HomeMy WebLinkAboutEnergy Technologies Hydroelectric Program Fact Sheet 04-2018-HALASKA ENERGY AUTHORITY
WWW.AKENERGYAUTHORITY.ORG
REDUCING THE COST
OF ENERGY IN ALASKA
FOR MORE INFO
CONTACT:
Bryan Carey
PROGRAM MANAGER
BCAREU@AIDEA.ORG
907.771.3065
QUICK FACTS
ENERGY TECHNOLOGIES: HYDROELECTRIC
50: total
hydro projects
in Alaska
1,833 GWh:
total average
annual energy
generation of
all projects
476 MW:
total capacity
of all projects
CURRENT STATUS
Alaska Energy Authority is currently administering 17 hydro projects funded with
Renewable Energy Grant Fund (REF) and other State grants.
AEA has provided hydro related technical assistance such as Pre-feasibility project
evaluation to several communities and continues to monitor the construction of the
Hiilangaay Hydroelectric Project.
PROGRAM OVERVIEW
As Alaska’s largest source of renewable energy, hydropower supplies over 20 percent of
the state’s electrical energy in an average water year. There are nearly 50 operating utility
hydroelectric projects in Alaska. The majority of Alaska’s hydroelectric existing hydro
projects and good resources are located in the southeast and southcentral regions of
Alaska.
AEA is a statewide resource for hydroelectric technical assistance by:
•Maintaining an existing potential hydroelectric site database for communities to use
•Collecting active hydroelectric project data
•Provide a Working Group forum for owners and developers
•Technically review and provide feedback on engineering reports
•Assist in identifying project financing opportunities
•Answer community questions on hydroelectric project development
In addition to facilitating development and construction of small hydro projects throughout
Alaska, AEA is an active participant in large hydro infrastructure. AEA owns the Bradley
Lake Hydroelectric project which is the largest hydroelectric project in Alaska (see Bradley
Hydro Fact Sheet). In accordance with the Governor’s June 2016 directive, AEA is in the
process of closing out all final invoices and archiving all final reports related to the Susitna-
Watana Hydro project, for which work ceased at the end of September.
BACKGROUND
Hydroelectric plant configurations include conventional dam reservoir projects which
regulate flows through the drawing down of reservoir levels, and smaller capacity run-of-
the-river projects which rely upon the rate and fall of natural streamflow to produce
power. Though time consuming to permit and expensive to construct, hydropower is a
mature technology with the capability of locking in power rates for 50 to 100 plus years.
APRIL 2018