HomeMy WebLinkAboutCity of Pelican - Pelican Hydroelectric Upgrade Project_Aug_2015Pelican, Alaska
Upgrade project improves facility safety & performance
Quick Facts
FERC Project Number: P-10198
Total Project Costs: $5.5 million
Funding: REF, Denali Commission, & Local Funds
Project Specs
Turbine Make/Output: Francis, 650 kW
Static Head: 130 feet
Hydraulic Capacity: 60 cubic feet/second
Annual Energy Generation: 1,000,000 kWh
Diesel Fuel Off set
Actual Annual: 76,000 gallons
2012-2014: 127,000 gallons
Fuel Savings
Estimated Annual: $225,000
Actual Annual: $339,000
2012-2014: $569,000
Benefi t/Cost Ratio: 1.42
Pelican Hydroelectric Upgrade Project
Project Overview
In partnership with the Alaska Energy Authority, the
City of Pelican completed the design and construction
of a 650 kW hydroelectric upgrade project in Peli-
can, Alaska. Th e project involved the renovation and
replacement of ineffi cient and failing equipment at
the existing run-of-river facility. Its completion fully
implemented a six-year energy infrastructure upgrade
project within the community.
Objectives
Th e main objectives of this project were to repair and
upgrade the former hydroelectric system, to provide
long-term reliable service, and to improve system
effi ciency and output. An additional objective was to
reduce maintenance costs by removing the elevated
wood fl ume and other project componenets. Pelican
can now provide the community with electricity using
a renewable resource that displaces costly diesel fuel.
Economic Feasibility
Th e project became operational in March of 2013.
Since then, it has generated 1,713 Megawatt hours of
electricity and 431 MMBtu of thermal energy. Th is
has allowed the city to displace 127,000 gallons of
diesel fuel and has saved them $569,000 in reduced
energy costs. Over its 50-year projected lifespan, the
project has a calculated benefi t/cost ratio of 1.42,
meaning that the project will see a 142 percent return
on investment.
Project Specifi cations & History
Th is project was an upgrade to the 1941 hydro project
that supplied Pelican Cold Storage (a fi sh processing
facility) and the community with power and pota-
ble water. Th e old project was beyond the end of its
useful life and at risk of failure. Th e upgrade project
replaced the water conveyance system at the power
& performance
Former Pelican facility, new Pelican facility. Photo courtesy of AEA.
“This historic hydro project has generated 100 percent of
the community’s water supply and energy.”
plant, built an access road to the dam for construction
and maintenance, and upgraded the control system
and turbine. Th e previous concrete intake structure
was replaced with a new steel pipe and head box and
the open wooden fl ume was replaced with a steel pipe
pressure conduit. Construction crews also replaced the
wood stave penstock with steel pipe and made minor
upgrades to the power plant. Pelican was originally
chosen as the construction site because of the close
proximity of the hanging valley on Pelican Creek to
the coast. A signifi cant drop in elevation at the preci-
pice of any hanging valley is the ideal spot to construct
a dam and water impoundment because it allows for
increased static head and hydraulic capacity.
Allocation of Funding
Th rough the Alaska Energy Authority, the Renewable
Energy Fund (REF) granted $1,896,836 that went
toward design and constrcution. Th e Denali Commis-
sion also supported design and construction through a
$2,254,571.67 grant.
Learning Experiences/Challenges
1. Pelican City is located close to a complicated tec-
tonic junction between the Transition and Fairweather
faults. Consequently, the upgrade had to use designs
that consider strong ground motions (i.e. strongly
attached foundation elements).
2. Hydropower has historically provided the majority
of commercial and residential power needs for the
community of Pelican. Between the years of 2009 and
2013, however, the hydro project was offl ine and all
community power was provided by diesel generation.
Th is tripled the cost of electricity for residents. Diesel
fuel is currently used for space heating and some diesel
power generation throughout the community, but the
construction of the new hydroelectric project allowed
for residents to reduce electric costs by $0.24/kWh.
Community Benefi ts
1. Th e system continues to supply both electrical
power and potable water for the town. During the
construction phase, the local economy developed quite
substantially as a result of local jobs and community
support.
2. Th e renovated facility has reduced operating and
maintenance costs and more than meets the long-term
electric power needs of Pelican. Th rough the Alaska
Renewable Energy project, the community was able
to install a dispatchable electric boiler at the Pelican
School for space and domestic water heating. Th is has
allowed the School District to lower their additional
costs and invest that money in school programs/facili-
ties to better students’ educational experience.
Project Contact Information
Parties Involved:
City of Pelican
Email: cityhall@pelicancity.net
Phone: 907-735-2202
Patricia Phillips, Pelican City Mayor
Email: patricia@pelicancity.org
Phone: 907-735-2202
Case Study Author:
Zoe Tressel, AEA
Website: Akenergyauthority.org
Phone: 907-771-3000
Pelican Hydroelectric Upgrade Project
Pelican City, Photo courtesy of Pelican.net
Barber turbine & Kato generator, photo courtesy of UAF.
“This historic hydroelectric project serves 100 percent of both Pelican’s water and energy supply.”
Published August, 2015