March 7, 2018 - Deering and Buckland are two small villages in northwestern Alaska, with populations of 200 and 400 mostly indigenous Inupiaq people. For these residents, who rely heavily on fishing and hunting for their subsistence, life above the Arctic Circle is tough. Winter lasts for nine months with temperatures dipping to minus 60 degrees Fahrenheit.
The challenge of providing stable, reliable and affordable power has motivated many rural Arctic communities to incorporate increasing amounts of renewable resources to offset the high cost and environmental impact of diesel fuel. But while the flat coastal terrain is suited for wind generation, the wind turbines installed there, have been underutilized due to the intermittent and unstable nature of wind power.
ABB will partner with the communities of Deering and Buckland to install modular “plug-and-play” microgrids that will leverage ABB Ability Microgrid Plus automation system and PowerStore storage technology, to maximize the adoption of wind power. Incorporating more renewables will also help the communities in their quest to meet the objectives set out by NANA Regional Corporation, Inc. (NANA), the local utility to reduce reliance on imported diesel by up to 75 percent, by 2030.
ABB’s Microgrid Plus control solution will manage the automation of the hybrid systems while ensuring secure power supplies with renewable energy contribution.
About ABB
ABB is a specialist in electrification products, robotics and motion, industrial automation and power grids, serving customers in utilities, industry and transport & infrastructure globally. Continuing a history of innovation spanning more than 130 years, ABB today is writing the future of industrial digitalization with two clear value propositions: bringing electricity from any power plant to any plug and automating industries from natural resources to finished products