CASE STUDY
Golden Valley Electric Association (GVEA)
Fairbanks, Alaska, USA
The solution
The Background
Golden Valley Electric Association (GVEA) is a utility based in the interior of Alaska, dedicated to exploring various renewable energy opportunities, including wind energy assessments. Previously for remote applications, they used custom, non- portable solar power systems that required on-site assembly, many revisions and human resources to install.
The Challenge
When tasked with powering ZX wind LiDAR for a remote wind energy assessment, GVEA faced unique challenges due to its location and extreme weather conditions. Traditional off-grid power solutions such as solar and diesel generators had proven inefficient and significant maintenance, leading GVEA to seek a more robust, portable, and purpose-built solution.
The primary challenge was finding a reliable, cost-effective, autonomous power system to operate the wind LiDAR that could run for months at a time without any downtime. The power supply needed to perform in remote, hard-to-reach locations under harsh environmental conditions, including significant snowfall and extreme cold – temperatures hit as low as –40°F.
Our Solution For
Autonomous Power for Wind Resource Assessment
The Solution
After evaluating multiple vendor proposals, GVEA selected MOBISMART’s MOBISUN-125ZX HYBRID Solar + Methanol Fuel Cell Clean Power Trailer for its well-documented, purpose-built solution designed to plug-n-play wind LiDAR operation 24/7.
The MOBISUN trailer met GVEA’s requirements, providing an efficient, cost-effective solution with zero downtime. Its well thought out design simplicity reduced the uncertainties of deployment and operation.
The Outcome
The MOBISUN-125ZX Clean Power Trailer has proven to be a valuable solution for GVEA’s remote power needs. The trailer’s comprehensive design for wind LiDAR operations and ease of deployment have significantly improved the efficiency and reliability of GVEA's wind energy assessment campaign.
While there were challenges with remote communications due to poor cellular signal at the site location area, MOBISMART’s proactive support and commitment to providing solutions, GVEA was able to access remote monitoring to determine fuel levels, battery voltages and even see the environmental conditions with the onboard IP camera that has a 360° view. This combined with the trailer’s overall performance proved MOBISMART as a dependable partner and choice for GVEA’s remote energy needs. For GVEA, the MOBISUN trailer represents a critical step forward in advancing renewable energy assessments in Alaska’s harsh, icy, snowy, very cold and remote environments.
Trusted by Industry Leaders
Keith Palchikoff
Golden Valley Electric Association (GVEA)
Not sure which trailer is right for your wind campaign?
Contact MOBISMART to find the best solution for your project’s site conditions and data requirements.