When analyzing the potential for integrating renewable energy systems into the current UAF power system, wind and hydro capacity are negligible on campus. In Alaska, solar-thermal-heating is the most efficient way to capture solar radiance, due to the low solar density of our northern latitude. However, because of the power plant’s ability to produce hot water from waste-heat, this technology would be redundant. Thus, solar photovoltaic (PV) is appropriate for UAF.

The first student solar project on campus was conducted on the Student Recreation Center, designed to be a 17kW system. The SRC system replaces about 4 percent of the 2009 yearly load, as energy efficiencies within the SRC increase so will this percentage. There is no need for batteries; all of the power produced by the panels will be utilized immediately, and if for some reason it is not needed by the SRC, the electricity will be used by the university grid system. The SRC has a higher summer load than winter load. This is due to the need to circulate more air through the building in the summer months. For information on the Solar Project Progress, contact Jessie Huff, jlhuff2@alaska.edu.

Solar Panels for Student Recreation Center (PDFs)

• Report: SRC Solar PV Project: Integrating Renewable Energy into UAF's Campus

• Appendix for SRC Solar PV Project

A survey was conducted in November of 2010 to better understand the students stance on Solar PV at UAF.

• Summary of Survey Results as of 11/28/10

The Sustainable Village Solar project is a partnership between Cold Climate Housing Research Center, University of Alaska Community and Technical College, GVEA, UAF students, and the RISE Fund.

UAF and CTC students installed 4 of the planned 6 solar PV arrays as a 2012 summer class. The 12.9kW system came on-line in early October and distributes power into the GVEA grid.

Next summer two more arrays will be installed, learn more about solar in Alaska and sign up for the class!

When finished, this system will produce 19.35kW.

The University Fire Station with help from a RISE grant installed a 3.2kW solar array in the summer of 2012. The energy is connected to the GVEA’s utility grid through the SNAP program.

Office of Sustainability student workers installed the system will help from local electricians and the fire department staff.  The plan is to install 2 more 3.2kW systems over the course of ten years.
 

“The Department desires to be good stewards of the resources provided by the University of Alaska and the University Fire Service Area in the Fairbanks North Star Borough. However, there are important intrinsic benefits as well. Installing a solar array will demonstrate to the public, Borough officials, and our peers in the Interior Alaska Fire Service that the University Fire Department is leading the charge towards sustainable operations, and that solar power is economically and logistically viable for public industrial-type applications. Furthermore, this would reinforce the value of sustainability and appeal to the student firefighters we are training for futures in emergency services”.

Douglas Schrage

Being the third solar project managed by the Office of Sustainability, the Firehouse PV system is also our most affordable system insalled thus far @ $5.52 per watt.