What is the best form of alternative energy for Fairbanks Alaska?

Question

Wind, Solar . . .

Answer 1

If the wind blows and the sunshines, use both.  Is there a stream, creek or river near ?  It is the best form of Renewable Energy, usually it works 24/7.  So your power generation can be smaller and of less cost.

Answer 2

I'd say wind generators, no shortage of wind in the north

Eric unfortunately Geo-thermo heating systems are not as efficient in the northern climates of Canada and Alaska. Once the temperature goes below - 30*C you need a back up heating system. It just doesn't work as well as Iceland

Answer 3

A combo would be the best. Wind is good because it can blow with or without the sun. Sun is good but it only shines a few hours up there. Alaska is a huge state and the further north you go the less sunlight there is in wintertime.

Answer 4

Geo-Thermal would be the way to go that far North.

Wind and Solar would both be a problem in the winter time.  With limited sunshine and not much power behind it when it does shine solar would be very weak.  Plus you would have to make sure snow and ice are not covering your panels.  Wind would probably be a decent source but again in the winter time it would be very harsh on the components.  If ice forms on the blades and a strong wind starts to blow, the added weight could throw off the balance and destroy the turbine.

There are 2 forms of geo-thermal energy that could be used.  Heat Transfer and energy production.  

The heat transfer method can be used by individual homes to reduce the amount of energy required to heat and cool your home and your water.  This is done using a Geo-thermal heat pump.  The Earth has a constant temperature that increases the further down to drill.  By placing pipes filled with a liquid similar to anti-freeze you can use that constant temp to transfer heat into or out of your home and water to get the desired temperature.  And this method uses much less energy than convential methods.

Energy production requires the system to drill much deeper or be located in an area with volcanic activity closer to the surface.  This is so the facility can achieve temps high enough to turn water to steam and spin a turbine to generate electricity.  Typically this is a large scale operation and not a single home application.  

Almost all of Iceland is powered and heated from Geo-thermal energy sources I listed here.  Much of this is because of the volcanic activity near the earth's surface there.

Answer 5

Coal, and shale oil.