Alaska Center for Energy and Power (ACEP)

ACEP recently used available data from a representative Alaska community to see if cost savings could be found after installing a large turbine in small communities. In order to find the answer, ACEP teamed up with the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium and Analysis North. Together they looked at whether electrifying various systems in the community, including some heating and vehicles, could offset the installation costs. After combining available tax credits from the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act, the clean vehicle tax credit, and accounting for the avoided costs of bulk fuel storage, the team was excited to see a positive net present value of the project with a benefit-to-cost ratio of nearly 1.4! Further research is needed to investigate the grid stability of the proposed system - stay tuned for updates on this project! Learn more about the study at: https://lnkd.in/g5BZhRk4 #windenergy #turbinepower #alaskaenergy

Haley Paine, deputy director of the Alaska Division of Oil and Gas is making a special guest appearance on this week's "Energy in the North" podcast! Listen in as Amanda Byrd, ACEP's Chief Storyteller, and Haley discuss the potential of net-zero oil production. Listen weekly to "Energy in the North" on KUAC FM 89.9 or at https://lnkd.in/gy7B84w8 on Wednesdays at 7:45 am, 8:45 am and 5:45 pm! Catch up on past podcasts: https://lnkd.in/gmmFk69Q #radio #podcast #energy #Alaska #KUAC

Teaching Through Technology along with 8 students traveled to Cordova and Valdez, AK on an educational and experiential trip this summer! The trip included tours of the Native Village of Eyak's kelp farm near Cordova and the Solomon Gulch Hatchery in Valdez, a daylong kayak trip, and an opportunity to taste kelp pickle soup! They learned about mariculture and the blue economy from a variety of experts including Tommy Sheridan, ACEP-ARCTIC Cordova coordinator and the lead for the Alaska Blue Economy Center! “My biggest takeaway is that mariculture is really important,” said Johnathan Free, a North Pole High School student who participated in the T3 summer program. “I learned that mariculture provides food and environmental benefits like kelp de-acidifying the ocean. I’d like to keep learning more about mariculture to help protect the ocean.” The students enjoyed a lot more activities on their trip - learn more about them at: https://lnkd.in/g59z4uCz #T3 #Cordova #Valdez #summerprogram

We are excited to share that ACEP's Beneficial and Equitable Electrification team had an opportunity to present their research to members of the Department of Energy labs and the DOE's Vehicle Technologies Office! The team shared their research on electric micromobility - small, low-speed, electric-powered transportation devices like snow machines. They also attended meetings with other organizations working on clean transportation solutions in Alaska. Michelle Wilber, ACEP researcher, was impressed by the attention the DOE team gave to the unique landscape of transportation evolution in Alaska. "Through these and other meetings the DOE representatives engaged in, it was clear that they gained a deeper understanding of the challenges and opportunities provided by small communities,” reported Michelle. “I hope that [this type of meeting] will allow the lab and programmatic representatives to help connect Alaska with the appropriate available resources and support as they pilot the potential solutions to cleaner transportation in the state.” Learn more about the visit with DOE at: https://lnkd.in/gZ3sTicp #cleanenergy #remotecommunities #electricenergy

Now is your chance to learn more about how Alaska communities are responding to the threat of climate change! Peter Asmus, ACEP Microgrid Strategy and Thought Leader, will be presenting at the 19th Microgrid Innovation Forum in San Francisco. The forum will be held in San Francisco and will bring together technology innovators, utilities, energy providers, developers, and policy makers to discuss microgrids in North America and globally! Register early to attend the talk on Wednesday, September 25th from 11:30 am to 12 pm! Register at: https://lnkd.in/gUZQeTYQ #microgrid #globalinnovationform

"Energy in the North" has a special guest this week - Tim Kalke, the general manager of Sustainable Energy for Galena, Alaska! Listen in as Amanda Byrd, ACEP's Chief Storyteller, and Tim talk about the role of renewable energy in the development of the independent power producer in the Yukon River Community. "Energy in the North" explores the importance and opportunities that energy and power provide to Alaska and its people. Listen weekly on KUAC FM 89.9 or stream on KUAC on Wednesdays at 7:45 am, 8:45 am and 5:45 pm! Catch up on past podcasts: https://lnkd.in/gmmFk69Q #radio #podcast #energy #Alaska #KUAC

Savannah Crichton, an ACEP researcher, represented the University of Alaska at the 2024 Solar Farm Summit! Savannah outlined Alaska's unique landscape of energy and food while moderating the breakout session, "Uncovering lessons from agrisolar stakeholders." Attendees learned about the energy hardships and food security challenges Alaska faces despite the advantages of the midnight sun. After the summit, the AgriSolar Clearinghouse hosted a Follow the Sun tour at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Savannah was inspired after seeing the community-embedded agrivoltaics system. “I’m excited to get folks out to Alaska’s research site so we can continue incorporating stakeholder voices into our project," says Savannah. Learn more about the summit at: https://lnkd.in/gkwPrrXf Top Photo courtesy of the Solar Farm Summit Savannah Crichton introduces Alaska’s agrivoltaics research project. Bottom Photo by Savannah Crichton/ACEP Agrivoltaics researchers talk about the ways that solar panels affect crop growth and soil health. #agrivoltaics #2024SolarFarmSummit #Alaska #Chicago

Brad Reeve takes us into the past of wind energy development in Alaska in a new excerpt from the forthcoming University of Alaska Press book, “Alaska Energy Innovators"! Discover the challenges faced by the Kotzebue Electric Association as they developed new technologies that had never been used anywhere else! Some of these challenges included finding ways to keep the tundra from thawing when wind turbines were installed and operated. Go back in history to learn how KEA, through determination and collaboration with many partners, installed the first operational wind turbines above the Arctic Circle! Read the excerpt at: https://lnkd.in/gTvSSzrH Photo courtesy of KEA Juxtaposition of much larger 900 kW EWT wind turbines being installed with a much smaller AOC wind turbine in the background in 2012. #Kotzebue #windturbine #Alaskaenergy

Prince William Sound Science Center has become the third facility in Alaska with a state-of-the-art seawater heat exchange system! The new facility has advanced laboratories and has plans for a science residence and dormitory! ACEP director Jeremy Kasper visited the new facility in July to learn more about how the new building will support high-wage jobs and generate new opportunities for STEAM education! The new facility will also make PWSSC and Alaska more competitive for national-level research funding and advance industries such as mariculture, aquaculture, commercial fishing, and seafood processing. Learn more about what PWSSC's plans are for the future at: https://lnkd.in/gmT-64Wy Photo by Tommy Sheridan PWSSC's Katrina Hoffman and ACEP's Jeremy Kasper visit the center’s seawater pump house in Cordova, Alaska. #Cordova #PrinceWilliamSoundScienceCenter #seawater

Searching for images or creating an image with AI requires data to be pulled from a source. Cordova, AK's new edge data centers are helping to meet the increasing demand for data! “Due to their smaller scale and modular design elements, edge data centers represent an ideal opportunity to move away from conventional diesel-based uninterruptible power supply systems to a more resilient, cost-effective and sustainable business model revolving around clean on-site generation and energy storage assets,” says Clay Koplin, CEO of Cordova Electric Cooperative. Edge data centers are small, decentralized facilities that offer computing and storage services closer to where data is generated and consumed. Edge data centers can offer a variety of benefits when located in remote microgrids including reduced cost and more accurate environmental reporting. Learn more about edge data centers at: https://lnkd.in/gD9uDSf3 Photo by Amanda Byrd/ACEP Cordova, Alaska's boat port. #microgrids #Cordova #AI