HomeMy WebLinkAbout2024.08.01.05 Beluga to Healy Overhead HVDC Pitch Sheet (Final)BELUGA TO HEALY
OVERHEAD HVDC
Enhancing Railbelt Reliability and Resilience
Status: AEA and Railbelt Utilities
were encouraged to apply for
DOE’s second round GRIP program.
(Notice of selection in August 2024)
Capacity: 230kV
Length: 250 miles
Right of Way: Adjacent to the
existing AKLNG Right of Way
Construction: 6-8 years
Cost: $730 Million
PROJECT SUMMARY
The Railbelt Innovative Resiliency (RIR) Project, Phase 2 is a crucial initiative to build
a clean, smart, and affordable grid in Alaska. This project consists of constructing
a 250-mile high-voltage direct current (HVDC) overhead transmission line from
Beluga (west of Cook Inlet) to Healy. Coupled with the RIR Phase 1 project (Subsea
cable from the Kenai Peninsula to Beluga) this will provide a redundant connection
between the Bradley Lake Dam and Fairbanks. The Beluga to Healy overhead line
will allow northern region customers on the Railbelt to experience the benefits of
expanded renewable energy in southcentral Alaska and the southern region to
receive power from renewable resources from the northern region. This HVDC line
will add critical resilience and redundancy to the Railbelt. Currently, there is only one
transmission line, the Alaska Intertie, which transmits power north and south along
the Railbelt. The Alaska Intertie is capacity-limited. This HVDC line will provide an
alternate route if the Alaska Intertie energy is interrupted by maintenance or failure.
(Continued on back)
Benefits Opportunities
Increased resilience and
redundancy of the Alaska Intertie
Additional conduit for power to
transmit between regions
Reduced line losses
Allow additional energy to be
delivered to consumers
Increased capacity to bring on
utility-scale renewable projects
Development of renewable
resources in an area of the state
that were previously uneconomical
due to lack of proximity to
transmission
PROJECT OVERVIEW
DRAFT
August 1, 2024
FUNDING PLAN ($MILLIONS)
FISCAL YEAR POTENTIAL
FEDERAL SHARE SOURCE TBD
2025 9.50 9.50
2026 34.50 34.50
2027 36.50 36.50
2028 74.50 74.50
2029 82.00 82.00
2030 102.00 102.00
2031 26.00 26.00
Subtotals 365.00 365.00
Total 730.00
Total Project Cost: $730 million
Secured Funding Sources: None
Potential Sources of Funding: DOE grant for up to 50 percent of the project
cost; potential match: Railbelt utilities, revenue bonds, unknown sources
AEA plans on submitting grant application to DOE GRIP 3 Round 2 for
$365 million federal share that would require a $365 million match
Please note expenditure estimates are preliminary and subject to change.
813 W Northern Lights Blvd.
Anchorage, AK 99503
www.akenergyauthority.org
info@akenergyauthority.org
T: (907) 771-3000
F: (907) 771-3000
PROJECT OVERVIEW (CONT)
2025-2026
Initial Design,
Permitting
2026-2027
Engineering,
NEPA Process
2027-2031
Construction
SCHEDULE
PROJECT STATUS
In January 2024, AEA and the Railbelt Utilities submitted a concept paper to
the Department of Energy (DOE) for the project. In late February, we were
encouraged to submit a full application. Anticipated notification in third quarter
of 2024.
The Beluga to Healy Overhead HVDC line is proposed to run along the Alaska
Gasline Right of Way, west of the current Alaska Intertie. One of the primary
objectives of the RIR is to address various challenges facing the Railbelt grid,
which serves 75 percent of Alaska’s population. These challenges include
decreasing system frequency regulation, slowing frequency response to
disturbances, and increasing natural frequency oscillations. To overcome these
challenges, the project emphasizes the need for BESS and new transmission
lines between the northern, central and southern regions of the Railbelt.