig et al. 2005). For the purposes of
this study, we provide a summary of these seven species and describe how they utilize the
habitat near the outlet of Lake Iliamna downstream to Kaskanak Creek (Figure 1). In
general, the majority of non-salmon fish that are found in the study area use this stretch
of river as a corridor for migration to and from over-wintering grounds to their summer
spawning and feeding grounds.
Rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) are the freshwater resident of this species that are
found in the Kvichak River watershed; the anadromous form (steelhead) have not been
documented in the Bristol Bay region. During the spring, rainbow trout will congregate
between the outlet of Lake Iliamna and Kaskanak Flat; these fish will include both
spawners and nonspawners (Figure 1). This population supports a substantial sport
fishing industry that is managed by ADF&G. In addition to being economically valuable
to the residents of Igiugig, the rainbow trout are also a highly regarded subsistence
resource. Krieg et al. (2003) reported that 100% of the households in Igiugig will include
these fish in their annual subsistence harvest.
Abundance studies by ADF&G were conducted during 1986 - 1991 near Igiugig (Minard
et al. 1992). Much of the sampling for this study was conducted immediately below
Igiugig in the braided portions of the river where the fish gathered in shallow, low
velocity areas. The authors noted that rainbow trout gathered in large numbers at these
sites during April and May. By mid-June, they disperse into Lake Illiamna to spend the
summer months before migrating to tributaries of the lake and to the Kvichak River in the
fall. Abundance estimates in 1988, 1989, and 1990 were 2,038 (SE=1,252), 2,912 (775),
and 4,460 (1,441), respectively. Annual survival ranged from 28% to 30%, and average
age was six years (Krieg et al. 2003, Mecklenburg et al. 2002, Minard et al. 1992,
Morrow 1980).
Arctic grayling (Thymallus arcticus) are found throughout the Kvichak drainage, and
depending on the time of year, they could be in a lake or riverine environment. During
the winter months grayling will be found in lakes or larger rives that provide sufficient
habitat while frozen. During the spring, they will migrate up streams to their spawning
and feeding grounds. The grayling will spawn in low energy portions of the streams; this
is also where the fry will rear before heading to the overwintering grounds. Grayling
have been caught in the Kvichak at Igiugig, but the majority of this species are harvested
further downstream near outlet of Pecks, Ole and Kaskanak creeks (Gryska 2007, Krieg
et al. 2003, Morrow 1980, Figure 1). No information on population abundance is
available.
Northern pike (Esox lucius) are found in the lakes and rivers throughout southwest
Alaska, including the Kvichak. These fish will overwinter in the slower water of large
rivers and deeper lakes, and then migrate to their summer spawning and feeding grounds
in slow moving streams, sloughs, and along the lake shore. Residents of Igiugig will
harvest these fish in the Kvichak during the spring and fall as they move to and from
overwintering spots to spawning and summer feeding locations (Alt 1994a, Krieg et al.
2003, Mecklenburg et al. 2002). No information on population abundance is available.
Humpback whitefish (Coregonus pidschian) can take advantage of many different
freshwater and marine habitats and are found in freshwater residential or anadromous
forms that vary across the state. These fish are found throughout the Kvichak River
watershed and make up a large component of the subsistence fishery. Despite the relative
importance of this fish, little is known of its life history. A recent study by Woody and
Young (2006) examined Strontium concentrations in broad whitefish taken from Lake
Clark and found no definitive evidence that those fish migrated to and from saltwater. It
is known that spawning occurs during the fall and takes place in the upper reaches of
streams, or the littoral zones of lakes. Based on harvest records from the people of
Igiugig, these fish are caught near the village as they migrate to or from their spawning
grounds located in the tributaries of the Kvichak River (Alt 1994b, Fall et al. 2010,
Woody and Young 2006, Krieg et al. 2003). No information on population abundance is
available.
Dolly Varden (Salvelinus malma) that are found in the Kvichak River watershed exist in
anadromous or freshwater resident forms. Generally, the freshwater residents will be in
the upper reaches of the streams that drain into Lake Iliamna, and the anadromous form is
found in the mainstem and larger tributaries of the Kvichak River. Resident Dolly
Varden will rear in slow moving water on the stream bottoms and then move to stream
pools or eddies once they are large enough. Anadromous forms will spawn in the
summer and fall and may remain in the streams up to 20 months before migrating back to
the sea. The juvenile anadromous form will remain in the freshwater 2 to 4 years using
the stream bottom for cover and a feeding. Once large enough, they make the
transformation into smolts and migrate to sea around May and June (Hubartt 1994, Kreig
et al. 2003, Mecklenburg et al. 2002, Morrow 1980). The anadromous form of this
species is harvested January through April in the Kvichak (Kreig et al. 2005) via ice
fishing. No information on population abundance is available.
Longnose suckers (Catostomus catostomus) are harvested by residents of Igiugig during
the spring, usually in late May and early June. These fish reside in lakes or stream pools
and will migrate to gravel sections of streams in the spring for spawning. Based on the
harvest records, the people from Igiugig harvest these fish in the feeder streams of the
upper Kvichak, namely Pecks and Ole creeks, in addition to the Kaskanak Flats area
(Krieg, et al 2003, Mansfield 2004, Mecklenburg et al 2002, Morrow 1980, Figure 1).
No information on population abundance is available.
Rainbow smelt (Osmerus mordax) are anadromous fish that migrate up the Kvichak
River each spring and are thought to spawn in the tributaries of Lake Iliamna. Little is
known about the life history of these fish, but based on traditional ecological knowledge,
the rainbow smelt are only present from spring to early fall at which time they make the
return trip to saltwater (Gotthardt and McClory 2006, Mecklenburg et al. 2002, Kreig et
al. 2003). No information on population abundance is available.
2.3 ADULT SOCKEYE
2.3.1 Socioeconomic Importance
Bristol Bay, Alaska produces the greatest number of sockeye salmon (Oncorhynchus
nerka) in the world. During 1991-2010, the region produced an average annual sockeye
run of 38 million (standard deviation=12 million); the Kvichak stock represented 21% of
this average. Bristol Bay sockeye have been intensively harvested since the early 1900s,
mostly in commercial fisheries located in marine waters near river confluences (Clark et
al. 2006). Commercial harvest from 1991 to 2010 averaged 26 million for the Bay as a
whole and 4 million for the Kvichak.
Subsistence fishing for sockeye salmon in Bristol Bay has occurred for thousands of
years and continues to be an important source of protein for local residents (Morstad et al.
2010). However, in 2008 (the most recent data available) only 405 Kvichak sockeye (out
of 6 million) were harvested by 10 permit holders. Sport harvest of sockeye in the Bay is
virtually nonexistent and is estimated with mail in surveys (Clark 2005; Dye and
Schwanke 2009); none was reported for 2008.
2.3.2 Management
In order to manage and sustain the fisheries, federal and state agencies have collected
detailed records of catch, spawning escapement, and age composition for the nine major
Bristol Bay sockeye stocks (including the Kvichak) since 1952. The Bristol Bay region
remains relatively pristine, biodiversity of salmon populations remains high (Hilborn et
al. 2003) and not been influenced by hatcheries. Therefore, Bristol Bay provides a
unique long-term history of wild salmon population dynamics, largely unaffected by
habitat-altering factors and hatchery salmon.
Ultimate management authority for salmon fisheries in Alaska rests with the
Commissioner of the Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G). ADF&G’s
management objectives include: managing for sustained yield (largely accomplished by
adhering to escapement goals); maintaining genetic diversity and overall health of the
escapement (the number of fish that spawn each year); providing for an orderly fishery;
helping to ensure high quality fishery products; and harvesting fish consistent with
regulatory management plans. The commissioner delegates this authority to Area
Management Biologists (AMBs) who regulate time and area openings for otherwise
closed fisheries.
ADF&G’s research biologists develop biological escapement goals for individual river
systems based on sustained yield and/or maximum sustained yield (MSY) principles
using relationships between escapement levels and subsequent returns (termed stock-
recruit analyses). Prioritizing escapement over allocation and economic objectives has
contributed to managers’ success in meeting river-specific escapement goals in most
years (Insert Reference=Cohen Report).
