Wind-Diesel Hybrid Options for Remote Villages in Alaska

摘要

Nearly 200 villages in Alaska lie beyond the reach ofrnpower lines and roadways. These communities receiverntheir electricity from local diesel power plants andrnreceive their fuel and supplies by barge or airplane. Therndelivery of diesel fuel to these remote villages is costlyrnand subject to favorable environmental conditions. Thernuse of diesel power plants also has environmental costs,rnincluding the risk of spills during transport or storage ofrnthe fuel and the emission of greenhouse gases, carbonrndioxide, and particulates.rnTo address these issues, Alaska energy representativesrnare looking to renewable energy technologies to reducernthe costs of power production in rural areas, therndependence on imported fuels, and exposure to fuel pricernfluctuations. One option under strong consideration isrnthe use of renewable energy technologies. The NationalrnRenewable Energy Lab (NREL), in collaboration withrnthe Alaska Village Electric Cooperative (AVEC) and thernAlaska Energy Authority (AEA), is undergoing anrnanalysis of village electric usage patterns, wind energyrnresource potential, and wind-diesel hybrid power optionsrnfor remote communities in Alaska. This report describesrnthe methods utilized and results completed to date asrnwell as areas for further investigation.