UNDER THE SIDE ROCK MICROGRID PROJECT, THE HOPI UTILITIES CORPORATION (HUC) WILL CONSTRUCT AN ADVANCED MICROGRID COMPRISED OF A 250-KILOWATTS (KW) OF SOLAR PHOTOVOLTAIC (PV), A 250-KW/1,200-KILOWATT HOUR (KWH) OF A BATTERY ENERGY STORAGE SYSTEM (BESS), AND APPROXIMATELY 1.5 MILES OF DISTRIBUTION LINE TO PROVIDE POWER TO TWO REMOTE WELL WATER PUMPS. THE REMOTE WATER INFRASTRUCTURE IS PART OF THE SIDE ROCK WATER SUPPLY PROJECT THAT WILL DELIVER WATER TO THE HOPI VILLAGES OF UPPER MOENKOPI AND LOWER MOENKOPI. THIS CRITICAL WATER INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECT WILL REPLACE THE CURRENT WATER SOURCE THAT IS PROJECTED TO BE INSUFFICIENT TO MEET COMMUNITY WATER NEEDS BY 2025. THE NEW WATER SOURCE WILL SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASE WATER AVAILABILITY FOR THESE COMMUNITIES AND IMPROVE WATER ACCESS FOR ALL RESIDENTS WHILE ALLOWING FOR POPULATION GROWTH AND IMPLEMENTING BUSINESS RECRUITMENT STRATEGIES.
THE TWO WATER WELLS HAVE A PROJECTED NEAR-TERM ELECTRIC LOAD TO POWER THE PUMPS OF APPROXIMATELY 164-KW FOR START-UP AND 44-KW WHILE OPERATING. THE ESTIMATED ANNUAL SOLAR ENERGY PRODUCTION FOR THE FACILITY IS 544-MEGAWATT HOURS (MWH) WITH A LIFETIME (30 YEAR) PRODUCTION OF APPROXIMATELY 15,61-MWH.
THE MICROGRID AS THE PRIMARY GENERATION SOURCE WILL REDUCE THE CARBON EMISSIONS, A KEY PRIORITY WITHIN THE TRIBE’S ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP GOALS, FROM THE WELLS BY APPROXIMATELY 269 METRIC TONS ANNUALLY WHEN COMPARED TO DIESEL GENERATION. THE PROJECT IS ANTICIPATED TO HAVE ADDITIONAL BENEFITS, INCLUDING TRAINING OF AT LEAST ONE OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE (O&M) OPERATOR AND IMPROVING WATER ACCESS TO ABOUT 235 RESIDENTIAL AND 14 NON-RESIDENTIAL WATER CUSTOMERS.
THE HOPI TRIBE HAS MANY REMOTE LOCATIONS THROUGHOUT THE RESERVATION THAT CURRENTLY DO NOT HAVE ELECTRICITY AND WILL REQUIRE REMOTE MICROGRID SOLUTIONS. THIS PROJECT WILL PROVIDE HUC A MODEL THAT CAN BE REPLICATED FOR UNELECTRIFIED HOMES. ADDITIONALLY, HUC IS RESPONSIBLE FOR SUPPORTING BOTH WATER AND ENERGY INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS ON THE TRIBE’S LAND. THIS PROJECT WILL BE AN IMPORTANT OPPORTUNITY TO EFFECTIVELY INTEGRATE THE DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION OF THESE ESSENTIAL SERVICES.$4,165,796
· FY2025 · Department of Energy