HomeMy WebLinkAboutAlaska Village Electric Cooperative - Kaltag Solar Construction - Dec 2015 - REF Grant 7040049Solar Energy in Alaska
Photo by: Cassandra Cerny, GVEA
David Lockard, Solar Program Manager
Alaska Energy Authority
BIA Providers Conference December 2, 2015
Alaska Energy Authority: Mission
“To Reduce the Cost of Energy in Alaska”
AEA is an independent and public corporation of the State of Alaska
Created by the Alaska Legislature in 1976
44.83.070: “ The purpose of the Authority is to promote, develop, and advance
the general prosperity and economic welfare of the people of the state by
providing a means of financing and operating power projects and facilities that
recover and use waste energy and by carrying out the powers and duties
assigned to it under AS 42.45.”
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Presentation Outline
AEA -funded Solar Energy Case Studies
Denali Education Center Solar Thermal Project
Kaltag Solar PV Project
Eagle Solar PV Project
Solar Codes and Standards
Utility Interconnection Issues for Distributed Generation
Power Cost Equalization (PCE) Implications of Solar PV
Things to consider
Opportunities for Solar in Alaska
Denali Educ. Center
Solar Thermal Project
Developed by Golden Valley Electric Association with REF grant funding
Installed in Aug. 2009
Funded as a demonstration project
Open May-Sept only
Previously had electric water heating
30’ x 50’ array
3k gal. water tank
$210,879 cost
$7,000 annual savings
30 year simple payback
Kaltag AVEC Solar
PV Project
•Deveoped by AK Village Electric
Coop with REF grant funds
•80kW average load
•9.6 kW solar system built in 2012
for $100k
•Container used for transport and
for mounting structure
•Inverter replaced at startup under
warranty, otherwise operating as
planned
•Solar system is small enough to act
as a negative load, so no
integration issues
•FY14 solar production was 7,937
kWh
•Saved $2,070 in fuel costs in FY14
•50 year simple payback
Eagle Solar
PV Project
Developed by AP&T with REF grant funds
Installed in July 2015
Initial PV capacity of 39kW reduced to 24kW of PV due to integration concerns
80kW average load
$260k cost
$7.5k annual savings
35 year simple payback
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AK Solar Codes and Standards
(Not comprehensive)
UL 1741/IEEE 1547: Grid disconnection from inverter if the AC line
voltage or frequency goes above or below prescribed limits.
AS 34.15.140: Sec. 34.15.145. Solar easement.
Fire Marshal Plan Review: required for solar PV installations on non-
residential buildings
2011 National Electrical Code
2012 National Electrical Safety Code
Solar thermal systems: the AK Fire Marshal has adopted the 2009
Uniform Solar Energy Code
The AK Fire Marshal is in the process of adopting new regulations!
Utility Interconnection Issues
Critically important! Get a written agreement with the electric
utility that addresses:
rates
net metering
safety - disconnects, placarding, firefighter training
Any required upgrades to meters, the service entrance, transformers,
phase extensions, or other utility electrical equipment
Note: The RCA has a net metering policy that applies to only some of
Alaska utilities. AVEC has its own policy, which may be useful as an
example.
Power Cost Equalization Implications
PCE kWh are 29% of total kWh sold in PCE communities
Residential and community buildings are eligible
Utility solar PV projects that reduce power generation costs may reduce
PCE reimbursement rates
Solar PV systems installed on PCE-eligible residences or community
buildings may primarily benefit the PCE program
Distributed generation solar PV systems reduce the number of utility
kWh’s sold, so increase the utility’s non-fuel cost per kWh. This may
adversely impact other utility customers in the community.
Things to Consider
Shading
Solar Pathfinder, Suneye, etc.
Consider growth rate and land ownership of vegetation
Panel degradation rates (first year = 1%+, 0.5-0.8%/year)
Inverter replacement at 12-15 years
If roof-mounted, roof repairs or replacement during the 20-30 year life of the solar project
Tilt angle can be adjusted seasonally to improve performance
Tracking systems may be less economic than purchasing additional panels in most Alaska applications
Opportunities for Solar Energy in Alaska
Grant -funded projects
Ecotourism
Marketing
Aesthetics
quiet compared to a generator
Environmental benefits (should be compared to alternatives)
AKEnergyAuthority.org
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