Knowledge Center

Knowledge Center

This page is a repository for technical resources related to wind-diesel hybrid systems, large islanded grids, and offshore wind, as well as other energy solutions for islanded grids. The Knowledge Center includes recordings of the IGRC’s quarterly webinar series and other content produced by the IGRC and our partners.

Have a report you’d like to submit? Contact Stephanie Nowers.

TitleYearAuthorPDFKnowledge CategoriesSearchable Keywords
Block Island Power Company – Planning for Uncertainty2018Tracy Fredericks, James Stockman, Block Island Power CompanyBlock Island, offshore wind
Monhegan Island Plantation Power District Combined Heat and Power Project2018Chris Smith, Operations Manager, MonheganMaine, Capstone, Microturbine
Unalakleet Alaska Wind-Diesel System Optimization Study2018Reese Huhta, General Manager, Unalakleet Valley Electric Cooperative, Unalakleet, Alaska, optimization
Kodiak, Alaska Case Profile2018Darron Scott, CEO, Kodiak Electric, , Kodiak, flywheel, hybrid
Alaska Wind Power Project Size and Cost2017Alaska Center for Energy and Power
Alaska Energy Storage Case Study2017Alaska Center for Energy and Power,
Alaska Cost Estimates for Integrating Renewables2017Alaska Center for Energy and Power, Alaska
Alaska Case Study Organic Rankine Cycle2017Alaska Center for Energy and Powerorganic rankine cycle
Alaska Solar PV Technology in Remote Microgrids2017Alaska Center for Energy and Powersolar
2017 Energy Battery Storage Study2017DNL GV, Energy Storage, Study
IRENA: Innovation outlook on Renewable Mini Grids2016IRENAMicrogrid
New England Island Microgrids2017Suzanne MacDonald, Microgrid
Renewable Microgrid Town: Gosnold, MA2017Paul Eliasrenewable, solar, microgrid, PV, storage, Massachusetts, Cuttyhunk, Naushon
Star Island Solar Electric System2017Dick Casesolar, storage, Star Island, New Hampshire, microgrid, hybrid
Monhegan Plantation Power District Combined Heat and Power Hybrid Project2017Chris Smithdiesel, solar, hybrid, microturbine, cogen, CHP, combined heat and power
Alaska Community Microgrids2017Chris Rosemicrogrid, alaska, wind, diesel, hybrid, storage
Island Communities and Customer Discovery2015Allexe Lawcustomer, island, community, marketing, acquisition, market, storage, generation, microgrid, best practices, customer discovery, people, engagement,
Will communities “open-up” to offshore wind? Lessons learned from New England islands in the United States2017Sarah C. Klain, Terre Satterfield, Suzanne MacDonald, Nicholas Battista, Kai M.A. ChanDeliberative learning, Community benefits, Offshore wind farms, Social acceptance of renewable energy
Renewable Energy Solutions, Island Communities2014Chris SauerRenewable Energy Solutions Islands
Presentation: Star Island Solar Power Project2014 Jack FarrellSolar-Diesel Hybrid on Star Island, Maine
Energy Transition Initiative Islands Playbook2015Energy Transition InitiativeThe Department of Energy’s Energy Transition Initiative has published the Islands Playbook, a resource for island communities that is designed to provide “an action-oriented guide to successfully initiating, planning, and completing a transition to an energy system that primarily relies on local resources to eliminate a dependence on one or two imported fuels. It is intended to serve as a readily available framework that any community can adapt to organize its own energy transition effort.”

Monhegan, ME: A small island with many energy challenges2016Marian Chioffi, Suzanne MacDonald
The Island Institute has created the New England Island Energy Profiles series highlighting island communities that are facing critical junctures in their efforts to find sustainable energy solutions that lower their high energy costs. With one of the highest electric rates in the country ($0.70/kWh) and multiple energy projects under consideration, Monhegan is at a critical juncture which may allow for the incorporation of more sustainable energy systems. The island’s power generation system is very quickly approaching the end of its useful life and will be replaced with microturbines, solar PV, updated controls, and a cogeneration system. An energy planning committee is investigating possible ways for the community to move forward beyond these investments.
Matinicus, ME: A remote microgrid seeking to incorporate renewable generation2016Clayton Philbrook, Suzanne MacDonald The Island Institute has created the New England Island Energy Profiles series to highlight island communities that are facing critical junctures in their efforts to find sustainable energy solutions that lower their high energy costs. With one of the highest electric rates in the country ($0.68/kWh), Matinicus is pursuing the implementation of a solar/diesel hybrid system to increase reliability and lower costs. Electricity generation and service is plagued with safety, reliability, and efficiency challenges, primarily due to aging generation and distribution infrastructure, and reliance on diesel fuel transported by tanker. These issues have led the island to pursue the “Matinicus Renewable Power Project.” The project will replace the current switchgear, add 150-200 kW of solar photovoltaic (PV) generation and battery storage, and replace the power company’s aging utility line truck.
Isle au Haut: Seeking microgrid solutions for an aging transmission cable2016Suzanne MacDonald, Jim WilsonMicrogrid, Island, Renewable Energy
Community Benefit Agreements and Offshore Wind Energy 2017 Island InstituteOffshore Wind, Community Benefit Agreements
Regulation of Offshore Wind Energy: Opportunities for Engagement 2017Island InstituteOffshore Wind.
Economics of Offshore Wind Energy in Maine2017 Island InstituteOffshore Wind, Economics, Maine
Interactions with Offshore Wind Energy: Marine Species 2012Island Instituteoffshore Wind. Marine Species interaction
Interactions with Offshore Wind Energy: Birds and Bats2012 Island InstituteOffshore Wind. In 2012, the Island Institute released a series of fact sheets to address the priority questions, concerns and interests identified by stakeholders along the coast of Maine and New England. These fact sheets were reviewed by researchers and experts and have proven to be a useful, fact-based source of information for coastal stakeholders as they consider the potential benefits and costs associated with offshore wind development and how best to engage in the decision-making processes about where and how to site offshore wind projects.
Broadening the Benefits of Ocean Energy: Case studies in innovative local investment and engagement2013Suzanne MacDonaldOffshore Wind. In June 2013, Island Institute Community Energy Director Suzanne MacDonald delivered a presentation at the EnergyOcean 2013 conference entitled Broadening the Benefits of Ocean Energy: Case studies in innovative local investment and engagement. The presentation featured examples of local ownership and investment in offshore wind projects around the globe and the positive effects that these models have had on public acceptance of offshore wind in those areas.
Slides: Engaging Communities in Offshore Wind, Case Studies and Lessons Learned from New England Islands2015Sarah Klain, Suzanne MacDonald, Nicholas BattistaOffshore Wind. On December 15, the Island Institute released a new report, “Engaging Communities in Offshore Wind: Case Studies and Lessons Learned from New England Islands”. With several offshore wind farms currently under consideration off the U.S. Atlantic seaboard, offshore wind has the potential to be an abundant source of renewable, low carbon electricity. Island communities throughout New England are leading the way in developing effective approaches for engaging with offshore wind developers. The report highlights key insights for designing good community engagement processes and demonstrates these best practices through case studies from Block Island (RI), Martha’s Vineyard (MA), and Monhegan (ME).

