Case Study: Kotzebue Electric Association reduces diesel reliance with SolarEdge solar optimization

SolarEdge Powers Largest PV System in Rural Alaska

The Kotzebue Electric Association (KEA), which provides power to rural Alaska, was facing high costs from consuming 1.2 million gallons of diesel fuel annually. Seeking a cheaper and cleaner energy source, they turned to SolarEdge Technologies for a solution involving their power optimizers and inverters.

SolarEdge implemented a DC-optimized commercial PV solution to maximize energy yield. By pairing its inverters and P850 power optimizers with bifacial panels, the system nearly eliminated mismatch losses, providing an estimated 3% energy gain in the first year and over 6% by year 20. The solution is also expected to provide an additional 5% gain from the bifacial modules and offers remote troubleshooting for higher uptime.

Kotzebue Electric Association

Matt Bergan

Engineer