Ben Boettger/Peninsula Clarion An array of photovoltaic solar panels generate electricity from the winter sunlight at the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge headquarters on Wednesday, Jan. 4 in Soldotna.

Ben Boettger/Peninsula Clarion An array of photovoltaic solar panels generate electricity from the winter sunlight at the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge headquarters on Wednesday, Jan. 4 in Soldotna.

Kenai Wildlife Refuge beginning to track solar energy

When the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge opened its new visitors center in May 2015, one new feature was a pair of 60-square meter solar arrays.

Though the solar panels have since been online and off-setting the electricity the visitors center building consumes from the grid, refuge staff didn’t know until recently how much power they were generating. Ranger Leah Eskelin said the solar system’s digital metering was kept inactive until the federally-operated refuge could fill security requirements for networked government computers.

Refuge maintenance mechanic Don Hendrickson said the metering system is now online and he’s been able to track the activity of the solar arrays since November. They’ve been putting out about 4.3 kilowatts a day, he said — about the same as running a generator.

“It’s nice to know that getting only five hours of sun a day, we’re still getting energy from them,” Hendrickson said.

In the summertime, Hendrickson estimates the arrays will generate about 20 kilowatts a day.

According to a refuge information pamphlet, the solar arrays are expected to provide between 3 percent and 10 percent of the headquarters building’s power needs, though Eskelin said that percentage would likely increase as the refuge gets more information on how much the solar panels produce. Hendrickson said the panels could be feeding surplus power back into the grid in the summer.

The new refuge headquarters building was designed to demonstrate power-saving and clean energy technology. During the day the lobby, gift shop and staff offices get much of their illumination from windows and skylights, and after sunset from LED light strips that Hendrickson estimated consume about only about one kilowatt per week. With the lobby and gift shop heated by a wood-burning soapstone fireplace and the offices and exhibit space with an efficient triple-pass water boiler, Hendrickson said that the biggest power consumers in the building are its computers.

 

Reach Ben Boettger at ben.boettger@peninsulaclarion.com.

More in News

Media members and other observers gather at the Alaska Division of Elections office on Wednesday, Nov. 20, 2024,	as the results of all ballots, including ranked choice tabulations, were announced. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
State certifies election results

Bjorkman, Ruffridge, Vance, Elam win election to Alaska Legislature

Santa Claus waves at children from atop a Kenai Fire Department engine on Frontage Street in Kenai, Alaska, as part of the Electric Lights Parade on Friday, Nov. 29, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Christmas cheer lights up chilly Kenai evening

Electric Lights Parade closes Christmas Comes to Kenai festivities on Nov. 29

A snowmachine rider takes advantage of 2 feet of fresh snow on a field down Murwood Avenue in Soldotna, Alaska, on Monday, Dec. 12, 2022. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Parts of refuge to open for snowmachining

The refuge advises that snowmachine users exercise caution

Jace and Tali Kimmel share their Christmas wishes with Santa Claus during Christmas Comes to Kenai at the Kenai Chamber of Commerce and Visitor Center in Kenai, Alaska, on Friday, Nov. 29, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Christmas Comes to Kenai opens with Santa, reindeer, gifts

The festivity will continue in the evening with the electric light parade and fireworks

Clarion Sports Editor Jeff Helminiak harvests a newsroom Christmas tree from the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge near Arc Lake outside of Soldotna, Alaska, on Dec. 3, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Christmas tree harvesting available around Kenai Peninsula

Trees may be harvested until Christmas Day

Josiah Kelly, right, appears for a superior court arraignment at the Kenai Courthouse in Kenai, Alaska, on Tuesday, Nov. 26, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Anchor Point resident arraigned in Homer shooting case

He’s currently in custody at Wildwood Pretrial Facility

The waters of the Kenai River lap against the shore at North Kenai Beach in Kenai, Alaska, on Tuesday, Nov. 26, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
‘BelugaCam’ livestreams set up at mouth of Kenai River

Cook Inlet belugas are one of five genetically distinct populations of beluga whales in Alaska

Shrubs grow outside of the Kenai Courthouse on Monday, July 3, 2023, in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Clam Gulch resident sentenced to over 270 years for sexual abuse of a minor

Superior Court Judge Jason Gist imposed sentencing for each individual charge

Sen. Jesse Bjorkman, R-Nikiski, delivers a legislative update to the joint Kenai and Soldotna Chambers of Commerce in Kenai, Alaska, on Wednesday, June 19, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Bjorkman will lead 2 committees in Senate

Bjorkman is set to chair the Senate Labor Commerce Committee and the Senate Transportation Committee

Most Read