ACEP Community Energy Lecture Series
Practical Energy Solutions for Remote Locations
Speaker: Arthur Nash - UAF Cooperative Extension Service
Tuesday, November 20th
6:00-7:30 pm at the Blue Loon

See flyer for more details.

ACEP Community Energy Lecture Series
The Art and Science of Designing Energy Efficient Housing
Speaker: Jack Herbert - Cold Climate Housing Research Center
Tuesday, October 23
6:00-7:30pm at the Blue Loon

See flyer for more details.

Energy Seminars on Energy Storage
Thursday, October 18
10:30 to 12:15 in Duckering 531
Presenters: Stan Atcitty and Abbas Akhil

See Energy Seminars flyer for more information.

Are you interested in learning more about current research and  developments for alternative energy resources?

Join the Alaska Center for Energy and Power and the Cooperative Extension Service at UAF for our Community Energy Lecture Series on Tuesday, September 18, 6:00-7:30pm at the Blue Loon to hear about Geothermal Power for Nome: Updates on Pilgrim Hot Springs.  

High Voltage Direct Current - Can it Electrify Alaska

Please join us for this Special Community Energy Lecture Series.

Where:  The Anchorage Museum (121 West 7th Avenue, Rasmusson Center, Anchorage, Alaska)
When: Tuesday, September 18th, 2012, 6:00 – 7:30 PM

HVDC is being used in other areas of the world to transport large amounts of energy long distances more economically than traditional transmission lines. Is it an option for Alaska? Come learn about this exciting technology behind many of the energy discussions held in Alaska today, including a pipeline alternative to accessing North Slope natural gas and accessing the state’s stranded energy resources. Randy Wachal from the Manitoba (Canada) HVDC Research Centre will discuss the basics of the technology, international use of HVDC, and opportunities and challenges relevant to Alaska.
See flyer for more details.

Speaker presentations of the 2012 Alaska Energy Storage Workshop are online. You can search for a particular presentation in our publication database, or link to them through the agenda.

Community Energy Lecture Series

Topic:

Heating Our Communities with Biomass Energy – New Technologies for an Old Idea

Heating Alaskan homes with biomass is not a new idea. Biomass (plant material and animal waste) is the oldest source of renewable energy, used since our ancestors learned the secret of fire, but can we heat our towns with it?   Devany Plentovich of the Alaska Energy Authority will discuss recent biomass technologies utilized in commercial applications in Alaska. Tok Forester, Jeff Hermanns, will illustrate the successful use of these technologies in his presentation; Turning the Cycle of Wildfires and the Liability of Hazardous Forest Fuels in Tok into the Future Fuel that will Power and Heat our Community.

Where:   The Blue Loon (2999 Parks Highway)

When: Tuesday, May 15, 2012

6:00 – 7:30 PM

Presenters:

Devany Plentovich, Biomass Program Manager, Alaska Energy Authority

Jeff Hermanns, Tok Area Forester, Department of Natural Resources
The Tok project is also on Youtube!   Check it out at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hc2_UO5KW18

Topic:

Alaska's Waste to Energy: A Viable Option?

When: Tuesday, April 17th, 6:00 - 7:30pm

Where: Blue Loon (2999 Parks Highway)
 

Presenter:

Bernie Karl, Chena Power

Bernie Karl, owner of Chena Power, will discuss Chena Power’s project   to turn waste products, such as paper and cardboard, into a useful fuel.   His presentation will showcase Chena Power’s most recent project which is currently being commissioned just outside of North Pole, Alaska, the Chena Power Clean Biomass Generator.   The Generator facility takes in raw unprocessed mixed paper and cardboard, pelletizes it, and burns it to create electricity all in one location.

Recordings of former lectures are available on Ustream and iTunes.

Presentations of former lectures are available in our publication database.

Please send us your

feedback, comments and suggestions

and let us know what you think so we can improve this monthly event.

Topic: Hydrokinetic Research in Alaska's Rivers

When: Tuesday, March 20th, 2012, 6-7:30pm

Where: Blue Loon (2999 Parks Highway)
 

Presenter:

• Jim Norman , ABS Alaskan, Inc.
• Jerome Johnson , Institute of Northern Engineering, UAF
• Andrew Seitz , School of Fisheries and Oceanic Sciences, UAF

With many of Alaska's communties located along major waterways or near tidal basins, there is significant interest from developers, utilities and communities to develop Alaska's hydrokinetic power resource.

A recording of the lecture will be available on iTunesU. 

Topic:

• Wind Energy Developments in Fairbanks

When:

• February 21st, 2012 from 6pm to 7:30pm

Where:

• The Blue Loon, (2999 Parks Hwy, Fairbanks)
  Live web-streaming of the event will be available if Internet connection allows.

Presenters:

• TBD, Golden Valley Electric Association (GVEA)
• Frank Williams, Alaska Center for Energy and Power (ACEP)
  

While Fairbanks is not known for its wind resource, GVEA is playing a significant role in Alaska’s critical wind energy development. Join us for an update on the Eva Creek wind project and UAF researcher, Frank Williams, to hear about new options for testing and improving wind systems in Alaska.