2.3.3 Timing
Average run timing (2000-2010) shows that 25% of Kvichak spawners return by 30-June,
50% by 5-July, and 75% by 10-July (Figure 2). During this period, run timings ranged
plus or minus three days with the earliest having 50% return by 2-July and the latest by
about 8-July (based on combined catch and escapement). However, the curves are most
pertinent to the enumeration project at Igiugig where the escapement was estimated
because catch was usually less than 50% of the run (2000-2010 average=32%). Sockeye
usually take 2-4 days to travel from the fishing district upstream to the enumeration
project at Igiugig (T. Baker pers. comm., Research Biologist, ADF&G).
Figure 2. Run timing curves for Kvichak River sockeye salmon. The average run timing
from 2000 to 2010 are indicated by thick black lines (daily=solid line and
cumulative=dashed line). The earliest and latest cumulative curves during this time
period are indicated by gray lines.
2.3.4 Distribution
When current velocities in the thalweg are high, sockeye salmon are extremely bank
oriented while migrating upriver due to the energetic gain in swimming against slower
waters near the bank (Woody 2007; Anderson 2000). Taking advantage of this life
history trait, W. F. Thompson developed the tower counting system for Bristol Bay in
1953 (Thompson 1962). When tower counts were compared to weir counts (assumed to
be a complete census) on the Egegik River, relative error was -7.4% (Rietze 1957;
Spangler and Rietze 1958). Therefore, we can assume that most sockeye were
susceptible to the counting towers and not swimming in the thalweg; else, the observed
relative error would have been much greater. At Igiugig, Anderson (2000) found nearly
all sockeye passed 10-30 ft from the left bank (facing upstream) and 12-30 ft from the
right bank. Igiugig was chosen for the enumeration project because current velocities in
the thalweg likely preclude any crossing over (i.e., swimming across or through the
middle of the river).
0.000
0.250
0.500
0.750
1.000
0.00
0.02
0.04
0.06
0.08
15‐Jun17‐Jun19‐Jun21‐Jun23‐Jun25‐Jun27‐Jun29‐Jun1‐Jul3‐Jul5‐Jul7‐Jul9‐Jul11‐Jul13‐Jul15‐Jul17‐Jul19‐Jul21‐Jul23‐Jul25‐Jul27‐Jul29‐Jul31‐JulCumulative % of total run passing% of total run passing
2.3.5 Abundance
2.3.5.1 Estimation methods
Relative to most sockeye stocks, the river-specific catch and escapement estimates from
Bristol Bay are some of the most accurate and precise in salmon biology today. There is
some uncertainty surrounding catch, but precision is not estimated or reported and it is
believed to be modest. Uncertainty in catch stems from three sources: (1) how catch is
estimated at the time of delivery to the processors, (2) how catch is assigned to natal
stream systems, and (3) age composition estimation (T. Baker, pers. comm., Regional
Research Biologist, ADF&G).
Fish are transported with tender vessels from the fishing districts to onshore and floating
processing plants located throughout the Bay. Fish are offloaded from tenders into
brailer bags and weighed. Throughout each day, fish are sampled for individual weight,
which is divided into the total weight from the brailer bags to estimate the number of
individuals. Of course, there is some variation around average individual weights, but
these weights are routinely updated throughout the season and this variability is
considered negligible.
Catch from fishing districts with only one stream system are assigned to that stream (i.e.,
Togiak, Ugashik, and Egegik). For districts with more than one river system, catch has
historically been apportioned post-season based on relative escapements by age (Bernard
1983). For instance, the catch of sockeye Age-2.2 in the Kvichak-Naknek District is
apportioned between the Kvichak and Naknek systems based on the relative proportion of
Age-2.2 fish that occurred in each escapement.
It has always been assumed that once sockeye enter the Bay, interception of fish bound
for natal districts and streams is for the most part small; assumptions necessitate
uncertainty. However, these assumptions have not been needed in recent years due to
genetic stock identification (GSI) from catch samples. Dann et al. (2009) found the
percent of the Kvichak run harvested in the Ugashik and Egegik districts was 4.7% in
2006, 4.9% in 2007, and 13.2% in 2008. An additional genetics study is underway that
will estimate the stock mixtures for the historical database based on scale samples taken
in earlier years (Tyler Dann, pers. comm., ADF&G). Better estimates of river-specific
harvest may change historical and future catch assignments enough to alter previously
held conceptions of abundance trends and spawner-recruit relationships for some systems
(Baker et al. 2009), but we doubt these changes will be substantial.
The history and accuracy associated with the tower counting system in Bristol Bay is
described by Woody (2007), while methods for efficiently estimating sampling error
(precision) can be found in Reynolds et al. (2007). Towers are constructed on clear
streams such as the Kvichak at sites amenable to sampling, which is circumscribed by a
set of guidelines (Woody 2007). As previously mentioned, tower counts were very close
to weir counts on the Egegik River (relative error was -7.4%; Rietze 1957; Spangler and
Rietze 1958). The sources of error include: (1) observer variability, (2) aspects of
migration, (3) weather conditions, and (4) sampling error due to subsampling (Woody
2007).
Observer variability is negligible; even when experienced observers were compared to
the inexperienced, percent errors ranged from -1.8% to +1.3% (Anderson 2000). Species
confusion is possible as several salmonids share natal streams, but Bay systems are
dominated by sockeye and some species are easily distinguished (e.g., Chinook salmon)
and/or have different run timings (e.g., coho salmon). High density passage of fish may
bias observer counts, but using a replicated systematic sampling design with 20 min
counting intervals will reduce this bias (Siebel 1967; Reynolds et al. 2007). Bias from
weather conditions are difficult to quantify, but Woody (2007) recommends careful site
selection to reduce glare and wind, polarized glasses, riffle dampeners to reduce surface
turbulence, and lighter colored substrates to provide contrast as salmon pass over.
Sampling error has been carefully examined and established protocols are statistically
well vetted (Reynolds et al. 2007). No metrics of uncertainty are currently reported by
ADF&G, but a 95% confidence interval was found to be <5% of the estimates for recent
years in all systems (unpublished analysis of escapement counts using methods as per
Reynolds [2007]).
2.3.5.2 Tends in abundance
Sockeye salmon abundance in Bristol Bay has fluctuated significantly during the past
century in spite of attempts to stabilize returns through management of spawning
populations (escapement). The run reached a 100-year low in the early 1970s, and then
rapidly rebounded to record high levels in response to the 1976/77 climate regime shift
(Rogers 1984, Adkison et al. 1996, Peterman et al. 2003). The Bay-wide run followed a
cycle of high returns for one and two years followed by “off-cycle” years of lower
returns, driven by the dynamics of the Kvichak River system (Figure 3, Table 2).
However, beginning in 1996 and continuing for about a decade, relatively few sockeye
salmon returned to the Kvichak River, which had previously produced terminal runs up to
23-42 million salmon per year during periodic peak cycle-years (these occur about every
five years) in the 1960s and early 1970s. On average, the total annual abundance (catch
and escapement) of Kvichak sockeye salmon declined 74% from 1978-1995 (14.8 million
salmon) to 1996-2005 (3.8 million salmon). The sharp decline in returns produced an
even greater decline in harvest (84%) as managers attempted to restrict fishing and allow
nearly the entire run to escape to the spawning grounds.
Table 2. Historical catch and escapement of Kvichak sockeye salmon.
