Kawerak Inc – 2022 Project

NOTE: Project pages are being updated regularly to reflect changes, if any; however, some of the information may be dated.

Summary

Kawerak Inc., representing Unaatuq LLC, a consortium of seven organizations, will install a binary power plant capable of generating power from the available geothermal resource using an Organic Rankine Cycle (ORC).

The binary power plant with a rated capacity of about 65 kilowatts will provide baseload power to Pilgrim Hot Springs, a historic site 60 miles north of Nome, Alaska. The project will use the binary power plant to electrify and heat approximately 18 tribal buildings initially for seasonal operations. Future plans include expansion and eventual year-round operation.

Project Description

Background

Unaatuq LLC, a consortium of seven organizations, including five Alaska Native corporations, one nonprofit Intertribal Organization (Kawerak LLC), and one Community Development Quota Corporation, was formed in 2010 to purchase Pilgrim Hot Springs and to keep the property under Indigenous-controlled ownership in perpetuity to explore its potential for economic, community, and clean energy development. Unaatuq’s vision for Pilgrim Hot Springs is “A protected arctic oasis that provides for our people,” and their mission is “To promote the wellbeing of our people through sharing, protecting, and responsibly developing the resources of Pilgrim Hot Springs.”

The facilities at Pilgrim Hot Springs have not had and do not have access to conventional electric power via transmission lines. Access to energy is seen as a prerequisite in creating the possibility of new opportunities for economic development as envisioned by tribal stakeholders.

Pilgrim Hot Springs is one of the two most studied and drilled geothermal systems within the Central Alaska Hot Springs Belt. Availability of the geothermal resource is well established based on previous studies and exploration.

Project Objectives

The primary objective of the project is to electrify tribal buildings at the site for future economic and community development. The criteria used to select the proposed alternative included: 1) ability to reliably provide consistent power, 2) scalability that would allow future growth and expansion, 3) ability to provide space heating, 4) clean energy utilization, and 5) sustainability and reduction of fossil fuel usage.

Development of this resource is designed to benefit a diverse set of tribal stakeholders from across the Bering Strait region by providing new opportunities for economic development and increasing local and regional sustainability, enhanced local food production, and expanded opportunities for engaging in cultural and social activities.

Project Scope

The project scope will support Unaatuq’s and the broader region’s vision of reestablishing permanent tribal management and development of the traditional site, facilitating creation of a spiritual retreat and training center, food production facility, and tourist destination.

The project will use a design-build approach that engages the prime construction contractor in the design process. The prime construction contractor will work closely with the design team starting at the 65%–95% design milestone. This will allow the prime construction contractor to get ahead of any planning, risk identification, and long-lead procurement requirements, and provide an opportunity for value engineering.

Project activities include the final design of the geothermal power plant distribution system throughout the property and the delivery and installation of an ORC engine (contained within a 20-foot shipping container) using the current 14-inch-diameter production well on-site at Pilgrim Hot Springs. Equipment testing of the ORC unit is planned to occur in-factory before delivery to Nome. The ORC unit is planned to be delivered to Pilgrim Hot Springs via truck and trailer.

The prime construction contractor will install the ORC unit above the existing production well, dig and install piping throughout the property for wastewater discharge, and bury electrical lines throughout the property planning to connect all buildings to the electrical grid. Geothermometry testing of the production well, as well as the installation of temperature probes, will occur throughout the Pilgrim Hot Springs property by the university partner. These probes will measure the resource temperature before installation and monitor the geothermal reservoir after commissioning of the system.

Project Location

Pilgrim Hot Springs is historic site of about 320 acres located approximately 60 road miles north of Nome, Alaska.