The Anchorage Solar Building, Alaska's first solar powered office complex at 5th and E in downtown Anchorage. The 17.2kw solar array is expected to contribute 6% to 9% of the building's annual electric load, and save 308 tons of greenhouse gas (CO2) over 25 years, equivalent to 616,000 auto miles.

Anchorage Solar Building
The Anchorage Solar Building's solar energy system employs 96 Trina 180w monocrystalline solar panels, three SMA Sunny Boy 6000US grid-tie inverters, and a vertical mounting structure from Unirac Sunframe. Renewable Energy Systems designed the system and supplied the panels, system components, and materials for the project.

Anchorage Solar Building
The Anchorage Solar Building's solar energy system employs 96 Trina 180w monocrystalline solar panels, three SMA Sunny Boy 6000US grid-tie inverters, and a vertical mounting structure from Unirac Sunframe. Renewable Energy Systems designed the system and supplied the panels, system components, and materials for the project.

Anchorage Solar Building
The 96-panel array produced over a megawatt of electricity in just its first two weeks in service!

Anchorage Solar Building
The 96-panel array produced over a megawatt of electricity in just its first two weeks in service!

Solar and Wind Energy at VCRS
Valley Community for Recycling Solutions has completed a significant expansion of its green power capacity with the addition of a Kestrel wind turbine to its recycling facility in Palmer. The turbine will add an additional kilowatt of power annually to the 4.3 kilowatts of capacity supplied by the center's 24-panel solar array, which began energy production in May 2011.

Solar and Wind Energy at VCRS
Valley Community for Recycling Solutions has completed a significant expansion of its green power capacity with the addition of a Kestrel wind turbine to its recycling facility in Palmer. The turbine will add an additional kilowatt of power annually to the 4.3 kilowatts of capacity supplied by the center's 24-panel solar array, which began energy production in May 2011.

VCRS Solar Panels
Valley Recycling's 4.2kw solar array incorporates 24 Trina 180w solar panels and a 6kw SMA Sunny Boy grid-tie inverter.

VCRS Solar Panels
Valley Recycling's 4.2kw solar array incorporates 24 Trina 180w solar panels and a 6kw SMA Sunny Boy grid-tie inverter.

VCRS Wind Turbine
The 1k Kestrel e300i small wind turbine generates electricity at relatively low wind speeds and maintains output in excess wind speeds, optimizing energy yield. An SMA Windy Boy 3kw inverter and 50-foot tower complete the wind system.

VCRS Wind Turbine
The 1k Kestrel e300i small wind turbine generates electricity at relatively low wind speeds and maintains output in excess wind speeds, optimizing energy yield. An SMA Windy Boy 3kw inverter and 50-foot tower complete the wind system.

VCRS Site and Energy Yield Data
The data logged from the inverters and anemometer is displayed for public viewing on the SMA website. This is a valuable education tool for energy potential of renewable systems.

VCRS Site and Energy Yield Data
The data logged from the inverters and anemometer is displayed for public viewing on the SMA website. This is a valuable education tool for energy potential of renewable systems.

Dillingham Courthouse 15kw Proven Wind Turbine Project
Choggiung, Limited, has installed a Proven 15 kilowatt Proven wind turbine at the State Courthouse in Dillingham. The Proven 15 is a downwind three bladed turbine. It comprises a steel turbine frame mounted on a 50-foot steel tower assembly. The turbine has 33-foot diameter blades and the entire turbine rests on a 30-foot by 30-foot by 4-foot thick concrete foundation.

Dillingham Courthouse 15kw Proven Wind Turbine Project
Choggiung, Limited, has installed a Proven 15 kilowatt Proven wind turbine at the State Courthouse in Dillingham. The Proven 15 is a downwind three bladed turbine. It comprises a steel turbine frame mounted on a 50-foot steel tower assembly. The turbine has 33-foot diameter blades and the entire turbine rests on a 30-foot by 30-foot by 4-foot thick concrete foundation.

Dillingham Courthouse 15kw Proven Wind Turbine Project
Pouring the concrete foundation for the tower.

Dillingham Courthouse 15kw Proven Wind Turbine Project
Pouring the concrete foundation for the tower.

Dillingham Courthouse 15kw Proven Wind Turbine Project
The tower base ready to embed into the concrete foundation. The steel tower assembly will be 50 feet tall.

Dillingham Courthouse 15kw Proven Wind Turbine Project
The tower base ready to embed into the concrete foundation. The steel tower assembly will be 50 feet tall.

Dillingham Courthouse 15kw Proven Wind Turbine Project
Installing the first tower section. The tower's steel base plate incorporates a raising and lowering mechanism. The top of the tower has a yaw bearing assembly that permits the turbine frame to rotate. The blades are therefore able to turn depending on the wind direction and speed. A winch mounted inside the tower is connected to the service brake in the turbine frame.

