Next steps for Makushin geothermal project

Alan Bailey

for Petroleum News

Ounalashka Corp. and Chena Power are moving ahead with a project to develop a geothermal energy system, to obtain electrical power from the Makushin Volcano on Unalaska Island. The idea is to establish a local, renewable source of electricity for the island, including the City of Unalaska. Ounalashka Corp. is the Alaska Native village corporation for Unalaska. Chena Power installed and operates the Chena Hot Springs geothermal power plant in the Alaska Interior.

Ounalashka and Chena have announced that they have selected Power Engineers, an international renewable energy company based in Hailey, Idaho, as the engineering company for the project. Electric Power Systems of Anchorage, Alaska, will assist in assessing whether the existing Unalaska power grid is strong and resilient enough handle the anticipated power output from the Makushin facility. The assessment will identify any necessary infrastructure improvements and associated costs.

In addition, Ounalashka and Chena have commissioned a cost-benefit analysis for the conversion of Unalaska homes and businesses to the use of electrically powered heat pumps for the heating of buildings. The evaluation project will include the conversion of some selected buildings to heat pump use at no cost to the owners.

The development of the 18 to 30 megawatt geothermal plant will involve the installation of roads, pads and facilities. A buried transmission line will transport power to the City of Unalaska power grid. The developers envisage the drilling of three production wells and two injection wells to depths of about 2,000 feet.

- ALAN BAILEY