Year Catch Escapement Total
1956 4,168,343 9,443,318 13,611,661
1957 3,540,189 2,842,810 6,382,999
1958 549,396 534,785 1,084,181
1959 281,930 673,811 955,741
1960 7,976,500 14,602,360 22,578,860
1961 6,863,814 - 6,863,814
1962 1,833,401 2,580,884 4,414,285
1963 223,459 338,760 562,219
1964 763,486 957,120 1,720,606
1965 17,785,664 24,325,926 42,111,590
1966 4,168,575 3,755,185 7,923,760
1967 1,800,652 3,216,208 5,016,860
1968 387,565 2,557,440 2,945,005
1969 3,760,565 8,394,204 12,154,769
1970 16,581,224 13,935,306 30,516,530
1971 3,764,861 2,387,392 6,152,253
1972 342,150 1,009,962 1,352,112
1973 21,791 226,554 248,345
1974 148,595 4,433,844 4,582,439
1975 1,605,407 13,140,450 14,745,857
1976 1,458,180 1,965,282 3,423,462
1977 739,464 1,341,144 2,080,608
1978 3,815,636 4,149,288 7,964,924
1979 13,418,829 11,218,434 24,637,263
1980 12,743,074 22,505,268 35,248,342
1981 5,234,733 1,754,358 6,989,091
1982 1,858,475 1,134,840 2,993,315
1983 16,534,901 3,569,982 20,104,883
1984 12,523,803 10,490,670 23,014,473
1985 6,183,103 7,211,046 13,394,149
1986 787,303 1,179,322 1,966,625
1987 3,526,824 6,065,880 9,592,704
1988 2,654,364 4,065,216 6,719,580
1989 11,456,509 8,317,500 19,774,009
1990 10,551,217 6,970,020 17,521,237
1991 3,808,873 4,222,788 8,031,661
1992 5,718,947 4,725,864 10,444,811
1993 5,287,523 4,025,166 9,312,689
1994 13,893,613 8,355,936 22,249,549
1995 17,391,906 10,038,720 27,430,626
1996 1,983,269 1,450,578 3,433,847
1997 179,480 1,503,732 1,683,212
1998 1,072,760 2,296,074 3,368,834
1999 6,663,209 6,196,914 12,860,123
2000 1,033,814 1,827,780 2,861,594
2001 330,538 1,095,348 1,425,886
2002 - 703,884 703,884
2003 34,244 1,686,804 1,721,048
2004 2,163,318 5,500,134 7,663,452
2005 532,450 2,320,332 2,852,782
2006 2,687,895 3,068,226 5,756,121
2007 1,420,384 2,810,208 4,230,592
2008 2,873,889 2,757,912 5,631,801
2009 3,297,344 2,266,140 5,563,484
2010 5,018,048 4,207,410 9,225,458
1990-2010 average 3,967,974 3,552,998 7,322,573
Figure 3. Catch and escapement trends for Kvichak sockeye salmon.
Thus, two historical aspects of Kvichak sockeye salmon are worth noting: (1) the 5-year
cyclic pattern in abundance, and (2) the overall decline in abundance beginning in the
mid 1990s. Reasons for the cycle have not been definitive, and debate in the Bay
continues, but the data suggest it is influenced by an interaction of marine and freshwater
processes and largely reinforced by historical fishing patterns and escapement goal
policy. Ruggerone and Link (2006) provided evidence that the cyclic abundance of
Kvichak sockeye salmon was maintained by depensatory fishing mortality, density-
dependent interactions between brood lines, low productivity of the Kvichak watershed,
and the relatively stable 5-year life cycle of Kvichak salmon rather than natural
depensatory mortality caused by predators or marine derived nutrients. Whatever the
cause, the cycle began to break down during the mid 1990s and the Kvichak has failed to
dominate the run since. Speculation about factors causing the Kvichak collapse grew as
the series of low runs continued from 1996 through 2005.
Most recently (2006-2010), the Kvichak run has averaged a 6.1 million return (range=4-
9; Table 2). The age-structure for the Kvichak varies among four age classes Age-1.2,
Age-1.3, Age-1.4, and Age-2.3 (European notation—1st number=freshwater age,
2nd=ocean age, Table 3). However, 2-ocean fish usually dominate, and when they do not
the run is typically small. On average 60% return 5 years after the year in which they
0
10
20
30
40
50
Millions of sockeyeCatch
Escapement
were spawned as Age-2.2s or Age-1.3s (return time is calculated by adding the
freshwater and ocean ages plus one year for overwinter incubation of the eggs).
Table 3. Age composition of Kvichak sockeye salmon. Age values represent
percentages.
Year Age 1.2 Age 1.3 Age 2.2 Age 2.3 2-ocean 3-ocean
Total run
(millions)
1990 4 7 75 14 79 21 18
1991 51 13 17 19 68 32 8
1992 23 23 41 12 65 35 11
1993 22 25 45 7 67 33 10
1994 7 7 83 2 90 10 23
1995 9 4 75 12 84 16 28
1996 12 35 20 33 32 68 4
1997 47 12 31 9 78 22 2
1998 51 26 18 4 69 31 4
1999 58 9 28 4 87 13 13
2000 12 60 20 8 32 68 3
2001 9 84 1 5 10 90 1
2002 45 15 37 2 83 17 1
2003 64 17 15 4 79 21 2
2004 23 3 73 1 96 4 8
2005 18 41 32 9 50 50 3
2006 45 31 17 7 62 38 6
2007 63 18 3 16 66 34 4
2008 73 25 1 0 74 26 6
2009 18 40 40 2 57 43 6
2.4 JUVENILE SOCKEYE
As Pacific salmon complete the fresh water stage of their life cycle, they undergo
physiological changes in order to make the transition to salt water. This parr-smolt
transformation also includes changes in morphology and behavior that favors increased
survival at sea (Groot 1991). Starting in the early 1950s fisheries scientists from the
University of Washington and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service started collecting
biological data from the out-migrating sockeye salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka) smolts in
the Bristol Bay region (Daigneault et al. 2006). Due to the subsistence and economic
value of sockeye salmon in Bristol Bay, the majority of these studies were concentrated
on this one species.
Starting in 1957 a smolt program was implemented on the Kvichak River near the village
of Igiugig; in 1961 ADF&G became the lead organization and have annually collected
smolt data through 2011 (Crawford 2001). Biological data collected from these early
studies includes age, length and weight; in addition to this information smolt run timing
data were collected and relative abundance was estimated. Fyke nets were used from
1956 – 1970 to capture smolts; thus, the relative abundance estimate was based on catch
per unit effort. In 1971, hydroacoustics were first tested on the Kvichak River to
determine if an absolute smolt abundance could be estimated. The results were rigorous
enough that this method was utilized by the Department through 2000 (Crawford and
West 2000). Due to problems with aging sonar equipment and budget cuts, the ADF&G
sonar portion of smolt monitoring on the Kvichak River was discontinued in 2001,
however biological data continued to be gathered through 2011(Crawford and Fair 2003).
In 2007, the Bristol Bay Science and Research Institute (BBSRI) designed and built a
new sonar that could be used to estimate smolt outmigration in the rivers of Bristol Bay;
this was first tested on the Kvichak River in 2008 and has since operated annually to date
(Wade et al. 2010a,b, 2011).
Sockeye salmon smolt behavior on the Kvichak River has been characterized over the
years based on fyke net catches and sonar data. Across years, smolts tend to follow the
same general behavior patterns in regards to run timing and distribution in the water
column. These behaviors are in part driven by the evolutionary pressure for survival
(Groot 1991).
2.4.1 Timing
Environmental conditions are the primary factors that trigger the parr-smolt
transformation. Photoperiod appears to drive this transformation, but water temperature
also influences the timing of the annual outmigration (Groot, 1991, Quinn 2005). On the
Kvichak River, out-migration generally coincides with the melting of ice on Lake Iliamna
(mid-May) and is the timing for smolt sampling projects (Crawford 2001). The length of
the out-migration for sockeye salmon is somewhat compressed relative to other species of
Pacific salmon (Quinn 2005). On the Kvichak River, the entire duration of the run is 2 to
3 weeks with the majority of fish out-migrating in the last week of May. According to
sonar data collected by BBSRI, from 2008 – 2010 greater than 85 % of total smolts were
detected in a period of 9 days, with 4 day peaks during this time accounting for > 50%
(Wade et al. 2010a, b, 2011, Figures 4 & 5).
Figure 4. Run timing curves of smolt outmigration.
0.00
0.25
0.50
0.75
1.00
5/23 5/25 5/27 5/29 5/31 6/2 6/4 6/6 6/8 6/10 6/12Cumulative proportion2008
2009
2010
Figure 5. Estimated daily smolt abundance on the Kvichak River, 2008 – 2010.
