HomeMy WebLinkAboutHydroelectric Fact Sheet 04-01-2019-HENERGY 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 through the
Renewable Energy Fund (REF) grant program 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. Recently, AEA was able to assist a project owner in finding
a document that saves the owner significant time & money.
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‐
scale hydroelectric projects in Alaska. The majority of Alaska’s existing hydro projects 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).
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 2019
QUICK FACTS
FOR MORE INFO
CONTACT:
INFO@
AKENERGYAUTHORITY.ORG
907.771.3000
WWW.AKENERGYAUTHORITY.ORG
REDUCING THE COST
OF ENERGY IN ALASKA