Alaska Wood Energy Associates
COMMUNITY MODEL
Village wood utility model----A For
Profit Business
AWEA develops wood energy projects based on a for profit model. This does not necessarily mean maximizing profits, but it does mean that all components of the project can pay their way and that local financial incentives are in place to make the program/business function. Local and regional ownership is paramount. Wood energy projects stabilize the cost of heat energy locally and support local economic development through import substitution in rural villages and the potential for local heat utility businesses. Dollars coming into the village for heating commercial and public buildings stay in the village or region rather than being exported for heating fuel. Our goal is to displace up to 90% of the heating fuel used for heating commercial and public buildings that can be placed on a district-heating loop.
AWEA develops wood energy projects based on a for profit model. This does not necessarily mean maximizing profits, but it does mean that all components of the project can pay their way and that local financial incentives are in place to make the program/business function. Local and regional ownership is paramount. Wood energy projects stabilize the cost of heat energy locally and support local economic development through import substitution in rural villages and the potential for local heat utility businesses. Dollars coming into the village for heating commercial and public buildings stay in the village or region rather than being exported for heating fuel. Our goal is to displace up to 90% of the heating fuel used for heating commercial and public buildings that can be placed on a district-heating loop.
This applies to concentrated residential neighborhoods as well,
depending on conditions. Please see chart below for idea of the possible integrated processes of wood to energy conversion
Algae: the green, green fuel
AWEA is currently putting together a pilot project to test the feasibility of growing algae and extracting oil in rural Alaskan villages. The pilot project will take place in Ft. Yukon in collaboration with the biomass project.