Stebbins Bulk Fuel Upgrades

Project Detailsx

Servicesx

> Planning & Design
> Environmental Permitting
> Geotechnical Engineering Service

Project Overviewx

Alaska Native Villages usually generate their electricity locally using diesel generators. This is the case in Stebbins, where The Alaska Village Electric Cooperative (AVEC) uses diesel fuel to generate electricity throughout the community. The diesel powers heat and electricity for homes, the local school, and other buildings. However, the fuel storage facilities in Stebbins were old and needed upgrading.

HDL was responsible for planning and designing a new bulk fuel facility for the community. The project included installing a new 1.8 MW power plant and integrating a wind turbine design into the power systems for the communities of Stebbins and St. Michael. The aim was to improve energy efficiency and reduce the community’s reliance on diesel fuel.

HDL provided environmental permitting, civil engineering, and geotechnical engineering services for the project. The firm assisted AVEC with transitioning from a “modular” to a “single building” power plant. The project incorporated heat recovery for the water plant and other community buildings.

The new fuel facility is co-located, with a 780,000-gallon capacity. This means that the community has a more secure and reliable fuel supply for their electricity generation needs. The new 1.8 MW power plant uses modern and efficient technology, which helps to reduce the cost of electricity generation.

The wind turbine design integrated into the power systems provides additional power generation capacity, which is a clean and renewable energy source. This reduces the community’s reliance on diesel fuel, which is costly and polluting. The wind turbine also helps to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and contribute to a more sustainable future for the community.

The project was not without its challenges. The remote location of Stebbins and St. Michael meant that transportation logistics were a significant factor in the planning and execution of the project. However, HDL worked closely with AVEC and other stakeholders to overcome these challenges and ensure that the project was completed on time and within budget.

In conclusion, the new fuel facility, power plant, and wind turbine design have significantly improved the energy efficiency and reliability of the electricity generation system in Stebbins and St. Michael. The project has also contributed to reducing the community’s reliance on diesel fuel, which is costly and polluting. HDL’s expertise in environmental permitting, civil engineering, and geotechnical engineering services played a crucial role in the success of the project.