HomeMy WebLinkAboutWhitman Lake Hydroelectric Project AEA Factsheet - Aug 2015 - REF Grant 7040044I_ EAk�SKAUTH❑
Hydro project
Project Overview
Ketchikan, Alaska
provides water and power to local hatchery
In partnership with the Alaska Energy Authority
(AEA), Ketchikan Public Utility (KPU) completed a
4.5 MW hydroelectric project at the existing hatch-
ery dam near Ketchikan. The Whitman Lake project
is four miles from Ketchikan and generates up to an
average of 16,000 MWh. Two penstocks now provide
flow to the new powerhouse containing two hydro
turbine -generators (Units 1 and 2). Unit 1 generates
power that would otherwise be spilled and Unit 2 gen-
erates power delivered to the fish hatchery adjacent to
the project.
The main objectives of this project were to provide
Ketchikan with a reliable and reasonably priced
source of power, to reduce their reliance on diesel fuel,
and to serve as an additional generating resource to
the Southeast Alaska Power Agency (SEAPA).
The project became operational in October of 2014.
Since then, it has generated 2,387 Megawatt hours of
electricity and displaced 191,000 gallons of diesel fuel.
This displacement has saved the community $809,000
in a period of three months. There is usually some
amount of variability when it comes to annual gener-
ation, but KPU is confident that numbers will remain
high throughout the year. Over its 50-year projected
lifespan, the project has a calculated benefit/cost ratio
of 1.52, meaning that the project will see a 152 percent
return on investment.
In 1997, Ketchikan Public Utility initiated studies to
determine the feasibility of installing hydro generation
at Whitman Lake. In 2004, they applied for a Federal
Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) license to
Quick Facts
FERC Project Number: P-11841
Total Project Costs: $31,375,000
Funding: Renewable Energy Fund, Local & State
Capital Costs
Development: $6,000,000
Construction: $25,375,000
Project Specifications
Unit 1 Make/Output: Francis 3,700 kW
Unit 2 Make/Output: Francis 800 kW
Unit 1/2 Static Head: 332 ft/315 ft
Unit 1/2 Hydraulic Capacity: 150 cfs/35 cfs
Reservoir Storage Volume: 1,400 acre feet
Annual Energy Generation: 16,000,000 kWh
Diesel Fuel Offset
Estimated Annual: 1,140,000 gallons
Oct. -Dec. 2014: 191,000 gallons
Fuel Savings
Estimated Annual: $3,000,000
Oct. -Dec. 2014: $809,000
Benefit/Cost Ratio: 1.52
Powerhouse & dam, Photo courtesy ofAEA.
"This project allowed Ketchikan residents to utilize an existing dam for low-cost, realiable, and renewable
hydropower development"
construct the project. In 2009, FERC issued the project
license and construction began in 2013. The project
was comprised of a new access road, three new intakes
(all intakes included drum screens designed for safe
fish exclusion), a new penstock replacing the original
steel pipeline and providing flow to the new power-
house and hatchery, and a new powerhouse. The pow-
erhouse holds a 3,700 kW turbine/generator unit (Unit
1) and an 800 kW turbine generator unit (Unit 2) for
a total nominal capacity of 4,500 kW. The project also
included a new diversion structure on Achilles Creek
and a second penstock connecting water to Unit 2.
The Renewable Energy Fund contributed $1,300,000.
Other state funding through the Denali Commission
provided $8,025,000. Local matching funds contrib-
uted $16,900,000 in various loans and community
contributions. Renewable Energy Fund money went
toward the design and construction of the hydroelec-
tric facility, as did the other funding provided.
1. Due to Ketchikan's increasing load growth, it was
necessary for KPU to act quickly to progress in the
construction and operation of the Whitman Lake proj-
ect. It was anticipated that excess energy available from
SEAPA would be fully subscribed in 2015. Fortunately,
Whitman Lake Hydro was finished in a timely manner
so that residents could continue to be supplied with
reasonably priced power.
2. There were other challenges in addition to time con-
straints; coordinating with and satisfying requirements
of numerous agencies and entities took more time and
money than anticipated. Redesigning portions of the
project became necessary when the engineer's cost
estimate proved to be low, and maintaining delivery
of water (quantity and temperature) to the existing
hatchery during construction was also a challenge. The
Ketchikan Public Utility learned to start early to allow
for the permitting process and to involve a contractor
early to assist in design decisions and cost estimates.
1. One benefit of this project was that the originally es-
timated total costs were $26,225,000. At the end of the
project, however, expenditures totaled $25,327,772.55.
The city was able to save approximately $900,000. This
reduced the amount of money the city had to repay
later and allowed the direct benefits to come into effect
earlier than anticipated.
2. In addition to energy generation, the project pro-
vides water to the Whitman Lake Hatchery, which is
owned and operated by the Southern Southeast Re-
gional Aquaculture Association (SSRAA). The hydro
project replaced and improved the water supply system
for the SSRAA Hatchery, helping it to fulfill its mis-
sion of enhancing salmon fisheries and supporting $46
million dollars in economic output and an estimated
420 jobs in Southeast Alaska.
Unit 1 turbine, photo courtesy ofAEA.
Project Contact Information
Parties Involved:
Jennifer Holstrom, project engineer
Email: jenniferh@city.ketchikan.ak.us
Case Study Author:
Zoe Tressel, AEA
Website: Akenergyauthority.org
Phone: 907-771-3000
Published August, 2015