In the Pacific Ocean, we find another island that has achieved the 100% renewable target: the island of Kodiak, located in the Gulf of Alaska, which with its 8.975 km² and 15.000 inhabitants represents the 80th largest island in the world and the second largest in the United States.
Since 2008, the Kodiak Electric Association, the electricity grid operator, has chosen to decrease its dependence on diesel, aiming to 95% of production of energy from renewable sources by 2020. The good news is that the target was reached in 2016, four years in advance, with demand requirements met at 99,7%.
To achieve this objective, 6 1,5 MW wind turbines were purchased with government-free loans. In addition, a wind turbine was installed in conjunction with a 3 MW battery which, if the wind is low, starts operating for the period of time necessary for the hydroelectric plant to work at full capacity. The repayment times of the investment have been calculated in just 9 years.