This system will allow the hybrid wind-diesel power plant to reach its full potential, providing cleaner, more reliable, and lower-cost energy to Kotzebue, a city located north of the Arctic Circle in the Northwest Arctic (an area roughly the size of Illinois). Kotzebue is not connected to the electrical grid or road network and traditionally relied on diesel-powered generators for its energy. The average annual temperature in the area is -5 degrees Celsius, meaning its residents face some of the highest energy costs in the country.
“Incorporating the Intensium® Max+ 20M battery will allow for better utilization of our wind energy system,” said Brad Reeve, CEO of KEA. “Energy storage is an additional tool to increase corporate efficiency and reduce our reliance on diesel,” he continued.
Saft's BESS system offers the latest energy storage technology designed for extreme cold environments. It is the first containerized installation of its kind in North America to utilize the Intensium® Max+ 20M platform. In addition to the Intensium® Max+ 20M battery container, which provides 950 kWh and can operate in temperatures as low as -50°C, the supplied BESS system also includes a 1.2 MW EssPro™ Power device and a transformer for grid connection, supplied by ABB. The benefits of the BESS system for the KEA microgrid will be mitigation of fluctuations caused by wind power and temporary displacement, and a reduction in diesel consumption.
This is Saft's second project in the Arctic region. Alaska and other areas of extreme cold, where fuel and electricity transportation costs are high, represent a growing market for battery energy storage systems specifically designed for microgrids and hybrid power systems.
“Saft is proving to be a leader in serving energy storage needs in extreme environments, where low temperatures demand innovative design and performance,” said Blake Frye, Vice President of Sales and Energy Storage at Saft. “We are proud to be a trusted resource for KEA and other energy providers in remote regions where our technology and expertise are needed,” Frye continued.
While meeting the energy needs of 980 members in the Kotzebue region, generating more than 21 million kilowatt-hours annually, KEA is committed to improving reliability, energy efficiency, and operating costs. Several remote villages in the region are already being studied for Saft BESS installations similar to the one in Kotzebue.
