Large scale, renewable energy may be coming to the Kenai Peninsula.
Renewable IPP founder and CEO Jenn Miller addressed the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly with a details, plans and proposals regarding a 60,000-panel solar power farm proposal with the capability of powering 4,500 homes.
Renewable IPP’s solar power farm would be located on the Kenai Peninsula and when completed become the largest solar farm in the state of Alaska.
Jenn Miller, “The Kenai Peninsula Solar farm would be our largest to date. It would have a rated output of 20 megawatts, we would actually install 30 megawatts of solar panels because that helps boost production on cloudy days, which I think we all know we all have a few of those every year. So, yes we actually oversize on the panel side. The project we produce enough energy for about forty five hundred homes and would meet six and a half percent of Homer Electric’s electricity demand.”
The project would entail constructing solar panels over a 160 acre parcel of land…
Miller explains, “So, roughly this would about 60,000 solar panels. Our record to date is a panel per minute, to install, so we’ll see if we can beat that. 60,000 solar panels would occupy hundred and sixty acres of land and we have identified a land location, we have not finalized the terms of them so that is why I’m not announcing it tonight. But, it would be a long term lease and so additional revenue within the borough.”
Independent Power Producer, an entity that is not a public utility but owns facilities to generate power for sale to utilities. The IPP applies to any power generation (solar, wind, natural gas, hydro, etc.)
Jenn Miller, “Independent Power Producer, is a private entity, that owns a generation facility and sell electricity at wholesale prices to public utility and it can be any kind of technology. It doesn’t have to be renewable, it can be natural gas or coal, it can be hydro, wind or solar any kind of technology. But, the intent is that private industry owns the asset and brings in competitive pricing to a public utility. And how this works mechanically on the grid is you have your generation site and we just tie into existing grid line. Sometimes, we have to pay to upgrade them, but we tie in and the utility distributes that electricity to their customers.”
Kenai Solar Farm Project Overview (as presented by Miller)
20 MW Output, 30 MW of Solar Panel Capacity
- Produces enough energy to support ~4,500 homes
- Provides generation to meet 6.5% of Homer Electric energy demand
- Approximately 60,000 solar panels
- 40-60 Construction jobs
- Land location identified (~160 acres), working on lease
- 30-40+ year operating life
The project still needs continued work on a land lease, tax exemptions and other details before the project can begin construction.
