HomeMy WebLinkAboutTerror Lake Unit 3 Hydroelectric Project Factsheet - Aug 2015 - REF Grant 7040013�_�A�S A Kodiak, Alaska
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Third turbine increases renewable energy to 99.7 percent
Over a period of several years and three grant applica-
tions, the Kodiak Electric Association (KEA) part-
nered with the Alaska Energy Authority to complete
the feasibility, design, and construction of a third
turbine in their existing hydroelectric plant. This third
turbine is capable of producing an additional 11.25
megawatts for the facility, bringing capacity to 31 MW.
The main objectives of this project were to expand the
capacity of Terror Lake Hydroelectric facility and to
reduce KENs dependence on diesel fuel by providing
additional hydropower to cover peak loads and outage
backup for the other two hydro turbine generator
units.
The third turbine became operational in January of
2014. Since then, it has generated 12,406 Megawatt
hours of electricity and displaced 827,000 gallons
of diesel fuel. This displacement has saved KEA
$3,680,000. Over its 50-year projected lifespan, the
project has a calculated benefit/cost ratio of 2.21,
meaning that the project will see a 221 percent return
on investment.
Terror Lake is KE.Ks primary generation source and
is located approximately 25 miles southwest of Ko-
diak within the Kodiak National Wildlife Refuge. It
provides power to both Kodiak and Point Lions. The
original engineers of the Teror Lake facility had the
foresight to design the facility for expansion to three
turbines. The design assumed that one day additional
capacity would be required. The third phase of the
project involved the construction and installation
of the third hydropower turbine -generator unit in
Quick Facts
FERC Project Number: P-2743
Total Project Costs: $18,336,969
Funding: REF, Local, State, & Federal Funds
Capital Costs
Development: $959,903
Construction: $17,377,066
Project Specifications:
Unit 3 Make/Model: Vertical Axis 6-Jet Pelton
Output: 11.25 MW
Hydraulic Capacity: 136 cubic feet per second (cfs)
Static Head: 1,136 feet
Reservoir Storage Volume: 118,000 acre feet
Annual Energy Generated: 130,000,000 kWh
Annual Facility Fuel Savings: 9,000,000 gallons
Facility Capacity: 34.5 MW
Diesel Fuel Offset (Unit 3)
Estimated Annual: 827,076 gallons
Actual Annual: 827,000 gallons
Fuel Savings (Unit 3)
Estimated Annual: $2,858,374.66
Actual Annual: $3,680,000
Unit 3 6-Jet Pelton, photo courtesy ofNaes.com.
"By generating additional hydropower capacity, this project also allows for increased wind generation in Kodiak"
an empty bay in the Kodiak Island Powerhouse. The
static head, or distance in elevation from the dam to
the powerhouse, is 1,136 feet. The higher the static
head, the more power produced. The dam itself is 193
feet high and 2,400 feet long. An attached 3,100-foot
penstock connects the 5-mile power tunnel to the
powerhouse. An 18.6 mile transmission line connects
the switchyard near the powerhouse to the substation
in Kodiak.
The Alaska Energy Authority's (AEA) Renewable
Energy Fund contributed $4,224,418 for the feasibility,
design, and construction of the project. A loan provid-
ed by the Clean Renewable Energy Bond contributed
$10,532,183 for feasibility, design and construction as
well. Other state funding provided $3,580,368.
1. The facility was expected to be installed and placed
into service by November of 2013. Due to construc-
tion taking slightly longer than anticipated, the project
did not become operational until January of 2014.
The station is located about 25 miles from the city of
Kodiak and is accesible only by air or boat so barging
and flying in of materials had to be managed extremely
efficiently to complete the project in a timely manner.
1. This project has helped KEA realize their goal of a
95% renewable energy future. With the hydro project
and Pillar Mountain wind project, KEA is producing
energy with 99.7 percent renewables. The generation
cost of electricity with the hydro project is 14 cents/
kWh instead of 28.9 cents/kWh with diesel fuel. In
2014, the Alaska Energy Authority and KEA received
the State Leadership In Clean Energy award in recog-
nition of the Pillar Mountain and Terror Lake facilities
that adopt clean energy technologies and strengthen
clean energy markets. KEA's electric rates are one of
the lowest of any electric cooperatives in Alaska.
2. Thanks to the installation of the third turbine -gen-
erator unit, KEA is now able to support the increased
electric load in the community and stably integrate
additional renewable energy sources onto its isolated
grid. It has also allowed for new economic develop-
ment in Kodiak. Seafood companies are choosing
Kodiak as their regional processing hub partly because
the electricity required to process and freeze seafood
products is affordable and stably -priced. The US Coast
Guard Base is able to meet their federal facility re-
newable energy requirements with KEA's allocation of
Renewable Energy Credits. The city is also installing
a bigger, faster, more energy -efficient electric crane at
the local shipping port. All of these benefits stabilize
and grow the City of Kodiak while supporting eco-
nomic growth around the state.
Project Contact Information
Owner: Kodiak Electric Association (KEA)
Phone: 907-486-7700
Engineer: Hatch Associates
Phone: 907-561-2800
Contractor: NAES Power Contractors
Phone: 1-724-453-2800
KEA contact: Alice Job, KEA
Email: ajob@kodiak.coop
Case Study Author:
Zoe Tressel, AEA
Website: Akenergyauthority.org
Phone: 907-771-3000
Terror Lake hydro facility, photo courtesy ofAEA.
Published August, 2015