2.4.2 Distribution
Past studies that have characterized smolt behavior on the Kvichak River have indicated
that the majority of the out-migrating smolts will utilize the upper portion of the water
column. For example, from video data from 2000 and acoustic data from 2000 and 2001,
Maxwell et al. (2009) found that all smolts traveled in the top 1.0 m of water, and the
majority of smolts were in the top 0.3 m. The BBSRI study (2008 – 2010) characterized
vertical distribution in 0.5 m bins down to 2.5 m in depth, and then divided these data
into 2 categories (dark, daylight) to check for diel differences in distribution. On the
Kvichak River, the smolt vertical distribution was extremely consistent across years for
both periods of daylight and darkness (Figure 6). During the periods of darkness >
90.0% of smolts were detected in the upper 1.0 m and on average > 80.0 % were found in
the upper 0.5 m. Daylight distribution tended to be a little deeper, but in all cases >
81.0% were found in the 0.0 to 1.5 m strata. By utilizing the upper portion of the water
column smolts travel in the higher velocity water; therefore reducing the amount of
energy expended to reach the sea.
Smolt cross-river distribution follows the same general pattern across years. In areas
where there is a more pronounced thalweg, the majority of the smolts utilized these
deeper, higher velocity areas. Sonar Site 1 on the Kvichak River is a good example of
this distribution and, in all cases, the majority of the smolts were detected in the deeper
water (Figure 7). In 2008 and 2009, the Kvichak Site 1 sonar has detected > 72% of all
smolts located 49 – 69 m off the west bank. In 2010, the cross-river distribution at Site 1
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
5/24 5/28 6/1 6/5 6/9 6/13Smolt abuncance in millions2008
2009
2010
was a little more evenly distributed across a greater portion of the river; however the
deeper portion of the river remained the area where smolts were most abundant.
Figure 6. Vertical distribution of out migrating smolts on the Kvichak River, 2008 –
2010.
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
1
2
3
4
5Depth strata (0.5m/strata)Night 2010
Night 2009
Night 2008
Daylight 2010
Daylight 2009
Daylight 2008
Figure 7. Cross-river distribution of smolt on the Kvichak River, 2008 – 2010.
2.4.3 Abundance
Yearly smolt abundance on the Kvichak River has been estimated annually from 1957 to
2001 by ADF&G. Starting in 2008, BBSRI reinstated the program and have continued
through 2011. During the history of this program the methods for estimating abundance
have gone through three fundamentally different changes (Daigneault et al. 2006) so
comparison of absolute numbers across years is not valid. However, due to the difficultly
in capturing smolts by nets, it is believed that estimates derived by hydroacoustics more
accurately reflect the actual number of fish. During the period of time when the ADF&G
sonar was thought to be operating correctly (1972 - 1992), annual estimates varied from
15 to 342 million smolts. The BBSRI estimates for Site 1 on the Kvichak River have
ranged from 30 – 57 million smolts (Figure 5). Given the short duration of the smolt
outmigration, it is feasible that greater than 20 million smolts could move down the river
in a 24 hour period.
0
1
2
3
4
50.00
0.10
0.20
0.30
0.40
29 39 49 59 69 79 89 Depth (m)Percentage of total smoltDistance (m) from west bank
Site 1
2008
2009
2010
Depth (m)
3.0 POTENTIAL ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS
4.0 POTENTIAL MITIGATION MEASURES
5.0 MONITORING METHODS & CRITERIA
6.0 REFERENCES
Adkison, M.D., R.M. Peterman, M.F. Lapointe, D.M. Gillis, and J. Korman. 1996.
Alternative models of climatic effects on sockeye salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka)
production in Bristol Bay, Alaska, and the Fraser River, British Columbia. Fisheries
Oceanography 5:137-152.
Alt, K. 1994a. Whitefish. Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Wildlife Notebook
Series (Revised), Juneau.
Alt, K. 1994b. Northern Pike. Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Wildlife
Notebook Series (Revised), Juneau.
Anderson, C.J. 2000. Counting tower projects in the Bristol Bay area, 1955–1999.
Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Division of Commercial Fisheries, Regional
Information Report 2A00-08, Anchorage.
Baker, T.T., L.F. Fair, F.W. West, G.B. Buck, X. Zhang, S. Fleischman, and J. Erickson.
2009. Review of salmon escapement goals in Bristol Bay, Alaska, 2009. Alaska
Department of Fish and Game, Fishery Manuscript Series No. 09-05, Anchorage.
Bernard, D.R. 1983. Variance and bias of catch allocations that use the age composition
of escapements. Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Division of Commercial
Fisheries, Informational Leaflet No. 227, Anchorage.
http://www.sf.adfg.state.ak.us/FedAidPDFs/afrbil.227.pdf (November 2010).
Clark, J.H., A. MacGregor, R.D. Mecum, P. Krasnowski, and A.M. Carroll. 2006. The
commercial salmon fishery in Alaska. Alaska Fishery Research Bulletin. 12:1-146.
Crawford, D.L. 2001. Bristol Bay sockeye salmon smolt studies for 2001. Alaska
Department of Fish and Game, Commercial Fisheries Division. Regional Information
Report No. 2A01-27, Anchorage.
Crawford, D.L., and F.W. West. 2001. Bristol Bay sockeye salmon smolt studies for
2000. Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Regional Information Report 2A01-12,
Anchorage.
Crawford, D.L. and L.F. Fair. 2003. Bristol Bay salmon smolt studies using upward-
looking sonar, 2002. Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Commercial Fisheries
Division. Regional Information Report No. 2A03-17, Anchorage.
Dann, T.H., C. Habicht, J.R. Jasper, H.A. Hoyt, A.W. Barclay, W.D. Templin, T.T.
Baker, F.W. West, and L.F. Fair. 2009. Genetic stock composition of the commercial
harvest of sockeye salmon in Bristol Bay, Alaska, 2006-2008. Alaska Department of Fish
and Game, Fishery Manuscript Series No. 09-06, Anchorage.
Daigneault, M.J., M.R. Link, and M.N. Nemeth. (unpublished). An historical review of
the Bristol Bay smolt monitoring program and recommendations for future smolt
sampling. Unpublished report prepared by the Bristol Bay Science and Research Institute,
Dillingham, AK. 68 p.
Fall, J.A., D. Holen, T. M. Krieg, R. La Vine, K. Stickman, M. Ravenmoon, J. Hay, and
J. Stariwat. 2010. The Kvichak watershed subsistence salmon fishery: an ethnographic
study. Alaska Department of Fish and Game Division of Subsistence Technical Paper No.
352, Anchorage.
Gotthard, T.A. and J.G. McClory. 2006. Alaska Natural Heritage Program, Environment
and Natural Resources Institute, University of Alaska Anchorage, Anchorage, AK.
Groot, C., and L. Margolis, eds. 1991. Pacific Salmon Life Histories. University of
British Columbia Press, Vancouver.
Gryska, A. 2007. Arctic Grayling. Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Wildlife
Notebook Series (Revised), Juneau.
Hilborn, R., T.P. Quinn, D.E. Schindler and D.E. Rogers. 2003. Biocomplexity and
fisheries sustainability. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 100:6564-
6568.
Hubartt, D. 1994. Dolly Varden. Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Wildlife
Notebook Series, Juneau.
Krieg, T., M. Chythlook, P. Coiley-Kenner, D. Holen, K. Kamletz, and H. Nicholson.
2003. Subsistence Fisheries Assessment: Kvichak River Watershed Resident Species.
Federal Subsistence Fishery Monitoring Program, Final Project Report No. FIS 02-034.
U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Office of Subsistence Management, Fisheries Resource
Monitoring Program, Fishery Information Service, Anchorage, Alaska.
Krieg, T., M. Chythlook, P. Coiley-Kenner, D. Holen, K. Kamletz, and H. Nicholson.
2005. Freshwater fish harvest and use in communities of the Kvichak watershed, 2003.
Federal Subsistence Fishery Monitoring Program, Final Project Report No. FIS 02-034.
U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Office of Subsistence Management, Fisheries Resource
Monitoring Program, Fishery Information Service, Anchorage, Alaska.
Mansfield, K. 2004. Longnose Sucker. Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Wildlife
Notebook Series, Juneau.
