HomeMy WebLinkAboutWind Energy Technologies Status Sheet 04-01-2019-WENERGY TECHNOLOGIES: WIND
$93.6M 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 20 active wind projects funded by the Renewable Energy Fund
(REF) grant program and has closed out an additional 61 projects funded through a
combination of REF and the Denali Commission. Through the REF, the State has invested
approximately $93.6 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), 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 the
Wind Advisory Group Technical Assistance Program was developed and financial support is
being sought. The Wind Project Development program is under development as a subset of
the AEA wind program that will work in conjunction with the TAP to complete feasibility
assessments. Information on this program will be posted on the AEA website.
The AEA Wind Program is supporting a two day technical wind conference to be held June
27‐28th at a location to be determined in Anchorage. The focus will be technical issues and
case studies with the intent to bring wind experts from the lower 48 to include in the
discussions.
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 2019
QUICK FACTS
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CONTACT:
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REDUCING THE COST
OF ENERGY IN ALASKA