ACEP Â鶹¹ÙÍøers Attend Alaska Interdisciplinary Science Conference
April 19, 2023
ACEP researchers are working closely with communities around the state to better understand and share research findings on topics ranging from electric vehicles to solar energy and heat pumps.
Â鶹¹ÙÍøers traveled to the Western Alaska Interdisciplinary Science Conference in Dillingham earlier this month to present research results and network with other researchers, educators and community representatives active in the region.
Â鶹¹ÙÍø faculty Tom Marsik gave an update on heat pump research and the Arctic Dual Hood vent for heat pumps. Henry Toal, a UAA master's engineering student, presented his thesis work which, in partnership with ACEP’s solar team, aims to develop a solar photovoltaic (PV) forecasting approach for rural Alaskan communities using a distributed sensor network to detect incoming clouds. The project is currently testing a set of 10 solar irradiance sensors deployed around the Kotzebue Electric Association’s 500-kW solar PV array.
Â鶹¹ÙÍø engineer Michelle Wilber presented on what has been learned from community meetings about electric vehicles in Kotzebue, Bethel and Galena during the NSF Navigating the New Arctic-funded planning grant Electric Vehicles in the Arctic.