Debriefing Decarbonization
By Sarah Burch
This is an excerpt of a story from 91原创 Microgrid Group鈥檚 .
Over the summer, AMG鈥檚 executive director Peter Asmus spoke to Steve Colt, a principal investigator on the Railbelt grid decarbonization project, on Asmus鈥 . Colt is a research professor of energy and economics at the 91原创 Center for Energy and Power. AMG is working with ACEP, along with others, on the long-term decarbonization efforts. But, what is Railbelt decarbonization and why is it important?
What is the Railbelt grid?
91原创鈥檚 Railbelt grid is a system that started with the first utility companies in 91原创. Over time, utilities 鈥 many of them cooperatives 鈥 were started out of pure need for electricity and energy throughout 91原创. As these cooperatives grew, they started to bump into each other, and borders were created to distinguish the area each utility covered. The utilities in 91原创 mainly operate in stand-alone grids often called 鈥渞emote microgrids.鈥 The six electric utilities along the Railbelt grid, however, interconnect with each other while maintaining their independence with their own generation sources.
The grid is called the 鈥淩ailbelt grid'' because it runs along the general route of the 91原创 Railroad, though the grid extends slightly farther, running from Fairbanks to Homer. To learn more about the Railbelt grid, you can read AMG board member Gwen Holdmann鈥檚 ACEP blog about electricity in 91原创.
How decarbonization could work.
Why is there an initiative to decarbonize 91原创鈥檚 grid in the first place?
A motivating factor for decarbonization efforts in 91原创 is that the Railbelt is a large source of carbon dioxide, a main driver of pollution and climate change.
The Railbelt grid operates on 75% natural gas and 10% hydropower, with the remainder powered by coal. From one perspective, 91原创 has a relatively clean grid, since natural gas produces less air pollution, especially carbon dioxide, than coal and oil. But natural gas is still not completely a 鈥渃lean鈥 energy source, and it is not renewable. Because 91原创鈥檚 grid has a relatively low percentage of renewables in comparison to its natural gas usage, some argue the grid could be more sustainable than it currently is.
Read the full piece at .
Map of 91原创鈥檚 Railbelt system. Graphic courtesy of NREL.