Hybrid solar-diesel power is less expensive than diesel alone in parts of rural Alaska, study shows

A new study published by the Belfer Center of the Harvard Kennedy School has concluded that solar power plants are now cost-competitive with diesel for many rural Alaska communities, even if solar is only usable during part of the year.

“The conclusion was that they were pretty darn competitive,” said Henry Lee, the study’s co-author and director of the Environment and Natural Resources Program. He performed the analysis with public policy graduate student Windy Dewi, the other co-author.

“Solar actually can give you cheaper electricity and will pay for itself over time under a lot of assumptions regarding oil prices,” he said.

“Now, would you be able to go 100% on solar? Not at all. You will always need diesel, particularly in the months where there’s no sun, and you also need it durin