Curiosity leads Kuizenga to renewable energy research at ACEP
Matteo Kuizenga works on a variety of renewable energy projects as a student assistant at ACEP.
August 21, 2026
By Yuri Bult-Ito
“What do I do with my life?”
Matteo Kuizenga spent much of his senior year of high school and first year of college thinking about that question.
The answer, he discovered, lay at the intersection of his curiosity, his love of mathematics and his desire to make a difference in his community.
“I knew I wanted to pursue applied mathematics in some form, and I chose to pursue engineering for that reason,” he said.
A junior mechanical engineering student at the University of Alaska Fairbanks, Kuizenga has found a place to put those interests into practice as a student assistant at the Alaska Center for Energy and Power.
“Matteo is intellectually curious and very self-motivated to engage in research and analysis,” said Michelle Wilber, ACEP’s Grid Edge research team lead. “His work has broadened the team’s knowledge.”
Since joining ACEP, Kuizenga has worked on a variety of renewable energy projects. In 2025, he helped maintain the solar photovoltaic test site while contributing to a solar research project. During the ACEP summer internship program, he developed a Fairbanks energy field guide.
He is currently working with the Grid Edge research team to better understand how wildfire smoke affects solar energy production. Because smoke in the atmosphere can reduce electricity generation from solar panels, his research could help grid operators better prepare for decreases in solar power during smoky conditions.
His next project will take him to the Tanana River Hydrokinetic Test Site, where he will help explore an off-grid system that combines solar panels, battery storage and an electric vehicle charger. The goal is to charge an electric vehicle overnight using renewable energy while reducing fuel costs for trips to the test site.
“This summer, I’ll be able to learn more about microgrids, energy modeling, design and many other aspects of renewable energy systems,” he said.
Although ACEP has given him the opportunity to apply math to renewable energy challenges, Kuizenga’s curiosity began long before college.
Matteo Kuizenga, an avid fat-bike racer, enjoys biking throughout the year.
Growing up, he constantly challenged himself to learn more. He immersed himself in data science, serving as a volunteer statistician for an e-sports organization, as an officer in a data science club and, for fun, by creating and maintaining large personal data projects. More recently, he has been expanding his programming skills using a coding language called MATLAB.
His summer internship also gave him the chance to develop skills beyond technical analysis. Creating the Fairbanks energy field guide meant conducting interviews, writing about science and producing work under tight deadlines — experiences that broadened his perspective on research and communication.
His drive to keep learning carries into his life outside the classroom.
Kuizenga enjoys Fairbanks’ tight-knit community and the outdoor opportunities it offers. He grew up cross-country skiing and now competes in endurance fat-tire bike races. He recently placed third as a solo rider in an international bike race, covering nearly 150 miles.
Music is another lifelong pursuit. He has played the guitar since he was three years old and has sung in choirs in recent years.
Whether he is analyzing renewable energy systems, exploring new trails by bike or practicing guitar, Kuizenga is motivated by the same instinct — to keep learning, keep improving and keep discovering something new.