HomeMy WebLinkAboutEnergyTechnologies Wind Projects Project Fact Sheet 04-2018-WALASKA ENERGY AUTHORITY
WWW.AKENERGYAUTHORITY.ORG
REDUCING THE COST
OF ENERGY IN ALASKA
FOR MORE INFO
CONTACT:
JOSH CRAFT
PROGRAM MANAGER
JCRAFT@AIDEA.ORG
907.771.30
QUICK FACTS
ENERGY TECHNOLOGIES: WIND
$91.5M State
investment in
wind projects
$76M and
growing;
economic
value of offset
diesel
28,000,000+
gallons diesel
equivalent
offset
CURRENT STATUS
AEA currently manages 34 active wind projects funded by the Renewable Energy Grant
Fund (REF) and has closed out an additional 47 projects funded through a combination of
REF and the Denali Commission. Through the REF, the State has invested approximately
$91.5 million in wind projects since 2008, which is approximately 35 percent of the total
REF funding.
AEA, through a contract with the Renewable Energy Alaska Project (REAP) that was recently
extended, facilitates the Alaska Wind Working Group (AKWWG) and the Wind Advisory
Group (WAG). The WAG advises the AEA Wind Program on all matters regarding the wind
industry, including but not limited to policies, priorities, and technical issues.
Optimizing existing wind systems has been identified by the AKWWG and WAG as a top
priority. The AEA Wind Program has completed an initial review of existing systems to
determine how well they are performing. This was a necessary first step before a deeper
dive into the data can be conducted to determine if a project needs optimization and how
best to do so.
Another priority identified by the AKWWG and WAG is the need for a collaborative effort
to provide feasibility and technical assistance support to entities wishing to start a wind
project or to those with projects already underway or constructed. Towards this end, a
Technical Assistance Program is under construction that would be housed within the WAG.
The proposed program will be presented to the AKWWG in November. The WAG will work
to identify funding for this program in the coming months.
PROGRAM OVERVIEW
Alaska has abundant wind resources available for energy development. Volatile-priced
fossil fuel generation and improvements in wind power technology make this clean,
renewable energy resource attractive to many communities. Alaska is a leader in designing,
planning, constructing and operating integrated wind energy systems in small microgrid
systems. AEA works to identify economic wind resources for potential development,
support research and development efforts for rural and Arctic wind applications, establish
best practices and educate consumers to the benefit of utilities and ratepayers to offset
electrical and heating needs.
APRIL 2018