The ambler northwest energy tribal energy development organization (ANE-tedo), a collaboration between the native village of ambler ("tribe" or ambler tribe"), a federally recognized tribe, and the…

The Department of Energy Office of Indian Energy Policy and Programs awarded the Northwest Arctic Borough $3.817 million on May 1, 2026, under the Renewable Energy Research and Development program (CFDA 81.087) to design and deploy a community-scale renewable energy microgrid system in Ambler, Alaska through May 1, 2029.

The award funds installation of a 524-kilowatt solar photovoltaic array integrated with a power conversion system, battery energy storage, an electric boiler, and microgrid controls. The system will be connected to the local village electric grid and serve the entire Ambler community. When fully operational, the microgrid will meet approximately 33 percent of the community's annual electricity demand, save over 30,000 gallons of diesel fuel annually, and enable over 800 hours of diesel-free operation each year—the first time diesel generators will shut down for extended periods in over 40 years. The system is projected to save approximately six annual fuel delivery flights, the primary means of fuel supply to Ambler, and deliver $6 million in cumulative fuel cost savings over the 25-year project life.

The Ambler Northwest Energy Tribal Energy Development Organization, a collaboration between the Native Village of Ambler, a federally recognized tribe, and the Northwest Arctic Borough, is the ultimate recipient. The recipient will establish an independent power producer to sell the system output to the Alaska Village Electric Coop. Costs for the power conversion system, battery energy storage system, electric boiler, power plant upgrades, interconnection, and microgrid controller will be purchased and installed outside this DOE funding agreement.

The ambler northwest energy tribal energy development organization (ANE-tedo), a collaboration between the native village of ambler ("tribe" or ambler tribe"), a federally recognized tribe, and the northwest arctic borough (NAB) the municipal governmental entity for the region, will install a community-scale, integrated renewable energy system for autonomous operation in ambler, alaska consisting of a high penetration distributed solar photovoltaic (PV) battery hybrid system connected to the local village electric grid and serve the entire community, enhancing energy security and community resilience. When fully commissioned, the system will meet about 33% of the community's total annual electricity demand, save over 30,000 gallons of diesel fuel annually, and result in over 800 hours of diesels-off operation annually, shutting the diesel generators off for the first time in over 40 years and saving approximately six fuel delivery flights each year, the primary means of fuel delivery in ambler. Over the 25-year project life, the microgrid is expected to save $6 million in fuel costs. The core technical components of the microgrid are a solar PV array of approximately 524-KW, a power conversion system (PCS) with an approximate capacity rating of 0.5-megawatts (MW)), a battery energy storage system (bess) with an approximate capacity rating of 1-megawatt hour (MWH), an electric boiler, and a microgrid controller. The microgrid is anticipated to allow for long periods of diesels-off operation during the summer months. This department of energy (DOE) office of indian energy funded agreement will fund the solar PV array of approximately 524-KW. The costs of the PCS, bess, electric boiler, power plant upgrades, interconnection, and microgrid controller will be purchased and installed outside of this DOE office of indian energy funded agreement. The ambler tribe will establish an independent power producer (IPP) to sell the system output to the alaska village electric cooperative (avec), ambler's electric utility. In cooperation with avec, this tribal energy infrastructure will become a significant generating asset and reduce outages, prevent water freeze-UPS, and save the community money and fuel. This effort is part of a broader initiative to develop renewable energy and tribal ipps in every community across the region, creating jobs and reducing costs.