Arctic Remote Energy Network Academy (ARENA) Case Study

Alaska Rural Energy Conference - 2018Tyler Kornelis

My Work

• Kodiak Area Native Association

– Economic Development Project Manager

– Localize our economy; reduce economic leakage

• Food Systems: food coop, farmer’s market

• Agriculture projects: hydroponics, village farms

• Fisheries/Processing: village based aspirations

• Mariculture – Seaweed: emerging

• Energy Systems – micro-grid communities

Kodiak Island, Alaska

Background of Kodiak Island, Alaska

• Hub Community: Kodiak

– And six smaller village communities

• 10 Federally Recognized Tribes

• ~ 14,000 people

• Poster Child: Kodiak Electric Association -Kodiak and Port Lions: 99.5% renewable

• Isolated challenges: 5 villages operate independent utilities

And home to approximately 3500 of the world’s largest GRIZZLY BEARS!

Kodiak Electric Association

KEA: a rural electric cooperative which generates and distributes electrical power in Kodiak, Alaska.

Kodiak Electric Association - HydroelectricTerror Lake – Kodiak, Alaska

Kodiak Electric Association - Terror Lake capacity expansion project

Kodiak Electric Association –Pillar Mountain Wind – Kodiak, Alaska

Village Communities – Not Connected to KEA Grid

• Five village communities

• Five small microgrids

• Five sets of challenges

Arctic Remote Energy Network Academy (ARENA)

Arctic Remote Energy Networks Academy (ARENA)

Capacity Building

Knowledge Sharing

Network Building

Focus on: – Establishing sustainable energy solutions for

remote communities in the arctic and other regions of the world.

– Integrating renewable energy generation into microgrid communities

ARENA – Yellowknife, NWT, CanadaMarch 2017

ARENA – Yellowknife, NWT, Canada

Focus areas:

• Wind Theory & Community Wind Projects

• Solar Theory & Community Solar Projects

• Hydropower & Large Scale Diesel Generation

• RETScreen: Energy Systems Software

Colville Lake, NWT

ARENA – AlaskaJune 2017

ARENA – Alaska

Site Visit Highlights:

• Fairbanks: – Wind-Diesel Workshop

– Chena Hot Springs: Geothermal

– ACEP: Power Systems Integration Lab

– HOMER PRO: Energy Systems Software

• Kotzebue & Nome– Kotzebue Electric Association

– Pilgrim Hot Springs

ARENA participants tour the Power Systems Integration Lab on UAF Campus – with Dr. Mark Mueller-Stoffels (and David Light –

background)

ARENA - Iceland November 2017

Iceland

• Geothermal & Hydro as their source of energy

– Policy shifts and focus on diversifying and localizing as main takeaway

• Intentional decision to move away from fossil fuel dependence

• Decided what they wanted to be

– Same opportunity we have in Alaska

ARENA - A One of a Kind Program

• Intensive: Information, learning, schedule

• Diverse: participants, hosts, gov’ts, NGOs

• Access: mentors, locations, experts, utilities

• Hospitality: community feasts, Trail Breaker Kennels, Calypso Farm, Foreign Minister hosted dinner in Reyjkavik

• Effort: George, Gwen, Rob, Ludvik, Amanda, Marcia, and many more

Increase my Personal Capacity

– Me Before ARENA: Not a technical expert

– Me After ARENA: Not a technical expert

– But…..

– I can ask better questions

– Ability to identify realistic opportunities amongst the dogs and pipe dreams

– Better catalyst in economic development

– Support my region better

Kodiak Regional Energy Coordinator: Return on ARENA’s Investment

1) Starting Year 2 of 3 year project: funded to Sept 2019 -DOE funded project at SWAMC

2) Develop framework and method for sustainability

• Strategic Energy Planning and Follow-through: move projects from planning to implementation

• Leverage other funding sources for increased impact: DOE, USDA, Regional/Village Corps, etc

3) Localize Kodiak’s Economy: support my 5 microgrid communities

Kodiak Electric Association

Kodiak Electric Association