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2008 International Wind-Diesel Workshop

Here you will find information about the 2008 International Wind-Diesel Workshop held April 23-27, 2008 in Girdwood, Alaska. Some of the following documents are available as Adobe Acrobat PDFs. Download Adobe Reader.

About the Wind-Diesel Workshop
Pre-Workshop
Wind-Diesel Workshop
Project Field Trips
Sponsors

About the Wind-Diesel Workshop

The 2008 International Wind-Diesel Workshop was hosted by the U.S. Department of Energy, the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, the Alaska Energy Authority, and the Renewable Energy Alaska Project. It had been almost four years since the last Wind-Diesel Workshop and the technology had expanded in nature and application. New systems had been installed from Alaska to the Galapagos Islands and several older sites had seen large expansions. The rising cost of diesel fuel and the maturing of the wind industry continued to spur the market forward, with projects being planned or implemented from Mongolia to Antarctica. As with all of the workshops in pervious years, this one focused on what has worked, and what has not, bringing the wind-diesel community together to share and discuss the current status of the technology and where we feel it should be going.

Pre-Workshop

This 4-hour course covered the basics of wind-diesel power systems, including power systems technology and some examples of current hybrid power systems. This introductory level, short course was targeted to those who have little or no experience in wind-diesel power systems. The session provided people new to wind-diesel applications with the understanding that enable them to take an active role in the Wind-Diesel Workshop. The opening reception was sponsored by Distributed Energy Systems.

Wind-Diesel Workshop

Here is the agenda from the 2008 International Wind-Diesel Workshop held April 24-25, 2008.

The 2008 Wind-Diesel Workshop presented the latest information in operating experience, design concepts, system components, related research and development, discussion of emerging markets, and description of institutional issues and perspectives based on the experiences of operating systems in Alaska and around the world. There was also a series of panel sessions on addressing the barriers to the further development of wind-diesel applications.

Workshop Welcome and Introductions

Chair - Chris Rose (REAP)

5 Minute opening statements with a round the room introduction.

Steve Haagenson (Alaska Energy Authority)
Larry Flowers (National Renewable Energy Laboratory)
Scott Harper (Wind Energy Institute of Canada)
Per Lundsager (Darup Associates ApS) - International Wind/Diesel pioneer
Brad Reeve (KEA) - Alaska Wind / Diesel pioneer
Brent Petrie (AVEC) - Alaska Wind / Diesel pioneer and current driving force in technology implantation

Operational Experiences

Chair - Martina Dabo (AEA)

Review of experiences of existing wind/diesel applications throughout the world. The session focuses on plant operational experience, including candid discussions describing problems that have been experienced and the benefits of incorporating wind technologies. This forum allows a discussion of real plant operation by the people who do that operation. (15 minute presentations followed by discussions and questions)

Brent Petrie (AVRC) - Operational Experiences on AVRC Wind/Diesel Applications (Attendance Confirmed - Session Not)
Brad Reeve (KEA) - Kotzebue, Alaska Current and Planned eEpansion (Confirmed)
Bill Thompson(AVEC) - System Stability and Surplus Energy Management in Operating Wind Diesel Systems Without Storage. (Confirmed)
Brett Pingree (Distributed Energy Systems) - Pulau perhentian Island, Malaysia (Confirmed)
Dusty Murdock. (BP/Powercorp) - Coral Bay Wind/Diesel Power System, Australia (Confirmed)
Dusty Murdock. (BP/Powercorp) - Graciosa Island and Flores Island, Azores, Portugal (Confirmed)

Company Technology Reports

Chair - James Jensen (AEA)

Reports on the current status of wind, diesel, and hybrid systems technology by industry leaders including discussions of technology innovations and/or new product offerings. This session is provided to allow companies to discuss current and future plans and activities. (12 minute presentations followed by discussions and questions)

Brett Pingree (Distributed Energy Systems) - Northwind 100 (Confirmed)
Erin McLarnon (PowerCorp Alaska) - PowerCorp Pty Ltd Experiences & Projects in Alaska
Dusty Murdock. (BP/PowerCorp) - PowerCorp Pty Ltd, PB New Zealand Ltd and Flywheels for Wind-Diesel (Confirmed)
Brian Beck (VRB Batteries)- VRB Batteries (Confirmed)
Larry Adams - Spirae Inc - Advanced Cell Architecture for Managing Electric Power Systems with High Penetration of Distributed
Charles Newcomb (Entegrity Wind Systems) - Development, Installation, and Maintenance Challenges and How We Address Them (Confirmed)