Eva Creek Wind Farm near Healy, Alaska
At 24-megawatts, Eva Creek will be the largest wind project in Alaska. Not only will it help diversify GVEA’s fuel mix, but it will allow them to meet their renewable energy pledge of 20 percent renewable power by 2014. GVEA anticipates completion of this project and first generation of energy by September 2012, provided there are no construction delays.
Location of project: Ferry, Alaska – near Healy


Alaska Center for Energy & Power’s new Energy Technology Facility
(just opened in February 2012)
One of three test-beds announced during last week’s grand opening of the ACEP’s new facility is the Hybrid Application Laboratory. Designed for maximum flexibility, the test bed will be used to assess a wide range of islanded generation scenarios, as well as the performance of individual components within the system. This state of the art capability will allow ACEP to work with industry and utilities to optimize existing and improve performance of future installations of hybrid wind power systems typical of small communities.

Recordings of former lectures are available on Ustream and iTunes.

Presentations of former lectures are available in our publication database.

Please send us your feedback, comments and suggestions and let us know what you think so we can improve this monthly event.

 

Topic: Stranded Renewable Resources in Alaska

When: Tuesday, January 17, 2012, 6-7:30pm

Where: Blue Loon (2999 Parks Highway)
 

Presenter:

• Brian Hirsch, National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL)
• Jason Meyer, Alaska Center for Energy and Power (ACEP)
• Eric Johnson, Alaska Center for Energy and Power (ACEP)
  
   

Alaska is home to significant renewable energy resources. Geothermal, wind, tidal, wave, hydro and even solar and biomass resources have the theoretical potential to not only meet the majority of Alaska’s in-state energy needs, but also provide tremendous economic and strategic opportunities for the State and the Nation.

Despite the many opportunities for developing these resources, there are also significant barriers. Foremost among these challenges is the fact that many of Alaska’s renewable energy resources are stranded.

A recording of the lecture will be available on iTunesU. 

Power Play: Energizing Our Lives, Fueling Alaska's Future

This exhibition, developed by the UA Museum of the North and the Alaska Center for Energy and Power, demonstrates how Alaskans can power their daily lives. It challenges visitors to think about energy diversification and conservation, explores ways to balance Alaska’s energy needs, and highlights cutting edge solutions.

Fore more information, click here and check out these Youtube videos (Round 1, Round 2, Round 3).
 

Topic: Alaska Crude: A Brief History of Oil and Gas in the 49th State

When: Tuesday, November 15th, 2011, 6-7:30pm

Where: Blue Loon (2999 Parks Highway)
 

Presenter:

• Ross Coen - ACEP
   

Everyone knows about Prudhoe Bay and the pipeline, but Alaska's history of oil development goes back much further than that. From the first oil well at Katalla in 1902 right up to the present day, oil development has had a profound impact on Alaska. Ross Coen explored the political, economic, environmental, and social history of Alaska's oil industry and how our complicated relationship with the valuable resource has influenced life in Alaska at almost every turn.

A recording of the lecture is available on Ustream. 

October 26th, 2011

The purpose of this conference was to document and present the activities, progress and results of hydrokinetic energy projects and research relevant to Alaska to interested stakeholders in order to progress the development of a hydrokinetics industry in Alaska.

For more information, click here.

Topic: Energy Efficiency: Its Common Sense

When: Tuesday, October 18th, 2011, 6-7:30pm

Where: Blue Loon (2999 Parks Highway)
 

Presenters:

• Katie Conway - AEA
• Robbin Garber-Slaght - CCHRC

October is “Energy Awareness Month”!

The lecture's spotlight was “Energy Efficiency: Its Common Sense”. The cheapest energy is the energy you don’t use.  The audience could find out how to reduce their monthly energy consumption – and save money – by making small but important changes in their homes and in the community.

Presentations are available in our publication database.

 

The Alaska Rural Energy Conference brings energy experts together to provide practical information on energy projects, ideas, and solutions for Alaska's Communities.

The 2011 conference was held for the first time in Southeast Alaska in Juneau on September 27-29, 2011 at Centennial Hall.

Conference recordings are available on Ustream and iTunes.

Presentations are available in our publication database.
 

For more information about the conference, click here.
 

Topic: Energy from Cold-Loving Bacteria: Alaska’s New Answer to Biogas

When: Tuesday, June 21st, 2011, 6-7:30pm

Where: Blue Loon (2999 Parks Highway)
 

Presenter:

• Casey Pape, WERC

Throughout the world, people use biodigestors to turn organic waste streams into a methane-rich fuel called Biogas. However, the technology is typically dependent on bacteria that require a warm environment, ruling out this technology in Alaskan communities. UAF professor Katy Walters-Anthony recently discovered a potential alternative using psychrophilic bacteria which thrive at near freezing conditions in Alaska’s lake bottoms. UAF Researcher Casey Pape will discuss his work with Cordova teens turning their lunch room scraps into energy using cold-loving bacteria from Fairbanks ponds.

A recording of the lecture is available on Ustream.

Casey's presentations is available in our publication database.