Dillingham Courthouse 15kw Proven Wind Turbine Project
Installing the first tower section. The tower's steel base plate incorporates a raising and lowering mechanism. The top of the tower has a yaw bearing assembly that permits the turbine frame to rotate. The blades are therefore able to turn depending on the wind direction and speed. A winch mounted inside the tower is connected to the service brake in the turbine frame.

Dillingham Courthouse 15kw Proven Wind Turbine Project
Installing the turbine tower wiring.

Dillingham Courthouse 15kw Proven Wind Turbine Project
Installing the turbine tower wiring.

Dillingham Courthouse 15kw Proven Wind Turbine Project
The steel turbine frame goes onto the tower. The turbine head encapsulates windings and bearings that in turn support a rotating shaft and permanent magnet rotor assembly. One end of the shaft has a propeller blade assembly comprising glass thermoplastic composite blades that are hinged on a rotor plate. The blades are held in their correct position by dampers that allow the blades to form a cone shape in high winds. In this shape, the turbine is able to limit its rotational speed. The turbine frame also houses a service brake assembly that acts upon a brake attached to the rotor shaft.

Dillingham Courthouse 15kw Proven Wind Turbine Project
The steel turbine frame goes onto the tower. The turbine head encapsulates windings and bearings that in turn support a rotating shaft and permanent magnet rotor assembly. One end of the shaft has a propeller blade assembly comprising glass thermoplastic composite blades that are hinged on a rotor plate. The blades are held in their correct position by dampers that allow the blades to form a cone shape in high winds. In this shape, the turbine is able to limit its rotational speed. The turbine frame also houses a service brake assembly that acts upon a brake attached to the rotor shaft.

Dillingham Courthouse 15kw Proven Wind Turbine Project
Installing the turbine cowling.

Dillingham Courthouse 15kw Proven Wind Turbine Project
Installing the turbine cowling.

Dillingham Courthouse 15kw Proven Wind Turbine Project
The turbine blade assemblies are installed. Proven's Flexible Blade System enables the wind turbine to generate power in light or strong winds. As the wind gets stronger, the blades twist to reduce their aerodynamic efficiency. This maintains a high output even in the fiercest storms, unlike other turbines which need to stop generating power to protect themselves at high wind speeds. The blades also regulate speed, preventing damage.

Dillingham Courthouse 15kw Proven Wind Turbine Project
The turbine blade assemblies are installed. Proven's Flexible Blade System enables the wind turbine to generate power in light or strong winds. As the wind gets stronger, the blades twist to reduce their aerodynamic efficiency. This maintains a high output even in the fiercest storms, unlike other turbines which need to stop generating power to protect themselves at high wind speeds. The blades also regulate speed, preventing damage.

Dillingham Courthouse 15kw Proven Wind Turbine Project
A quality check is performed before the completed turbine is raised.

Dillingham Courthouse 15kw Proven Wind Turbine Project
A quality check is performed before the completed turbine is raised.

Dillingham Courthouse 15kw Proven Wind Turbine Project
The wind energy system is served by 3 SMA Sunny Boy Inverters.

Dillingham Courthouse 15kw Proven Wind Turbine Project
The wind energy system is served by 3 SMA Sunny Boy Inverters.

Dillingham Courthouse 15kw Proven Wind Turbine Project
A first for this remote Alaskan community, the Proven wind turbine has become a Dillingham Landmark. The 15-kilowatt turbine is expected to generate 42,000 kilowatt-hours annually, displacing a portion of the building’s annual electricity load and saving up to $15,000 per year based on electricity costs at time of installation. The turbine is expected to save Choggiung $375,000 in electricity costs over its useful life of 30 years. Should the cost of electricity increase, the savings will be even greater.

Dillingham Courthouse 15kw Proven Wind Turbine Project
A first for this remote Alaskan community, the Proven wind turbine has become a Dillingham Landmark. The 15-kilowatt turbine is expected to generate 42,000 kilowatt-hours annually, displacing a portion of the building’s annual electricity load and saving up to $15,000 per year based on electricity costs at time of installation. The turbine is expected to save Choggiung $375,000 in electricity costs over its useful life of 30 years. Should the cost of electricity increase, the savings will be even greater.

RES Building Wind Turbine
Wind Tower Sections in the warehouse at RES in Anchorage.

RES Building Wind Turbine
Wind Tower Sections in the warehouse at RES in Anchorage.

RES Building Wind Turbine
Installation of a wind turbine tower at the Renewable Energy Systems store in Anchorage. A pile driver drives the steel tower foundation pipe into the ground.

RES Building Wind Turbine
Installation of a wind turbine tower at the Renewable Energy Systems store in Anchorage. A pile driver drives the steel tower foundation pipe into the ground.

RES Building Wind Turbine
Welding the tower base plate onto the tower foundation.

RES Building Wind Turbine
Welding the tower base plate onto the tower foundation.