Company Technology Reports - Continued

Steve Drouihet (Sustainable Automation) - Web-based Remote Monitoring and Control of Geographically Dispersed Power Systems (Confirmed)
Peter Lilienthal - Recent Advances in the HOMER Software (Confirmed)
Niklas W�gar ( (Wartsila) - Wind/Diesel or Wind/Gas, Cases and Possibilities by Wartsila (Confirmed)
Pascal Larsonneur (Vergnet Eolien) - Vergnet Fleet of Wind Turbines and Wind/Diesel Applications (Confirmed)
Dipl.-Ing. Benjamin Jargstorf - Comparison Between the Operating San Crist�bal and Planned Baltra/Santa Cruz - Wind / Diesel Systems in the Gal�pagos Islands (Confirmed)

Research and Development Updates

Chair - Nolan Clark (USDA)

Review of technology advances on the part of government and non-government research bodies into the field of wind/diesel technologies. Software tools, analysis, and other research is highlighted and discussed, allowing a bridge between research and market innovation. (12 minute presentations followed by discussions and questions)

Scott Harper (Wind Energy Institute of Canada) - Overview of WEICan and Recent Developments (Confirmed)
Per Lundsager (Darup Associates ApS) - Risoe Wind/Diesel Research Summary (Confirmed)
Per Lundsager (Darup Associates ApS) - Remote Wind Systems (Confirmed)
Kris Noonan (Alaska Energy Authority) - AEA Switchgear Advances (Confirmed)
Dennis Witmer (University of Alaska Fairbanks) - Results of VRB Battery Testing and Other Research at the University of Alaska Fairbanks (Confirmed)
James Glennie (Wind Energy Institute of Canada) - Small Wind Certification Council (Confirmed)
Robert Horbaty (Swiss Wind Energy Association) - Wind Energy Development in Harsh Climatic Conditions in Switzerland (Confirmed)
Yves Brissette (IREQ) - (Confirmed)
Utama Abdulwahid (University of Massachusetts) - Dynamic Control Communication System for Hybrid Power Systems - (Confirmed)
Roger Perron (Hydo-Quebec -IREC) - (Invited)
Luis Arribas (CIEMAT) - Operating Experience Focused on Small Power Wind / Diesel Systems (Tentative)

Emerging Markets/Systems under Development

Chair - Peter Crimp (AEA)

Presentations describing wind/diesel projects that are currently being developed or country programs that are expected to be implemented in the foreseeable future. A strong focus will be placed on regional development concepts that are starting to be implemented. (10 minute presentations followed by discussions and questions)

Martina Dabo (AEA) - Expanded Alaska Market (Confirmed)
Canada Expanding the use of Wind (Not defined)
Ian Baring-Gould (NREL) - Ross Island, Antarctica Wind Diesel System (Confirmed)
Christian Casillas, (UC Berkeley) - The Potential for Wind/Diesel Systems in Class 1- 3 Wind Regimes in Nicaragua (Confirmed)
Dipl.-Ing. Benjamin Jargstorf - New Wind/Diesel System for the Chilean Antarctic Base Eduardo Frei
Hannah (REAP) - Expected Alaska Wind/Diesel Projects Under Consideration - (Confirmed)
Tim Weis (Or Other) - Wind/Diesel Options in the Canadian Northern Territories (Confirmed)
James Glennie (Wind Energy Institute of Canada)- Expansion of the Ramea Newfoundland wind/diesel power systems (Tentative)
Kodiak Alaska Wind Diesel project (Tentative)

Panel on Community Issues and Institutional Perspectives

Chair - Brent Petrie (AVEC)

A panel discussion of the community impacts and perspectives, both positive and negative, regarding the implementation of wind into the community. Impacts of reducing the dependence on diesel fuel usage, wind turbine noise, power quality, cost of energy, environmental impacts, and the impacts on the local power companies are all examples of positive or negative impacts that may be discussed.

Brad Reeve (KEA) - Kotzebue Alaska (Confirmed)
Harvey Paul (Chininik Wind Group) - Chininik, Kwigillongok & Kongiganak, Alaska (Invited)
Tiel Smith (BBNC) - Dillingham, Alaska (Confirmed)
Roger Taylor (National Renewable Energy Laboratory) - Implementing (Confirmed)
Wade Carpenter (Invited)

Lunch

At the Seven Glaciers Restaurant on the top of the Mt. Alyeska. Sponsored by STG Inc. Addressing the barriers to expanded use of wind/diesel technology and its application. Discussion of the wider barriers to the further expansion of the wind diesel market in the developed world (US, Australia, Canada and Europe) and further expansion into international markets.

Panel Session on Economic Factors of Wind/Diesel Systems

Chair - Dennis Meiners (IES)

Although the rising costs of diesel fuel are making wind diesel projects seem more attractive, the high costs of these projects, especially in rural Alaska, make them hard to justify. Following the initial presentations we will conduct an open discussion of the costs of wind diesel applications, how these can be reduced, and some methods to make projects more affordable.