Maxwell, S.,A. Mueller, D. Degan, D. Crawford, L. McKinley, and N. Hughes. 2009.
An evaluation of the Bendix smolt counter used to estimate outmigrating sockeye salmon
smolt in the Kvichak River, Alaska, and the development of a replacement sonar, 2000-
2001. Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Fishery Manuscript No. 09-02, Anchorage.
Mecklenburg, C. W., T.A. Mecklenburg, and L.K. Thorsteinson. 2002. Fishes of Alaska.
American Fisheries Society, Bethesda Maryland.
Minard, R. E., M. Alexandersdottir, and S. Sonnichsen. 1992. Estimation of abundance,
seasonal distribution, and size and age composition of rainbow trout in the Kvichak
River, Alaska, 1986-1991. Fisheries Data Series No. 92-51. Alaska Department of Fish
and Game.
Morrow, J.E. 1980. The freshwater fishes of Alaska. Alaska Northwest Publishing
Company, Anchorage, Alaska.
Peterman, R.M., B.J. Pyper, and B.W. MacGregor. 2003. Use of the Kalman filter to
reconstruct historical trends in productivity of Bristol Bay sockeye salmon
(Oncorhynchus nerka). Can. J. Fish. Aquat. Sci. 60:809-824.
Reynolds, J.H., C.A. Woody, N.E. Gove, and L.F. Fair. 2007. Efficiently estimating
salmon escapement uncertainty using systematically sampled data. Pages 121-129 in
C.A. Woody (editor). Evolution, ecology and management of sockeye salmon. American
Fisheries Society Symposium No. 54. Bethesda, MD.
Rietze, H.L. 1957. Western Alaska salmon investigations; field report on the evaluation
of towers for counting migrating red salmon in Bristol Bay, 1956. Mimeo report to the
U.S. Department of the Interior, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Bureau of Commercial
Fisheries, Juneau, Alaska.
Rogers, D.E. and P.H. Poe. 1984. Escapement goals for the Kvichak River system.
Final Report to ADFG. FRI-UW-8407. Fisheries Research Institute, University of
Washington, Seattle.
Ruggerone, G.T., and M.R. Link. 2006. Collapse of Kvichak sockeye salmon
production brood years 1991-1999: Population characteristics, possible factors, and
management implications. Unpublished report prepared by Natural Resources
Consultants, Inc. and LGL Alaska Research Associates, Inc. for the North Pacific
Research Board, Anchorage, AK. (www.nprb.org/)
Seibel, M.C. 1967. The use of expanded ten-minute counts as estimates of hourly
salmon migration past the counting towers in Alaskan rivers. Alaska Department of Fish
and Game, Division of Commercial Fisheries, Informational Leaflet 101, Juneau.
Spangler, P.J., and H.L. Rietze. 1958. Field report on the evaluation of towers for
counting migrating red salmon in Bristol Bay, 1957. Mimeo Report to the U.S.
Department of the Interior, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Bureau of Commercial
Fisheries, Juneau, Alaska.
Thompson, W.F. 1962. The research program of the Fisheries Research Institute in
Bristol Bay, 1945–1958. In T. S. Y. Koo, editor. Studies of Alaskan red salmon.
University of Washington Press, Seattle.
Wade, G.D., D.J. Degan, M.R. Link, and S.W. Raborn. 2010a. Evaluation of an up-
looking sonar system designed to enumerate sockeye salmon smolts on the Kvichak
River, 2008. Report prepared by LGL Alaska Research Associates, Inc., Anchorage, AK,
and Aquacoustics, Inc. Sterling, AK, for the Bristol Bay Science and Research Institute,
Dillingham, AK, 45 p + Appendix.
Wade, G.D., D.J. Degan, M.R. Link, and S.W. Raborn. 2010b. Estimates of hourly,
daily, and seasonal sockeye salmon smolt abundance on the Kvichak River in 2009.
Report prepared by LGL Alaska Research Associates, Inc., Anchorage, AK, and
Aquacoustics, Inc. Sterling, AK, for the Bristol Bay Science and Research Institute,
Dillingham, AK, 44 p + Appendix.
Wade, G.D., D.J. Degan, M.R. Link, and S.W. Raborn. 2011. Estimates of hourly, daily,
and seasonal sockeye salmon smolt abundance on the Kvichak and Ugashik Rivers in
2010. Report prepared by LGL Alaska Research Associates, Inc., Anchorage, AK, and
Aquacoustics, Inc. Sterling, AK, for the Bristol Bay Science and Research Institute,
Dillingham, AK, 44 p + Appendix.
Woody, C.A. and D. Young. 2006. Life history and essential habitats of humpback
whitefish in Lake Clark National Park, Kvichak River watershed, Alaska. U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service, Office of Subsistence Management, Fisheries Resource Monitoring
Program, Annual Report (Study No. 05-403). U.S. Geological Survey, Alaska Science
Center, Anchorage, Alaska.
Woody, C. A. 2007. Counting towers as an abundance estimation tool for salmon.
Pages 363-384. In Johnson, D. H., B. M. Shrier, J. S. O’Neal, J. A. Knutzen, X. Augerot,
T. A. O’Neil, T. N. Pearsons, editors. Salmonid Field Protocol Handbook. American
Fisheries Society, Symposium No. 57. Bethesda, MD.
7.0 MONITORING PROGRAM BUDGET
8.0 COMMENTS ON MONITORING PLAN
9.0 RESPONSE TO COMMENTS ON MONITORING PLAN
ORPC DEVICE INFORMATION AND PROPOSAL
Confidential Page 1
of 5
RivGen™ Power System
Clean, Predictable Power Generation for Remote River Communities
Spring 2011
Ocean Renewable Power Company, LLC
Portland, ME
ORPC Alaska, LLC
725 Christensen Dr, Ste 4A
Anchorage, AK, 99501
Phone: (907)-339-7939
www.oceanrenewablepower.com
Ocean Renewable Power Company
Spring 2011
www.oceanrenewablepower.com Page 2 of 5
RivGen™ Power System
Ocean Renewable Power Company, LLC (ORPC), an industryleading developer of hydrokinetic power
generation technology and projects, is building on its success in demonstrating electricity generation
from ocean tidal currents by commercializing its proprietary technology for both tidal current and river
applications. With the ORPC project sites in Maine and Alaska well along in the Federal Energy
Regulatory Commission licensing process, ORPC is now developing and preparing to build, install and
test its power systems in grid connected tidal and river sites.
To address power needs of remote communities near rivers and tidal current resources, ORPC is
developing the design of a smaller power generation system, the RivGen™ Power System, designed to
integrate into micro-grid systems reducing their reliance on expensive fossil fuels for electricity.
Key features of the RivGen™ Power System:
Compact electricity generation system where the
proprietary turbine generator units (TGUs) are shipped
fully-assembled in intermodal shipping containers
Quickly installed and maintained by local contractors
Microgrid compatible and easily integrated into
existing community electrical distribution networks
Provides both emission-free hydrokinetic electricity and sustainable, high quality jobs
Components:
o 1) RivGen™ TGU: two proprietary advanced design cross flow turbines directly
connected to a proprietary underwater permanent magnet generator located between
them, all connected to a single driveshaft and mounted on a structural support frame, 2) a
bottom support frame, and 3) power cables and onshore power station.
Dimensions:
o RivGen™ TGU - 39’ (11.9 m) x 4.9’ (1.5 m) x 4.9’ (1.5 m)
o BSF assembled - 42’ (12.8m) x 38’(11.6 m) x 5.5’(1.67 m)
o BSF disassembled for shipping - 42’(12.8 m) x 7.25’(2.2 m) x 12’(3.6 m)
Designed to fit in two standard shipping containers: the TGU in one and the power electronics,
power cables, transformer and ancillary equipment in another with the bottom support frame
designed to ship on standard lowboy trailer (not a wide load).
