(For prior week's news, please visit the ACEP This Week Archive)

Report: Diesel Fuel Additives: Use and Efficacy for Alaska’s Diesel Generators

Rural Alaska communities remain dependent on diesel generators to provide electricity at costs significantly higher than costs in grid-connected communities. Reducing those costs through improving engine efficiency and/or reducing engine maintenance, is a high priority for those responsible for these systems. Some have suggested that additional efficiency gains can be realized through the use of diesel fuel additives.   ACEP worked with rural utilities and other stakeholders to conduct a preliminary assessment of the types of fuel additives available, what has been used in rural Alaska and the potential for their use in the future.

In the next week, Dr. Daisy Huang will be installing BTU meters into woody-biomass-fired hydronic heating systems in the Gulkana Village Council Office and the Tanana Fire Station in Gulkana, Alaska. These metering systems will consist of a water flow meter and a thermal sensor at both the hot side and the cold side of the water circulation system. These three data points will enable ACEP to calculate how much energy the boiler is putting into the water stream. This will then be correlated against wood feedstock information and used to relate boiler performance to feedstock quality, external temperature, as well as various other variables.

Haley McIntyre recounts her recent experience in Russia as part of the Chukotka Russian Policy Tour.

“Just across the Bering Strait from Nome, lies the Russian providence, or Okrug, of Chukotka. I was fortunate enough to travel there as a part of the American delegation celebrating the 25th Anniversary of the Beringia Days Friendship Flight. In 1988, the Ice Curtain separating families across the Bering Strait melted just long enough for 80 Americans to spend 12 hours in Provideniya, Chukotka reconnecting with long lost relatives. Since this initial flight, follow up journeys have been hosted on both sides of the boarder to talk about the past, and plan for means to work together in the future.

This year’s conference was held in Anadyr, the regional capital of Chukotka. Topics of discussion included paleontological discoveries of prehistoric cultural interactions across the land bridge, the establishment of an international nature preserve to protect this unique ecosystem, and means for promoting access and travel to Chukotka. However, the highlight of the trip was witnessing Inupiat members from both sides sharing discussions in Yupik, dancing the same beautiful Eskimo dances, and enjoying traditional foods like Muktuk.

From the energy perspective, it was fascinating to see the different trajectory taken to power and heat communities. The Russians are not shy about keeping the heat on high with their high pressure steam loop piping in heat to every building from the centralized combined coal and gas power plant. Similar to the capital, rural settlements along the coast live together in concrete buildings joined by a coal powered heat loop that keeps residents warm and electrified in this harsh region. While efforts could be made to better scrub the coal ash, a high cost for power is not something that Chukotka’s rural communities must face.”

Join the Renewable Energy Alaska Project (REAP) on Wednesday, October 9th from 6:15pm to 8pm at the Anchorage Museum Auditorium to hear Jimmy Ord from the Alaska Housing Finance Corporation speak about "Saving Energy & Money in Your Home." Jimmy will be giving his presentation on AHFC's different efficiency programs and talking about the upgrades he has made to make his own home more energy efficient.

Those outside Anchorage can also attend through REAP’s live Webinar.

• Pilgrim Project article in Alaska Dispatch published: Geothermal could be key to figuring out Nome's costly power problem
• Bedrock reached with 9 7/8” bit
• Site visit by ACEP Director and BSNC Vice President of Resources and External Affairs
• NEXT WEEK: drilling crew off until October 2nd for R&R, logging efforts will continue

To receive the daily updates contact Max Frey (mefrey@alaska.edu).

The Alaska Center for Energy & Power is an applied research program under the Institute of Northern Engineering located at the University of Alaska Fairbanks.   For more information contact Julie Estey, Business Director, Julie.estey@alaska.edu.

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