TCC, UAF collaborate to reduce diesel consumption

May 10, 2012

Marmian Grimes

The Tanana Chiefs Conference and UAF have completed testing of the Green Machine, a heat-to-power generating system that can reduce diesel fuel consumption and lower energy costs for rural Alaska communities.

The Green Machine captures excess heat from small, distributed hot water sources, such as diesel engine jacket water, biomass boilers and geothermal sources, to generate up to 65 kilowatts of emissions-free electricity. In the case of rural Alaska villages, heat from the diesel generators in the local power plant can be captured and utilized in the Green Machine to boost power output. ElectraTherm of Reno, Nev. produced the Green Machine, the first of its kind in Alaska.

UAF Alaska Center for Energy and Power research manager Brent Sheets said testing data shows that the Green Machine, in ideal conditions, could generate more than 413,000 kilowatt-hours a year, with round-the-clock daily operation.

Read the complete news release on the online newsroom.