Power electronics convert the variable electrical
output of the generator to meet grid-compatible
voltage and frequency requirements
A RivGen™ device
Ocean Renewable Power Company
Spring 2011
www.oceanrenewablepower.com Page 3 of 5
Bottom support frame and a debris protection system (if needed) are designed based on local site
conditions and fabricated locally
Estimated power output of a single RivGen™ device: approximately 50 kilowatts (kW) in a
current speed of 6 knots (3 meter/s, 9.8 feet/s)
The RivGen™ Power System will reinvent the way electricity is generated in remote communities,
reducing energy costs and reliance on imported fossil fuels. RivGen™ has the potential of being the
most environmentally benign method of generating electricity while becoming the new standard for
power supply in small communities near rivers and coastal tidal currents.
Rural communities can particularly appreciate new, economical, and clean power. RivGen™ Power
Systems produce no gas or liquid emissions, significantly reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and can
replace costly fossil fuel use. In Alaska, where the first RivGen™ will be tested, a 30% penetration into
rural markets would eliminate the use of almost 9 million gallons of diesel fuel per year, corresponding
to an annual reduction of 195.5 million pounds of carbon dioxide emissions. The international market
for RivGen™ Power Systems in isolated coastal, island, and river communities is hard to quantify, but
with at least 1.5 billion people currently lacking electricity in developing areas not yet connected to
central power grids, the potential microgrid market is tremendous. RivGen™ Power Systems will see
widespread implementation in these areas, as well as throughout the more developed world, as fossil
fuel energy sources are increasingly replaced with or supplemented by renewable energy sources to meet
growing energy demand.
The design and layout of a RivGen™ project depends on local site factors and conditions: water
velocity and depth, electric loads to be served, geotechnical composition of the bottom, proximity to the
local micro-grid or load center, and other considerations. RivGen™ devices can be installed as
individual units or can be connected in a series of units along the run of the river. The RivGen™ TGU
will be connected to power electronics and interconnection components on shore using bundled
underwater power and fiber optic control cables.
Ocean Renewable Power Company
Spring 2011
www.oceanrenewablepower.com Page 4 of 5
The RivGen™ Power System has important technical advantages that make it less expensive to
fabricate and ship, simpler to construct, more robust in the underwater environment, and easier to deploy
and maintain than other competing technologies. The RivGen™ TGU has a low vertical profile, is shop-
fabricated (rather than field-fabricated) and is shipped completely assembled and ready for installation.
The RivGen™ Power System is a complete “plug and play” power generation system that requires
minimal field installation, has remotely controlled routine operations and all components are located on
shore or secured well below the water surface so there are no visibility issues. All of these make it
extraordinarily attractive for applications in small and/or remote communities near rivers or on a coast
with sufficient current flows and water depths.
Technology Features Technical Advantages Economic Advantages
Shop‐fabricated modular components (shipped
to site assembled)
Simplicity – “Plug and Play” Concept
Minimal Site Fabrication
High Quality Shop Fabrication
Lower Costs
No gears ‐ turbines and generator rotate on a
single shaft (directly connected)
Simpler and More Robust
No Underwater Lubricants
No Gear Maintenance
Reduced Noise and Vibration
Lower Costs
Less Maintenance
Easier Permitting
Turbines rotate in the same direction in
reversing (tidal) current flows
No equipment or turbine foil repositioning
needed in reversing (tidal) currents
Lower equipment cost
Less maintenance
Low Vertical Profile Greater Site Flexibility
Less Depth Needed
Suitability to More Sites
Hydrodynamic Loads Carried Uniformly Along
Length of Foils
More Rugged turbine structure
Turbine not susceptible to cavitation ‐ less
vibration and pulsation
Reduced stress
Lower O&M Costs
Routine Operations Controlled Remotely Simplicity
Real Time Operating Status
Timely Operating Data
Lower Costs
No Underwater Maintenance Simpler, Less Risky Maintenance Lower Costs
All Components Well Below Water Surface No Visibility Issues
No Interference with Commercial Shipping
or Recreational Boating
Greater Community Acceptance
Easier Permitting
Slow Rotational (RPM) and Foil Tip Speeds
Reduced Wear and Tear
Lower Chance of Aquatic Species Impact
Lower Costs
Easier Permitting
Ocean Renewable Power Company
Spring 2011
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Kvichak River RISEC Project
ORPC Preliminary Power Estimates
Month Avg. Discharge Approx. Vel (m/s)Approx Flow Power density (kW/m^2)Approx power output (kW)Capactity factor
1 15700 2.195804196 5.29359652 17.62767641 35.25535283
2 13700 1.916083916 3.517333759 11.71272142 23.42544284
3 12300 1.72027972 2.545465489 8.476400077 16.95280015
4 11100 1.552447552 1.870771802 6.229670102 12.4593402
5 11200 1.566433566 1.921790078 6.399560961 12.79912192
6 14300 2 4 13.32 26.64
7 19500 2.727272727 10.14274981 33.77535687 67.55071375
8 24800 3.468531469 20.86444906 50 100
9 26800 3.748251748 26.3303275 50 100
10 25300 3.538461538 22.15202549 50 100
11 21800 3.048951049 14.17168073 47.19169684 94.38339368
12 18300 2.559440559 8.383109677 27.91575523 55.83151045
avgerage vel (m/s)avgerage power (kW)avgerage CF
2.503496503 26.88740316 53.77480632
Total Annual Output (kWh)
235533.6517
Kvichak River RISEC Project
ORPC Preliminary Cost Estimates
Benchmark Date Start Date End ORPC Cost Sharing Estimate ORPC Funding Request Comment
Bottom Support Frame (BSF) Desing and
Fabrication 7/1/2011 9/1/2011 220,000.00$ -$
RivGen Turbine Generator Unit (TGU)
Fabrication and Assembly 8/1/2011 1/31/2012 1,350,000.00$ -$
Bottom Support Frame (BSF) Testing 170,000.00$ this may be done in Maine or Alaska
ReDesign Anchor System for Kvichak River (if
needed)1/2/2012 2/1/2012 -$ 10,000.00$
Fabricate Kvichak Anchors 2/1/2012 3/1/2012 -$ 81,000.00$
RivGen TGU Testing in Maine (mounted on
ORPC testing barge)2/1/2012 3/1/2012 100,000.00$ -$
RivGen Transport to Alaska 3/15/2012 4/1/2012 -$ 50,000.00$
Test Deployment with TGU mounted on
Bottom Support Frame (BSF) with anchoring
system (possibly in Cook Inlet)4/15/2012 5/15/2012 150,000.00$ -$ this may be done in Maine before it (and the BSF) ship to Alaska
Modifications if Needed 5/15/2012 5/31/2012 5,000.00$ -$
Ship to Igiugig 6/1/2012 6/15/2012 -$
AEE to come up with estimate for
shipping
One Connex Container with the TGU (approximate weight: 10,000lbs),
One half Connex Container with the power electronics (approximate
weight: 2,500lbs), anchors (size and weight will vary with Kvichak River),
and the BSF which can be reduced to 42ft x 12ft x 8.5ft (approximate
weight: 35,000lbs)
Assemble RivGen in Igiugig 6/15/2012 6/29/2012 -$ included in deployment cost
Deploy RivGen System 7/2/2012 7/6/2012 -$ 182,000.00$
Operate RivGen System 7/6/2012 6/30/2013 -$ 170,000.00$ assumes approximately 1 year of operation
Removal of RivGen in Igiugig 170,000.00$
ORPC Labor (Portland and Anchorage)$430,756
ORPC on-sit labor Total 33,200.00$
ORPC Billeting 37,960.00$
Total ORPC Cost Share Total ORPC Funding Request
2,276,915.94$ 591,840.00$
*the cost of ORPC on-site labor and billeting has been subtracted from
this. Also this does not include the cost of transporting the RivGen
between Igiugig and Anchorage
WHITESTONE PONCELET INFORMATION AND PROPOSAL
Whitestone Power and Communications Presents:
Poncelet Kinetics RHK100 Prototype Hydrokinetic
Turbine
Since its formation in 2007 Whitestone Power and Communications (WPC) has been committed to the
vision of reducing the cost of energy for small communities in Alaska. After early research into the
viability of wind energy production in Interior Alaska, WPC moved its focus to hydrokinetic technology.
Alaska is a state with many rivers and more importantly, many communities located on its rivers.