The findings of the report were presented in a webinar hosted by the Island Institute and the Islanded Grid Resource Center on Tuesday, December 15 which featured a presentation from lead author Sarah Klain (University of British Columbia). The webinar also included a moderated discussion with community members and developers who are leading these processes including Bill Penn (Block Island), Kim Gaffett (Block Island), Bryan Wilson (Deepwater Wind), Marian Chioffi (Monhegan), Jake Ward (University of Maine), Richard Andre (Vineyard Power), and Erik Peckar (Vineyard Power).
Report: Engaging Communities in Offshore Wind, Case Studies and Lessons Learned from New England Islands2015Sarah Klain, Suzanne MacDonald, Nicholas BattistaOffshore Wind, the Island Institute released a new report, “Engaging Communities in Offshore Wind: Case Studies and Lessons Learned from New England Islands”. With several offshore wind farms currently under consideration off the U.S. Atlantic seaboard, offshore wind has the potential to be an abundant source of renewable, low carbon electricity. Island communities throughout New England are leading the way in developing effective approaches for engaging with offshore wind developers. The report highlights key insights for designing good community engagement processes and demonstrates these best practices through case studies from Block Island (RI), Martha’s Vineyard (MA), and Monhegan (ME).

The findings of the report were presented in a webinar hosted by the Island Institute and the Islanded Grid Resource Center on Tuesday, December 15 which featured a presentation from lead author Sarah Klain (University of British Columbia). The webinar also included a moderated discussion with community members and developers who are leading these processes including Bill Penn (Block Island), Kim Gaffett (Block Island), Bryan Wilson (Deepwater Wind), Marian Chioffi (Monhegan), Jake Ward (University of Maine), Richard Andre (Vineyard Power), and Erik Peckar (Vineyard Power).
An Overview from Alaska of Wind-Diesel Hybrid Systems2014Rich Stromberg and Josh Craft An overview from Alaska of Wind-Diesel Hybrid systems.
Alaska Wind Overview2014Josh CraftWind-Diesel Hybrid. This 2014 presentation by Josh Craft of the Alaska Energy Authority gives an overview of the Alaska wind industry including its wind-diesel hybrid systems, their peformance, and the challenges faced and lessons learned to date.
Electrical Generation and Conservation on Appledore Island2014Ross Hansen and Mike RosenMicrogrids. Wind-Diesel Hybrid. Shoals Marine Lab Diesel Fuel Savings. ISLAND INSTITUTE ISLAND ENERGY CONFERENCE
Microgrids on Islands: Naushon and Cuttyhunk Islands, Massachusetts2014Paul EliasWind-Diesel Hybrid. We built one village system at the east end of the Elizabeth Islands and are now building a
second one at Cuttyhunk in the West. Our goal was to replace old diesel microgrids with sytems
dominated by renewable sources. We chose solar due to its overall match to our needs: more
power in summer, less in winter.
TDX Power – Lessons from the Last Frontier: Energy Action in Alaska2014Kord ChristiansonWind-Diesel Hybrid. This is a picture of TDX’s high wind penetration wind-diesel system on St Paul Island, Alaska and
the 80,000 sf Airport and TDX Renewable Energy Technology Center.
Broadening the Benefits of Ocean Energy2013Suzanne MacDonaldcase studies, Maine
Engaging Communities in Offshore Wind2017Sarah Klain, Suzanne MacDonald, Nicholas BattistaOffshore wind development process. This report is based on both the Island Institute’s work with coastal and island communities
on energy issues