1. RELIABLE, & AFFORDABLE ENERGY SOLUTIONS
Hydropower in Alaska
SAFE,
RELIABLE, & AFFORDABLE ENERGY SOLUTIONS
Bryan Carey, P.E.
Hydro Group Manager
Alaska Energy Authority
BIA Providers Conference
November 28, 2018
REDUCING THE COST OF ENERGY IN ALASKA

2. AEA’s mission is to reduce the cost of energy in Alaska
SAFE,
RELIABLE, & AFFORDABLE ENERGY SOLUTIONS
AEA’s mission is to reduce the cost of energy in Alaska
AEA is charged with a mammoth task: to help Alaska communities develop, finance, operate and maintain energy infrastructure for improved safety, reliability and affordability of consumer energy (so called to differentiated electricity and heat from the state’s extractive energy sector)
Our mission is to reduce the cost of energy in Alaska. Our work includes programs and initiatives that identify and implement energy solutions that meet the discrete needs of Alaska’s many communities. We are the state of Alaska’s energy policy and planning lead, and we are a funding conduit for both state and federal dollars. We provide soup to nuts technical assistance, helping communities and utilities select, design, construct, pay for, and operate projects over the long term for maximum economic life of energy infrastructure.
AEA is an energy solutions center for Alaska, working every day with the people and communities around the state making up this “living laboratory” to overcome challenges and capitalize on opportunities.

3. Hydropower is the original solar energy capture
What Nature Gives Us
Hydropower is the original solar energy capture
The sun provides the energy for evaporation of water and for the air pressure differences which push water vapor.
Water vapor condenses at higher elevations and runs back to the sea.
The energy provided by the water at higher elevations can be converted to hydro power.
The wind also produces waves and currents which can also be captured to produce hydro energy.
The sun and moon also create tidal elevation differences in the sea which can be captured to produce energy.

5. Hydropower In Alaska
Hydropower produces 20%-24% of Alaska annual electric
Existing facilities tend to be in areas of high precipitation and greater topography.

6. How Hydropower is Captured
Elevation differences (head) creates head pressure and water motion
Turbines are used to convert water flow into electrical energy
Power is proportional to head multiplied by discharge.
Discharge characterizes the size of the hydro plant
Discharge is proportional to Head^.5
Consequently, Power is proportional to Head^1.5
Head characterizes the type of plant.

7. How Hydropower is Captured
Elevation differences creates head pressure and water motion
Created by natural geography
Hydroelectric power potential energy is dependent on elevation differences.
This difference in potential energy drives water flow.
The energy of the flowing water can be captured to produce energy.

8. Factors affecting the utilization of a hydroelectric resource
Water supply
Topography
Geology
Winter & ice conditions
Regulations & land use
Supporting infrastructure
Power demand & cost of alternatives
Funding, planning, & project management
Environment
Intake for hydropower project at Tazimina near Nondalton

9. Types of Hydropower In Alaska
Conventional
Lake storage
Run of River
Hydrokinetics
River
Tidal
Wave

10. Lake Storage Hydropower In Alaska
Very useful to utilities. Lake is a giant battery that can be used to produce power when needed. Little in downtime as the generators may be operated at near 100%.

11. Run of River Hydropower In Alaska
Atka
Falls Creek, Gustavus,
More possible sites. Down side is power depends on flows and can be variable depending on rain or snow melt. Many Alaskan rivers have 10:1 ration of summer to winter flows so power production is lowest during the time of highest demand.

12. River Hydrokinetic Projects
Multiple pilot projects
Issues with debris, ice, seasonality
Eagle, Nenana, Ruby, Igiugig

13. Tidal/Wave Hydrokinetic Projects
Studied but not deployed in Alaska
Alaska has 50% of wave energy in U.S.

14. Potential Hydropower Sites in Alaska
Department of Energy’s (DOE) coordinated with Alaska Energy Authority (AEA) on a study on hydropower new stream-reach development (NSD) opportunities in Alaska to assess Alaska’s undeveloped hydropower.
The DOE/AEA database contains:
villages
potential sites
estimated flow
capacity
Generation
The database is a starting point in that each site has site specific costs, environmental and land restrictions, and energy timing issues.
As a part of the Department of Energy’s (DOE) 2014 study on hydropower new stream-reach development (NSD) opportunities in the U.S., Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) coordinated with the Alaskan Energy Authority (AEA) and the United States Army Corps of Engineers to assess Alaska’s undeveloped hydropower potential at sites where no dams currently exist. This study identified 437 feasible sites with a combined capacity of 4,723 MW. In 2016, ORNL met with the U.S. Department of Energy-Alaska Office to discuss hydropower development opportunities to support Alaska Native tribal communities.
Once infrastructure constructed in an area more sites become possible to develop (lower costs).

15. Assistance to Possible and Current Dam Owners
Alaska Energy Authority
Have data on many potential sites
Knowledge of issues other owners have
Potential funding
American Dams

16. ALASKA ENERGY AUTHORITY
SAFE,
RELIABLE, & AFFORDABLE ENERGY SOLUTIONS
ALASKA ENERGY AUTHORITY
813 West Northern Lights Blvd. Anchorage, Alaska Phone: (907)     Fax: (907) Toll Free