Alaska’s rivers are a vast resource which if properly utilized could provide the answer to rising energy
costs in rural communities throughout Alaska.
After assessing available technologies, it was decided that a uniquely Alaskan design was needed to
cope with the unique challenges presented by Alaska’s rivers. To this end, WPC hired Hasz Consulting,
LLC to develop a prototype turbine built around the concept of durability, reliability and simplicity. This
partnership has resulted in the development of the Poncelet Kinetics RHK100 prototype. WPC believes
this turbine design will provide unmatched durability, environmental friendliness, simplicity and energy
production in the unique Alaskan river system.
In designing the RHK100 WPC has drawn on the extensive experience of many engineers, scientists,
regulatory agency personnel and independent contractors in order to develop a product which can help
answer Alaska’s sustainable energy dilemma. Hasz Consulting, LLC is led by John Hasz who has more
than 40 years experience in the field of mechanical engineering focused on research and development.
Energetic Drives of Gresham, Oregon has provided ground breaking electronics technology to the
system which gives the RHK100 unmatched versatility and stability for any electrical power production
environment. Significant contributions have also been made by David Lockard of the Alaska Energy
Authority, Dennis Johnson of Applied Power and Control and CE2 Engineers of Anchorage, AK. Led by
Steve Selvaggio, the president of WPC, the research group has developed a prototype capable of
providing sustainable, low cost energy for Alaska’s rural communities.
Basic Design LayoutElectronics Controls Cabinet HDPE Blades (36)HDPE Pontoons – filled with closed cell foamChoke TransformerAluminum DeckingStabilizer Bridge – anchored to shoreStainless Steel Anchor/Debris Diversion CableModular Aluminum Wheel Frame
Basic Design LayoutPermanent Magnet GeneratorEpicyclic “Planetary” TransmissionAdjustable Aluminum Wheel Mountings300 HP Mule Boat
RobustnessDebris diversion cable runs at the surface of the water near the center of gravity of large debris.•HDPE blades the only moving parts in the water.•This gives the turbine high resistance to silty or salty water.•Blades designed to survive impact of 1500 lb object.•HDPE provides flexibility and strength.•5086 Aluminum used for all structural components.•This marine grade aluminum offers high resistance to corrosion and fatigue cracking.•Sealed cabinets and maintenance free, sealed bearings provide resistance to windborne sand infiltration•HDPE pontoon provide superior toughness, durability and lightweight.•Pontoons filled with closed-cell foam to insure floatation in case of puncture.
Versatility•Blades penetrate water 24 inches allowing for deep and shallow operation.•Mounting design allows for variable depth operation for varying river conditions.Bridge constructed from multiple sections for deployment in a wide range of situations.•Wheel constructed in 3 sections•Modular design allows wheel to be easily scaled from 25 kW to 200 kW capacity•Pontoons can be easily resized to accommodate larger or smaller wheelsElectronic controls for single unit can be used to control multiple units allowing use of arrays at greatly reduced costs.•Technology can be adapted to tidal applications using modified anchoring methods.
Environmental Friendliness•Craft moored to shore for river applications.•No disturbance of river beds.•All submerged prime-mover parts constructed from HDPE•No underwater gearboxes, generators or electrical cables•Pressure drop from blade operation safe for juvenile salmon•Velocity of blades 50% of velocity of river current•No hydraulic components to minimize chance of oil release to sensitive environments.•All bearings sealed and maintenance free.•Gearbox sealed and maintenance free.•No petroleum products stored on site.
Deployment and MooringCraft hitched to stabilizer bridge using a “fifth-wheel” hitch similar to those used on tractor-trailer rigs.Stabilizer bridge anchored to shore with a pivot mount allowing it to move with the rise and fall of the river.Pulling heads on pontoons capable of resisting more than 200,000 lb-force•Stainless steel cable provides primary mooring and debris diversion.•Buoys (not shown) will demarcate the cable per USCG specification.•300 hp mule boat rigidly attached to rear of craft to provide propulsion and navigation.•Boat also serves as work boat for project and maintenance and repair transportation.
LCL FilterActive BridgeInverterControlPOWERSUPPLYTMW Generator60HzPOWERRegenerative IGBT DrivesRegenerative IGBT DrivesPWM (Pulse-Width-Modulated) ControlInfinite Grid, Finite Grid orNo Grid on the Supply Side
WHITESTONE COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION
Dba Whitestone Power & Communications
PO Box 1630
Delta Junction, AK 99737
Phone: (907) 895-4938
Fax: (907) 895-4346
August 17, 2011
William Price
Project Manager
Alaska Energy and Engineering
1301 East Klatt Road
Anchorage, AK 99515-3543
(907) 349-0100
Re: Proposal to Supply One (1) Poncelet Kinetics RHK100 Prototype for the
Kvichak River Hydrokinetic Project at Igiugig
Dear Sir,
On behalf of Whitestone Power and Communications, I am pleased to provide the following
proposal to supply one (1) Poncelet Kinetics RHK100 prototype turbine for the Kvichak River
Hydrokinetic Project at Igiugig, AK. It is understood by both parties that this system needs to
first be tested at the planned test site at Whitestone, AK prior to deployment at Igiugig. It is also
understood that given the potential time lapse between the receipt of this proposal and the
performance of the project, the costs associated with the project may change. Please note that the
following proposal excludes the following portions of the project:
All permitting related to the proposed project at Igiugig
Shipping costs for moving the turbine from its test location at Whitestone to Igiugig
Assembly and deployment costs at Igiugig
Post-deployment technical support
I appreciate the opportunity to provide you with this proposal and look forward to working with
you on this project.
Sincerely,
Steve Selvaggio, President
Whitestone Power and Communications
Cost Estimate for Igiugig Installation of a Poncelet Kinetics RHK100
Prototype
Manufacturing
and Testing at
Whitestone
Manufacturing
$659,242
Shipping $29,800
Assembly and Deployment $239,000
Testing $104,000
Project Management and Contracting Fees $335,750
SUBTOTAL $1,367,792
Installation at
Igiugig
Disassemble and Crate RHK100 at
Whitestone $50,000
Site Engineering $106,000
System Modifications for Igiugig $60,000
Project Management and Contractors Fees $215,000
FERC License Exhibits A and F $50,000
On Site Training and Operational Crosscheck $25,000
SUBTOTAL $506,000
PROJECT
TOTAL $1,873,792
Month EPRI (m/s) Projected Actual at Transect 9 (m/s) Projected Actual at Transect 9 (fps) kWh 16-ft Wheel kWh 20-ft WheelJanuary 1.3 2.6 8.5 19,359 24,198February 1.25 2.5 8.2 15,698 19,623March 1.2 2.4 7.9 15,542 19,427April 1.1 2.2 7.2 0 0May 1.1 2.2 7.2 0 0June 1.25 2.5 8.2 19,403 24,254July 1.5 3 9.8 29,669 37,086August 1.65 3.3 10.8 39,709 49,636September 1.75 3.5 11.5 46,395 57,994October 1.7 3.4 11.2 44,287 55,358November 1.6 3.2 10.5 35,314 44,143December 1.45 2.9 9.5 27,027 33,783Total Annual Power Production (kWh) 292,403 365,503Total Annual Cost Savings $263,162.26 $328,952.82Total Project Cost $2,500,000.00 $2,600,000.00ROI (years) 9.5 7.9Note: ROI estimate assumes power cost of $0.90/kWh, maintenance costs not included, flow rates are projections
PRELIMINARY ASSESSMENT OF WHITESTONE PONCELET
By ReVision Consulting
Undershot Water-Wheel River Device
Performance Summary
Prepared by RE Vision Consulting, LLC
August 2011
Document Prepared for DOE by:
RE Vision Consulting, LLC
Project Manager: Mirko Previsic
Email Address: mirko@re-vision.net
Page 2
Table of Contents
1. Introduction ............................................................................................................................................ 2
2. Site Characteristics, Igiugig, Alaska ...................................................................................................... 2
3. Device Dimensions & Performance ....................................................................................................... 5
4. Conclusion .............................................................................................................................................. 8
5. References .............................................................................................................................................. 8
1. Introduction
This document is a preliminary performance assessment of a waterwheel-type river hydrokinetic energy
conversion device, developed by the Whitestone community. The scope of this summary are to identify and
the current performance methodology in use and provide a basic analysis of the viability. The analysis here is
preliminary and based on significant uncertainties in the analysis remain to be resolved.
