HomeMy WebLinkAboutCity of Atka - Chuniixsax Creek Hydro - REF Grant 2195376 2015Atka, Alaska
Hydro project displaces 80% of diesel electric fuel in first
Quick Facts
Total Project Costs: $5,000,000
Funding: Renewable Energy Fund, Denali Com-
mission funding, & local matching funds
Capital Costs
Design: $600,000
Construction: $4,400,000
Projects Specs
Gen. Set Make/Model: Ossberger Cross Flow
Output: 284 kW
Hydraulic Capacity: 37 cubic feet per second (cfs)
Reservoir Storage Volume: 73.8 acre feet
Static Head: 118feet
Annual Energy Generation: 1,757,412 Kwh
Diesel Fuel Offset
Estimated Annual: 27,280 gallons
Actual Annual: 23,000 gallons
Fuel Savings
Estimated Annual: $150,000
Actual Annual: $121,000
2012-2014: $284,000
Chuniixsax Creek Hydroelectric Project
Project Overview
In partnership with the Alaska Energy Authority
(AEA), the City of Atka completed the final design,
permitting, and construction of a hydroelectric dam
on Chuniixsax Creek. New transmission lines from
the powerhouse to the city were constructed in ad-
dition to new diesel plant controls and interface. The
powerhouse now provides up to 284 kW of renewable
energy to the community. It is able to meet residential
and public facility needs and also supplies a portion
of energy needed by Atka Pride Seafoods during the
summer months.
Objectives
The main objectives of this project were to reduce
electrical costs to the City of Atka by using a renew-
able resource and to reduce residents’ dependency on
expensive and volatile diesel fuel.
Project Performance
The project became operational in December of 2012.
Between December of 2012 and December of 2014,
it generated 1,040 MWh of electricity and displaced
75,000 gallons of diesel fuel. This displacement saved
the community of Atka $388,000 in reduced energy
costs in two years.
Project Specifications
The diesel powerhouse is located in the center of
town and contains 3 diesel generators that remain
as a backup power source if the load from the dam
is insufficient. The construction of the 12.5 feet high
concrete dam, 952 feet of HDPE, and 50 feet of steel
penstock were undertaken by the City of Atka acting
as the prime contractor. Local labor was supplement-
ed by imported personnel possessing special skills
in construction. The Atka Electric Utility runs the
powerhouse and does daily maintenance and inspec-
Chuniixsax Creek powerhouse, photo courtesy of Michael Dahl.
tion on plant output and performance. The project
utilizes a peak flow of 18 cubic feet per second (cfs)
and displaced 80% of the community’s electrical needs
in the first year.
Allocation of Funding
The Renewable Energy Fund contributed $996,000 and
local funds contributed $2,013,299. REF money went
toward design and construction, and local funds went
toward design, construction, and overhead costs like
maintenance and interest. Other sources of funding in-
cluded the Denali Commission, USDOE Rural Utility
Services, Aleutian/Pribilof Islands Community Devel-
opment Association, and several other institutions.
Learning Experiences/Challenges
A few challenges the project encountered included
extreme weather conditions, logistics, and competition
for use of available equipment. Construction began in
2004, but due to a lack of funding early on, the proj-
ect was put to a halt and was restarted again in 2008
when the city acquired additional funding. During
construction, delays in getting personnel and materi-
als made construction time exceed what was planned
as well. Ash overburden and the wet environment in
Atka required erosion protection in most work areas
that disturbed the vegetative mat. Disturbed areas were
later re-seeded with native grass species.
Community Benefits
This project was feasible for the City of Atka largely
because they were finally able to cut electricity costs
by displacing expensive diesel fuel. Atka current-
ly pays about $7.50 per gallon for heating fuel, and
each household uses about 100 gallons per month.
This equates to $750/month, and they have to pay for
electricity on top of that. Electricity from the commu-
nity’s diesel generators costs 76 cents a kilowatt hour,
compared to 27 cents a kilowatt hour for hydroelectric
power. For a facility like the school, which uses up to
4,000 kilowatt hours a month, that’s more than $1,000
a month in savings. These school savings go to en-
hance school programs and classrooms so students can
continue to learn in a thriving environment.
The plant started supplying power to Atka’s 59 res-
idents on December 23, 2012. In the summertime,
it also generates some of the power for Atka Pride
Seafoods, a seasonal fish processing plant. Saving mon-
ey for community members and local industries has
grown the local economy and encouraged people to
continue residing in Atka.
Project Contact Information
Owner:
City of Atka,
P.O Box 47070, Atka AK 99547
Engineers: PolarConsult Alaska, 907-258-2420
Marsh Creek LLC, 907-258-0050
City contact:
Julie Dirks, City Administrator
Email: dirksjuliea@gmail.com
Case Study Author:
Zoe Tressel, Alaska Energy Authority
Website: Akenergyauthority.org
Phone: 907-771-3000
Chuniixsax Creek Hydroelectric Project
Completed hydroelectric dam, photo courtesy of AEA.
Hydro project construction, photo courtesy of AEA.Published August, 2015