Unconstrain Bradley Lake Hydroelectric Project
The Bradley Hydroelectric Project has been constrained in its operation since its completion in 1991. The basic problem is the lack of an adequate transmission system to deliver the project’s energy from Kachemak Bay to Anchorage and Fairbanks. The only transmission line between Kenai and Anchorage is a 115 kV transmission line constructed in 1961 to deliver approximately 16 MW of power from the Cooper Lake hydroelectric project to Anchorage, and a similar 115 kV transmission line from Soldotna to the Cooper Lake area. The two lines have a combined length of 146 miles.
Without improvements to the electrical system between Anchorage and Kenai, the utilities will experience substantial cost increases in electrical line losses, lost generation capacity, and operating costs. The result will be an increase in energy costs to individuals and businesses served by these utilities.
ARCTEC recommends an improved transmission system between Anchorage and Kenai composed of improvements to portions of the existing Anchorage – Kenai transmission system combined with a new transmission line connecting the south central area’s 230 kV transmission system at Beluga to the Kenai’s 115 kV transmission system at Bernice Lake. The combination of these two projects results in the lowest overall cost as well as the most benefits and fewest constraints on the Bradley project.
$13.7M has been included in the Governor’s budget for these projects.
Beluga – Bernice Lake HVDC Intertie
This project includes the construction of two 100 MW High Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) cables between the Beluga power plant in and the Bernice Lake
Power Plant on the Kenai Peninsula.
Total cost: $187M over 4 years.
25 MW BESS – Anchorage Area
This project includes the installation of a 25 MW / 14 mWh Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) in the Anchorage area. This device will add stability to the system and provide a measure of “spin” to facilitate spooling-up alternative generation in the event of an outage.
Total cost: $30.2M over 3 years.
Bradley Lake – Soldotna 115 kV Transmission Line
This project includes the construction of a new 68 mile long, 115 kV transmission line from the Bradley Lake Power plant to a new substation near Homer Electric Association (HEA’s) existing Soldotna substation.
Total cost: $67.5M over 4 years.
Flexible Gas Storage – Anchorage Area
This project includes the installation of a 262 mWh gas storage facility at an Anchorage/Mat-Su area power plant. The gas storage includes storage tanks for compressed natural gas, compressor, compressor building and delivery system. This project will provide a gas supply to facilitate spooling-up additional generation should the line to Kenai suffer an outage.
Total cost: $18.2M over 2 years.
University – Dave’s Creek 230 kV Transmission Line Conversion
This project includes the conversion of 77 miles of existing 115 kV transmission line to 230 kV from Chugach Electric Association Dave’s Creek substation on the Kenai Peninsula to Chugach’s University substation in Anchorage. The project requires two separate phases: 1) the conversion of the line to 230 kV and 2) the conversion of the substations to 230 kV.
Total cost: $56.9M over 5 years.
University – Dave’s Creek 230 kV Substations & Compensation
This project includes the installation of reactive compensation at Dave’s Creek station and the conversion of substations at Dave’s Creek, Hope, Summit Lake, Portage, Girdwood and Indian stations to 230 kV. The project also includes the completion of the 230 kV bus at Chugach’s University substation. The project includes the installation of sectionalizing switches at each of the stations to allow remote sectionalizing of the transmission line.
Total cost: $32.2M over 3 years.