2. Site Characteristics
To characterize the velocity distribution, 20 years of discharger rate data (1967-1987) from a USGS station
located 450 m from the mouth of the river has been utilized to determine the relative variability in flow rates.
More recent ADCP transects of the river have allowed this analysis to scale the velocity to different locations
downstream from the mouth of the river.
Table 1 – USGS Station Summary
Station Name: Kvichak River at Igiugig, AK
Station ID: 15300500
Lake And Peninsula Borough, Alaska
Hydrologic Unit Code 19030206
Latitude 59°19'44", Longitude 155°53'57"
Drainage area 6,500.00 square miles
Gage datum 45.00 feet above sea level
Page 3
ADCP transects were recorded in June of 2011 at 10 different locations along the river and 9 of the 10 can be
seen below in Figure 1. Transect 10 was considerably downstream and will not be compared here to the
USGS station.
Figure 1 – USGS Station Location & ADCP Transects 1-9
Relative bulk-velocity distribution for the river was previously assessed for the river in an EPRI lead study
commissioned by the Alaska Energy Authority (see reference 2). This data was re-used for this study.
Table 2 – Average Bulk-Velocity Distribution for Igiugig, AK
m/s Frequency
1.31 0.00%
1.60 31.42%
1.89 22.40%
2.18 18.31%
2.48 27.87%
2.77 0.00%
The above velocity distribution represents the average velocity distribution at the USGS calibration site. To
scale the velocities between different locations, mean water depth and cross sectional areas were estimated at
each partial transect. The USGS station land transect 6 are within 50m so to scale the USGS date to other
locations (transects) an area ratio between each transect and transect 6 was determined . Since the flow rate
was assumed to be constant at each location the velocity ratios would be equivalent to the area ratios.
Additionally, for the performance model a velocity ratio was used which combined the area ratio and a
velocity factor to scale average velocities to mid river velocities.
Page 4
Table 3 – Area and Area Ratio (Relative to Transect 6)
Transect
Estimated
Depth (m) Area (m2)
Area
Ratio
Velocity
Ratio
1 2.9 493 0.86 1.12
2 4.0 400 1.06 1.38
3 3.4 527 0.81 1.05
4 2.8 406 1.05 1.36
5 2.4 396 1.07 1.40
6 2.5 425 1.00 1.30
7 3.0 450 0.94 1.23
8 3.0 525 0.81 1.05
9 3.0 285 1.49 1.94
Transect 9, which has the highest area ratio is the estimated area on the west side of the island which the river
flows around. Adding the area from the east side of the island would reduce the ratio to less than 1 which
would contradict the ADCP data which demonstrated the strongest currents and highest power density values
at that site. It is also important to point out the seasonal and inter-annual variability in the currents at the site.
Below the monthly variability of the USGS station is shown.
Figure 2 – Monthly Variability of Average Current (1 ft/s ≈ 0.3 m/s)
Page 5
3. Device Dimensions & Performance
The device analyzed here is an undershot water wheel which sits in between two pontoons moored to the river
bottom. Unlike traditional undershot water wheels this device is in an unconfined flow, meaning the device
blades have considerable clearance (multiple blade heights) between them.
Figure 3 – Diagram of Unconfined Undershot Water Wheel, (not to scale)
The waterwheel consists of a large drum with 12 rows of blades which turn the drum. A power conversion
system and other electronic components will sit on top of the pontoons. Total drum width is 18ft.
Table 4 – Device Dimensions
Although the drum width is 18 ft, the width can increase or decrease to extract more or less power per device.
A methodology for water wheel performance was outlined by the work of Bresse and Mahan [1] in 1876 and
their method has been applied here. By their method, the maximum power output for the undershot device in
Drum ft m
Diameter 12.0 3.7
Width 18.0 5.5
Blade
Height 2.0 0.6
Width 6.0 1.8
Page 6
unconfined flow is given in equation 1 (adapted to SI units) where (kg/m3) is the density of water, A (m2)
the area of the immersed floats (blades), and v (m/s) the free stream velocity. This maximum power has been
determined from both theoretical and experimental relationships which should be closer examined in further
analysis.
( )
(1)
The area of the immersed floats in this relation assumes one blade is completely immersed in the flow and the
up and downstream blades are partially immersed as seen in Figure 3. Counting blade areas which lie in the
same cross sectional envelope is unconventional but follows the method in [1]. From the kinetic power
density and the immersed area of the paddles, the coefficient of performance Cp can be determined for the
device using equation 2.
(2)
From this relation it is seen that this definition of Cp does not depend on the flow velocity or area and is 0.4 or
the constant from equation 1. Next, the performance model inputs and the power generation results for each
transect are given.
Table 5 – Power Equation Inputs
p 1000 kg/m3
A 60.5 m2
v variable m/s
The performance incorporates the velocity frequency distributions at each location as well as the assumed
power conversion efficiencies, availability, and a fixed capacity factor.
Table 6 – Performance Model Inputs
Device Cut-in-Speed 0.5 m/s
Gearbox Efficiency 95 %
Generator Efficiency 90 %
Availability 95 %
Capacity Factor 27.9 %
The performance model output for each transect is given below.
Page 7
Table 7 – Performance Model Output
Rated Power
(kW)
Rated Velocity
(m/s)
Average Power
Output (kW)
Annual Energy
Output (MWh)
Transect 1 7.3 1.88 4.0 34.9
Transect 2 13.6 2.31 7.5 65.4
Transect 3 6.0 1.75 3.3 28.6
Transect 4 13.0 2.28 7.1 62.6
Transect 5 14.0 2.34 7.7 67.5
Transect 6 11.4 2.18 6.2 54.6
Transect 7 9.6 2.06 5.3 46.0
Transect 8 6.0 1.76 3.3 28.8
Transect 9 37.2 3.23 20.4 178.8
All of the results above use a Cp of 0.4 and to check this value an additional method is incorporated for
comparison.
Using wind energy theory, we can look at Cp values for a drag type machine which depend on the Betz limit.
Drag machines have limited Cp values because the surfaces cannot move faster than the undisturbed flow
velocity and are highly dependent on the drag coefficient. The Cp for a drag machine is given below in
equation 3 and depends directly on the drag coefficient of the power extracting surfaces.
(3)
A maximum CD value is 1.5 for a concave type surface resulting in a maximum Cp of 0.22 [3]. Improvements
to the Cp can be achieved by concentrating flows or adding more drag surfaces but quantifying those increases
are beyond the scope of this report. Using these lower Cp value the average power and annual energy output
would reduce by 45% compared to the totals in Table 7. On the upside, there appears to be evidence that
more power could be extracted from discussions with the research community. Based on this initial research,
we estimate the performance uncertainty of this device at +/- 50%. Such uncertainty will be reduced by
additional modeling over the coming months.
As mentioned earlier, increased power production the device has the option to increase the drum width.
Below is a plot of device width to average extracted power output for transect 5 as a function of drum width.
Page 8
Figure 4 – Water-wheel Width vs. Average Extracted Power
4. Conclusion
From both methods analyzed here we can say that potential Cp values for a water-wheel device could be
between 0.2 and 0.4. The methods of Bresse [1] use an immersed blade area which is additive between blades
and more work to understand the performance gains from additional blades should be investigated. Recent
research on water wheels suggests higher values of Cp are possible and we estimate an uncertainty range in
the performance prediction in this preliminary analysis at +/- 50%. Additional analysis to look into these
claims is needed to firm up performance predictions at the site.
5. References
1 Bresse, M., and F. A. Mahan (1876), Water-Wheels; or, Hydraulic Motors, John Wiley & Sons, New York,
USA.
2 Previsic, M., and R. Bedard (2008), River In-Stream Energy Conversion (RISEC) Characterization of
Alaska Sites, Electric Power Research Institute.
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
10 15 20 25 30Average Energy Output (MWh) Device Width (ft)