Project information and updates can be found on the Alaska Energy Wiki.

 

Topic: Ground Source Heat Pumps - Using the Earth to Heat your home

When: Tuesday, May 17th, 2011, 6-7:30pm

Where: Blue Loon (2999 Parks Highway)
 

Presenters:

• Colin Craven, CCHRC

• Jason Meyer and Dominique Pride, ACEP

While ground source heat pumps (GSHPs) are widespread across the United States, there is relatively limited experience specific to the practicality of using GSHPs in cold climates. Recently, there have been several high-profile GSHP installations in Alaska indicating a broader interest amongst homeowners, businesses and government entities to explore this alternative space heating method. Learn about options for homes and business from ACEP and CCHRC researchers who just completed a study of systems in Alaska and other cold-weather regions.

Presentations are available in our publication database.

A video recording of the lecture is available here.

 

The Alaska Solar Tour is an annual, free, self-guided tour and features home and business sites in our community that showcase installations of solar thermal, PV (photovoltaic), wind turbines, hydro power, and green building features. ACEP is supporting this annual event and organizes the tour for Fairbanks.

• Participating sites
• Interactive map
• Flyer

For more information and to find tour dates for your community contact Markus at 474-1143 or visit: www.alaskasolartour.org

April 28-29, 2011

The Business of Clean Energy in Alaska Conference brings together researchers, project developers, business, civic and government leaders from around the state, nation and the world in a strategic and educational forum to share information and ideas for moving Alaska toward a sustainable energy future.

For more information, click here.

April 25th-27th, 2011

Topic: Moving towards the Zero Energy House

When: Tuesday, April 19th, 2011, 6-7:30pm

Where: Blue Loon (2999 Parks Highway)
 

Presenter:

• Thorsten Chlupp, REINA Alaska
   
• Richard Seifert, CES

Presentations will soon be available in our publication database.

A video recording of the lecture is available here.

 

Juneau, Alaska
March 23^rd

Enhanced Geothermal Systems being presented by Jeff Tester, Director of Cornell Energy Institute. The Legislative Lunch & Learn was sponsored by ACEP and DGGS.

A copy of Jeff Tester’s presentation materials can be downloaded from our publication database.

Click here to download a recording of the event.

Additional information and the report "The Future of Geothermal Energy" can be found here.

Topic: New Options for Coal

When: Tuesday, March 22nd, 2011, 6-7:30pm

Where: Blue Loon (2999 Parks Highway)
 

Presenter:

• Brent Sheets, NETL Arctic Energy Office
   
• Rajive Ganguli, Professor of Mining Engineering, UAF
   
• Dennis Witmer, Energy Efficiency Evaluations

In many places, including Alaska, coal is an abundant, affordable and locally available source of power and heat. Experts discussed innovative ways to utilize coal as a viable option in Alaska’s long term energy portfolio.

Presentations will soon be available in our publication database.

A video recording of the lecture is available here.

 

Girdwood, Alaska
March 8^th-11^th

The workshop offered FREE wind-diesel related short courses, numerous workshop opportunities, field trips to project sites at Kokhanok and Kodiak Island, and the expertise of a wide range of presenters and keynote speakers.
 

Video recordings from the Wind Diesel Conference are available on iTunes.
Presentations are available in our publication database.

More information can be found here.

 

Juneau, Alaska, February 14^th

The objectives of the forum are to provide an opportunity for the public to learn about current EET
programs and projects in Alaska, to provide a forum for discussion and feedback from the current
projects, and to informally discuss next steps in terms of project and technology.

Agenda can be found here

Topic: The Nuclear Option - Are Small Scale Nuclear Power Plants an option for Alaska?

When: Tuesday, January 18th, 2011, 6-7:30pm

Where: Blue Loon (2999 Parks Highway)
 

Presenter:

• Dennis Witmer, Energy Efficiency Evaluations
  
  
• Tobias Schwörer, Institute of Social and Economic Research
   

Small scale nuclear power plants have been suggested at various times for both rural and Railbelt energy production in Alaska. With nuclear energy receiving renewed national and global attention, should Alaska consider it to solve our energy issues?

This lecture provided an overview of small scale nuclear technology and its potential applications in Alaska. Design and permitting considerations, safety and security, economics, ownership, resource and environmental issues were discussed.

Presentations are available in our publication database.

A video recording of the lecture is available here (via iTunes download).

The Newsminer article about the lecture can be found here.

Flyer

_____

ACEP held a Nuclear Energy Exploratory Workshop in December. Here is the link to the website, presentations are available as well.

There was also an article on The Economist that provides a good market overview on small scale nuclear.
 

Katherine Keith, of Alaska Center for Energy and Power, and Ginny Fay, of Institute of Social and Economic Research, gave an informative presentation on their report on wind power in Alaska. They talked about the economic benefits of wind energy, how the systems in Alaska have performed and the issues remaining for the development of these systems in Alaska. If you missed the forum, click on the link below to listen to the podcast and see the PowerPoint presentation.

January Forum Presentation (35 MB)
January Forum Podcast

Source:
Renewable Energy Alaska Project