Unlocking the energy transition with solar added to microgrids in 8 remote communities in Alaska

Identifying project opportunities with modeling

Working with Mayfield Renewables and Xendee helped us determine the best scope for the projects and attract DOE funding, said Edward Dellamary, rural energy specialist for the Tanana Chiefs Conference.

“We looked for the best approach for hybrid systems that would unlock the energy transition in these communities,” he said.

Rural communities pose unique challenges. Most are inaccessible by car, but are located along rivers, Dellamary said. Liquid fuel is brought in on large riverboats that carry thousands of gallons of fuel, generally between June and September. And some communities are so remote that they have to fly in fuel, which is the most expensive way to get it. While bulk diesel fuel generally costs about $3 per gallon, the cost if it is flown in ranges from $6 per gallon to $15 per gallon, Dellamary said.

Additionally, pilots may face challenges flying into these communities during the winter, when fuel is needed most. It is difficult to fly safely when the weather is bad, and communities can run out of fuel and be without power for days.

A simple way to explain the benefits of solar and storage

“Alaska Natives are naturally among the most self-reliant people.

“They’ve lived off the land for tens of thousands of years and they understand intrinsically what needs to happen to provide power,” Dellamary said. The feasibility studies, which describe solar and storage technologies and their benefits, have helped educate community members on how to make the transition to cleaner energy.

“The studies are a meaningful and simple way to describe how they can go through this transition. It is helpful to show in a concise way how we can achieve self-reliance,” Dellamary said.

To create the feasibility studies for different options, Mayfield began by gathering information to plug into the Xendee model. In some cases, that involved installing a meter on site and conducting a month-long load study for communities that didn’t have utility information available, Miller said. Mayfield also asked communities how much land was available for solar. “The goal is to determine what the constraints are. It’s a very collaborative process,” he said.

The model allows for different scenarios, he said. This provides information that gives everyone involved “a clear picture of what is possible.”

Mayfield then sends a comprehensive report to clients, which should help decision makers choose how to execute the project.

Taxpayers are burdened by the electricity price

“The report can be used for a grant application for the client. We try to share information that is accessible and understandable and that we can hand over to a client to keep the project moving,” Miller said.

Tanana Chiefs Conference is now seeking funding for design and construction, Dellamary said.

“Taxpayers find themselves in this difficult position and have to pay hundreds of euros per month. It is a difficult situation when a community of 60 people pays three to five times the price for electricity,” he said.

Not only do microgrids save money and improve the environment, but less diesel also means less noise pollution.

Lights on, diesel sound off

When a microgrid in Hughes, Alaska, went all-solar for the first time in 2021, First Chief Wilmer Beatus wondered why his lights were still working, Dellamary previously told Microgrid Knowledge.

Beatus asked this question because he could no longer hear the sound of diesel generators – an important benefit of reducing diesel consumption.