Solar power in Alaska

{{short description|Overview of solar power in the U.S. state of Alaska}}

File:Kanuti Lake Camp Solar power system.jpg]]

Solar power in Alaska has been primarily used in remote locations,[http://www.groundtruthtrekking.org/Issues/Renewable-Energy-in-Alaska.html Renewable Energy in Alaska] such as the Nenana Teen Center[https://enlighten.enphaseenergy.com/public/systems/BTcD7969 Nenana Teen Center] near Fairbanks, where long summer days provide most of the electricity generated.[http://www.ktva.com/news/local/Do-Solar-Panels-Work-in-Alaska-115326449.html Do Solar Panels Work in Alaska?] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120528073823/http://www.ktva.com/news/local/Do-Solar-Panels-Work-in-Alaska-115326449.html |date=2012-05-28 }}[http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/news/article/2001/10/tiny-alaskan-village-may-set-solar-pace-for-remote-areas-5575 Tiny Alaskan Village May Set Solar Pace for Remote Areas] In 2015, Alaska ranked 45th in installed solar among U.S. states.[http://www.seia.org/state-solar-policy/alaska-solar Alaska], SEIA, accessed June 4, 2016 Rooftop solar panels could provide 23% of all electricity used in Alaska.[http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/10/30/report-argues-for-a-de-centralized-system-of-renewable-power-generation/ Report Argues for a Decentralized System of Renewable Power Generation] Net metering is available for PV systems up to 25 kW but is limited to 1.5% of average demand.[http://www.dsireusa.org/incentives/incentive.cfm?Incentive_Code=AK03R&re=1&ee=0 Alaska - Net Metering] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120418031025/http://www.dsireusa.org/incentives/incentive.cfm?Incentive_Code=AK03R&re=1&ee=0 |date=2012-04-18 }} IREC best practices, based on experience, recommends no limits to net metering, individual or aggregate, and perpetual roll over of kWh credits.[http://irecusa.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/ASES-2009-Paper-0131-net-metering-and-IC-best-practices-1.pdf Net Metering and Interconnection Procedures Incorporating Best Practices]

In 2011, Alaska's largest solar array was the 17.28 kW array installed on a building in Anchorage.[http://www.ktva.com/news/local/Solar-Panels-Light-Up-Downtown-Building-122996343.html Solar Panels Light Up Downtown Building] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120615211000/http://www.ktva.com/news/local/Solar-Panels-Light-Up-Downtown-Building-122996343.html |date=2012-06-15 }}[https://www.sunnyportal.com/Templates/PublicPageOverview.aspx?plant=e89960d9-e25e-4cd0-90a0-8698de3e286b Anchorage Solar Building] A 12 kW solar array installed in Lime Village in July 2001 helped reduce electricity costs.[http://www.stateenergyreport.com/2010/08/03/solar-in-alaska/ View from the Field – Solar in Alaska] {{webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20130203025334/http://www.stateenergyreport.com/2010/08/03/solar-in-alaska/ |date=2013-02-03 }}[http://www.alaskajournal.com/Alaska-Journal-of-Commerce/September-2001/Hybrid-generator-cuts-Lime-Village-energy-costs/ Hybrid generator cuts Lime Village energy costs]

Annual insolation and thus power production per capacity installed in Alaska is similar to central Europe, where Germany became a leader in worldwide solar power use in the years around 2010.

The Houston Solar Farm in Matanuska-Susitna Borough is the state's largest solar facility, at 8.5 MW, built in 2023.{{Cite web |title=Houston Solar Farm {{!}} CleanCapital Project Gallery |url=https://cleancapital.com/projects/houston-solar-farm-ak/ |access-date=2024-10-09 |website=CleanCapital |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Fanelli |first=Michael |date=2023-08-31 |title=Mat-Su Borough welcomes Alaska’s biggest solar farm |url=https://alaskapublic.org/2023/08/31/mat-su-borough-welcomed-alaskas-biggest-solar-farm-this-week/ |access-date=2024-10-09 |website=Alaska Public Media |language=en-US}} The project is designed with steeply angled and elevated bifacial panels and wide spacing between rows to accommodate snow removal and shade reduction. The project will be used for agrivoltaics research.{{Cite web |last=Harrison |first=Derek |date=2024-10-08 |title=Alaska Utilities Turn to Renewables as Costs Escalate for Fossil Fuel Electricity Generation |url=https://insideclimatenews.org/news/08102024/alaska-utilities-transition-from-fossil-fuel-electricity/ |access-date=2024-10-09 |website=Inside Climate News |language=en-US}}

The Puppy Dog Lake Project in Nikiski, on the Kenai Peninsula, is planned to be 30 MW.{{Cite web |last=Diep |first=Jamie |date=2024-08-21 |title=Homer utility board approves buying energy from what will be Alaska’s largest solar farm |url=https://www.ktoo.org/2024/08/21/homer-utility-board-approves-buying-energy-from-what-will-be-alaskas-largest-solar-farm/ |access-date=2024-10-09 |website=KTOO |language=en-US}}