Solar

Over the last few years, the Alaska Energy Authority (AEA) has funded three utility-scale solar projects and one solar thermal project through the Power Project Fund (PPF) loan program and the Renewable Energy Fund (REF).

Willow Solar Farm — AEA financed Alaska based start-up company, Renewable Independent Power Producers (IPP) LLC, through its PPF loan program to provide the additional capital needed to expand an existing solar farm in Willow, Alaska. The now-1.2 megawatt facility, that began operations in December 2019, has expanded from a 140-kilowatt pilot project making it the largest utility-scale photovoltaic (PV) facility in the state. The facility, which will generate power to sell to Matanuska Electric Association, is expected to produce enough power for 200 homes and offset 2 million pounds of carbon dioxide each year. More information about the project can be found on Renewable IPP’s website here.
Golden Valley Electric Association Solar Farm — The Department of Energy (DOE), the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), and private capital has funded a number of additional projects. For example, the Golden Valley Electric Association (GVEA) with the support of the USDA Rural Energy Project for America Program constructed a 563 kilowatt solar PV system in Fairbanks, which came online in October 2018. The project will produce enough energy to power 71 homes (using an average of 660 kWh per month). More information about the project can be found on GVEA's website here.


 
Eagle and Kaltag Solar Projects — The two REF funded solar PV projects are in the communities of Kaltag and Eagle. The solar thermal project is in McKinley Village. Pictured at left is a 9.6 kw photovoltaic panel system on a connex in Kaltag.