AVEC Challenges and Successes USAEE / IAEE Conference Anchorage, Alaska July 28, 2013 Steve Gilbert, Manager, Energy Projects Development Alaska Village Electric Cooperative
Feb 24, 2016
AVEC Challenges and Successes
USAEE / IAEE ConferenceAnchorage, Alaska
July 28, 2013Steve Gilbert, Manager, Energy Projects Development
Alaska Village Electric Cooperative
AVEC IS A NON-PROFIT MEMBER-OWNED
COOPERATIVEFormed in 1968 55 villages7 member Board23,000
PopulationVillages range in
sizeAnvik – 86
peopleHooper Bay –
1,124 people
SYSTEM INFORMATION80 Anchorage-
based Employees
7,800 services48 power plants
165 + diesel generators
95 Village technicians
530 + fuel tanksOver 5 million
gallons of diesel per year
11 wind systems serving 15 villages34 wind turbinesGambell Cousins
AVEC BOARD 2018 GOALSLower diesel use 25%
1,250,000 gallons 77% of our fuel is used in Wind Class 4+ villages Wind is 6% of generation capacity
Reduce power plants by 50% Interconnect another 24 villages
Reduce non-fuel costs by 10% Plant costs, depreciation, interest…
CHALLENGES AND SUCCESSES
DistanceFuelPermafrostLack of infrastructure
AVEC’s power plants are far apart
AVEC’S DELIVERED FUEL COST
• Average 2002 1.29• Average 2003 1.47 • Average 2004 1.98 • Average 2005 2.26 • Average 2006 2.26• Average 2007 2.93 • Average 2008 4.55 • Average 2009 3.02• Average 2010 3.30• Average 2011 4.27• Average 2012 4.02Increase 2002 - 2012 $2.73 +312%
Active layer is softContributes to poor soils conditions
Presents challenging environmental conditions
PERMAFROST
LACK OF INFRASTRUCTUREComplex logisticsWeather impactsAdds to cost
Hauling equipment between villages
And here’s the power pole!
CHALLENGES AND SUCCESSES
Non fuel generation – windInterconnection of villagesTrainingNeed for an economic base
Benefits of wind generation coupled with new diesel engines
Kasigluk
• Many of AVEC’s 55
villages are in class 4+ wind regimes
• A high-efficiency diesel generator yields 14 – 15 kWh/gallon
• A 100-kW turbine could produce 220,000 kWh/yr = 16,000 gallons displaced
• Four units (a wind plot) = 64,000 gallons displaced
INTERCONNECTING VILLAGES
REDUCE THE NUMBER OF POWER PLANTSLARGER LOADS MAKE RENEWABLES LIKE WIND
FEASIBLE Existing Interties
Kasigluk-Nunapitchuk St. Mary’s-Andreafsky Upper Kalskag-Lower Kalskag St. Mary’s-Pitka’s Point Shungnak-Kobuk Toksook Bay-Tununak Toksook Bay-Nightmute Emmonak - Alakanuk
TRAININGSome training has been accomplished however lack of jobs is a hindrance to people using new skills.
ECONOMIC BASE
Called the All Alaska Grid, is a concept to generate electricity with north slope or Cook Inlet natural gas and move it via a high voltage DC transmission line. The technology is in use around the world. Using otherwise stranded natural gas could lower electricity costs, spur economic activity and jobs in Alaska’s interior by opening mining prospects that are not economically viable when transporting diesel fuel is necessary.
http://allalaskaenergyproject.com/
WHAT IS AVEC DOING?
Collecting wind data Completing new diesel power plants Capturing recovered heat where
feasible Building Interties Welcoming new villages
Teller (2005), Kotlik (2007), Ekwok (2011) Kobuk (2012)
Alaska Village Electric Cooperative
Thank You
Wales, Alaska