Brent Petrie (AVEC) - Real Total Cost of Wind / Diesel Projects in Alaska (Attendance Confirmed - Session Not)
Dave Myers (STG) - Construction Costs of Wind / Diesel Projects in Alaska (Confirmed)
James Glennie (Wind Energy Institute of Canada) - Crude Oil Supply and Demand Trends and Likely Future Price Trends and Their Impact on Rural Diesel Power Energy Supply - (Confirmed)
Chris Rose (REAP) - Role of Green Tags in Financing (Confirmed)
Peter Crimp (AEA) - Role of Government Funding (Confirmed)

Panel Session on Technical Issues

Chair - Brad Reeve (KEA)

Although many wind/diesel power stations are being implemented and what was considered research science just a few years ago is now becoming common place, technical challenges still exist. This discussion will outline some of the key technical issues still facing the development of wind diesel applications.

Bill Thompson(AVEC) - Panel Technical Issues
Brett Pingree (Distributed Energy Systems) (Attendance Confirmed - Session Not)
Dusty Murdock. (Powercorp) (Confirmed)
Charles Newcomb (Entegrity Wind Systems) (Attendance Confirmed - Session Not)

Panel Session on Non-Technical Issues

Chair - Per Lundsager (Darup Associates ApS)

There continue to be many non-technical issues that are delaying the implementation of wind/diesel applications, both in OECD and developing countries. During this panel discussion we hope to hear from international and Alaskan experts regarding non-technical barriers to project development.

Dennis Meiners (Intelligent Energy Systems) - Community Scale Project Development (Confirmed)
Martina Dabo (AEA) - Regional Development (Confirmed)
Steve Haagenson (AEA) - Energy Plan Development (Confirmed)
Tim Weis - Pembina Institute in Canada - Community Assessments of Wind/Diesel Applications in Canada (Confirmed)
Kathy Prentki (Denali Commission) - Funding Large Energy Development Projects (Confirmed)
Charles Newcomb (Entegrity Wind Systems) - Business Models for Development (Attendance Confirmed - Session Not)

Special Topics

Chair — Chris Rose (REAP)

A time set aside for more general discussion of presentation topics or other issues that are brought up over the course of the workshop.

Closing Session, Wrap Up, and Discussion

Chair, Larry Flowers (NREL)

The Greening of this event was sponsored by TDX Power through the purchase of Denali Green Tags.

Wind-Diesel Project Field Trips

On April 26-27, 2008, participants could choose to fly to two remote communities, Kasigluk, with a stopover in Bethel, and Kotzebue, to tour the wind-diesel plants and talk with local operators and village leaders on the operations and value of retrofitting diesel mini-grids with wind turbines and associated controls.

Kotzebue Wind/Diesel System

Kotzebue Electric Association (KEA) is a non-profit cooperative, which owns and operates an 11.2-MW capacity diesel electrical utility to provide power for Kotzebue, Alaska. Kotzebue is a community of about 3,100 people and is the service hub for all villages in this northwest region of Alaska.

The KEA wind power project consists of 17 wind turbines installed at a single site totaling 1.04 MW of rated capacity. Fifteen of the turbines are Entegrity EW15's models (some dating back to the old Atlantic Orient Company days) of Boulder, Colorado and Charlottetown PEI, Canada. Three of the turbines have been operating since July 1997. The Entegrity EW15's is a three-bladed, downwind turbine with at 15-meter rotor diameter.

The sixteenth turbine, a North Wind 100, is manufactured by Distributed Energy Systems (Northern Power Systems) of Barre, Vermont. It was installed in April 2002. The NW 100 is a three-bladed, upwind turbine with a direct-drive generator designed for cold climate conditions, remote villages, and distributed generation.

The last turbine is a remanufactured Vestas V15 65kW turbine was installed at the site. This three bladed turbine is a classic upwind, fixed pitch induction turbine and has been operating for several years.

Lastly, in 2007 KEA installed a complete new SCADA system to assist in the monitoring and control of all of the wind and diesel turbines. KEA is also in the initial phases of working on a project to install a small battery storage system to allow for the expanded use of wind energy.

Kasigluk Wind/Diesel System

A photo of the Kasigluk community with two wind turbines.

Kasigluk is a small community in south western Alaska along the Johnson River, about 15 minutes flight time from the regional hub of Bethel. Kasigluk is made up of two separate small villages, Akiuk and Akula, whose combined population of 600 receive their power from a wind-diesel power system operated and owned by the Alaska Village Electric Cooperative (AVEC). The power system incorporates a modern, module diesel plant and three North Wind 100 wind turbines manufactured by Distributed Energy Systems (Northern Power Systems) of Barre, Vermont. The system was installed in July of 2006 and has been operating since that time. With an average electrical load of around 250 kW the turbines have the ability to provide most of the community's electrical energy needs, although the power system is not configured to operate with all of the diesels turned off. This wind-diesel system also supplies power to nearby Nunapitchuk and Old Kasigluk. This system is estimated to displace 52,000 gallons of diesel fuel per year.