2008 International Wind Diesel Workshop
April 23-25

Supported by

The Hotel Alyeska, Girdwood, Alaska

Introduction

The 2008 International Wind Diesel Workshop was hosted by the U.S. Department of Energy's National Renewable Energy Laboratory, the Alaska Energy Authority, and the Renewable Energy Alaska Project in conjunction with the Wind Energy Institute of Canada.

It was almost four years since the last wind-diesel workshop and the technology has expanded in nature and application. This event reported on new systems which have been installed from Alaska to the Galapagos Islands and several older sites which have seen large expansions.

The rising cost of diesel fuel and the maturing of the wind industry is continuing to drive the market forward, with projects being planned or implemented from Mongolia to Antarctica. As with all of the workshops in previous years, this one looked at what has worked, and what has not, bringing the wind-diesel community together to share and discuss the current status of the technology and where we feel it should be going.

Pre- workshop

Wednesday April 23, 2008
This 4-hour course offered the afternoon of the 23rd covered the basics of wind-diesel power systems, including power systems technology and some examples of current hybrid power systems. This introductory level, short course was targeted at those with little or no experience in wind-diesel power systems. The session provided people new to wind-diesel applications with sufficient understanding to enable them to take an active role in the International Wind Diesel Workshop.

Opening Reception

Wednesday April 23, 2008
The sponsored reception was in the evening at the Hotel Alyeska.

International Wind Diesel Workshop

Thursday and Friday, April 24-25, 2008
The 2008 International Wind Diesel Workshop presented the latest information in operating experience, design concepts, system components, related research and development, discussion of emerging markets, and description of institutional issues and perspectives based on the experiences of operating systems in Alaska and around the world. There was also a series of panel sessions on addressing the barriers to the further development of wind-diesel applications. A workshop dinner and special event was held on Thursday evening.

Agenda as at 14 April 2008 (32 kB)

Wind Diesel Project Field Trips

Saturday and Sunday, April 26-27, 2008
This was a great opportunity to visit commercial wind-diesel projects in rural Alaska. Participants choosing to take part in the field trips flew to several remote communities: specifically Kotzebue and Kasigluk. They toured the wind diesel plants and talked with local operators and village leaders about existing operations and value of retrofitting diesel mini-grids with wind turbines and associated controls.

Details (as at 09 April) (74 kB)

WEICan contact for additional information:
James Glennie
Mobile: +1-902-856-2192
Office: +1-902-882-4128