Graduation Date
Spring 2022
Document Type
Project
Program
Master of Science degree with a major in Environmental Systems, option Energy, Technology, and Policy
Committee Chair Name
Peter Alstone
Committee Chair Affiliation
HSU Faculty or Staff
Second Committee Member Name
Tesfayohanes Yacob
Second Committee Member Affiliation
HSU Faculty or Staff
Third Committee Member Name
Arne Jacobson
Third Committee Member Affiliation
HSU Faculty or Staff
Subject Categories
Environmental Systems
Abstract
In what is now known as the state of California in the United States, the Karuk Tribe is interested in deploying a renewable-powered microgrid in the rural community of Orleans to improve electricity system reliability and resilience to address a wide range of challenges, including extreme events such as wildfires. This study assesses the potential of local distributed renewable energy and battery storage to meet Orleans' energy needs today and in the increasingly electrified future using an energy model. It also identifies existing cultural and social priorities for energy technology along with structural barriers to renewable energy adoption and the decarbonization of transportation and water heating from interviews with community members.
Many, but not all community members we interviewed find their electric service unreliable, do not trust PG&E or their bills, and are interested in alternative sources of energy. However, the high upfront costs of renewables and lack of local contractors can lower the priority of adoption. Keeping food from expiring during blackouts is a key concern for study participants, in part because the lack of nearby affordable grocery stores means households own several fridges / freezers to store groceries and culturally important foods.
Given existing demand, solar resource, land area, and available funding, the community of Orleans is well suited for renewable-powered microgrid development. Depending on the extent of electrification, a renewable-powered microgrid in Orleans with implementation costs ranging from $12 million to $15 million could provide up to 21 days of autonomy when islanded and reduce community-wide greenhouse gas emissions by up to 90%.
Citation Style
APA
Recommended Citation
Moncheur de Rieudotte, Malcolm Prescott, "Assessing the potential and pathways for renewable energy transformations in Orleans, California" (2022). Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects. 558.
https://digitalcommons.humboldt.edu/etd/558