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ACEP news

UAF leads AI project to strengthen Alaska's rural power grids
August 11, 2026
A new energy research project led by the ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø has received a $725,000 award from the U.S. Department of Energy.

Building geothermal partnerships in Unalaska
July 31, 2026
Through a new ACEP summer research fellowship, an Unalaska science teacher is using a local volcano to help students learn about geothermal energy and explore how the community could benefit from one of its own natural resources.

New webinar series on microgrids launches Aug. 20
July 30, 2026
A new webinar series will launch on Aug. 20 aiming to help remote and isolated communities explore how microgrids can improve energy access, reliability and affordability.

Energy in the North on internship and human behavior
July 30, 2026
The "Energy in the North" episodes will feature Jeremy Kasper on the influx of ACEP summer interns on Aug. 5 and Okwuchukwu Chukwu on human behavior and electricity use on Aug. 12.
Solving Alaska’s Energy Challenges
ACEP works with Alaskan communities and industries as leaders establishing the energy systems of the future. Alaska’s remote off-grid systems present unique problems to generation, distribution and resource integration that have spurred microgrid innovations for decades.
Events

Nuclear waste reprocessing presentation
August 25, 2026
The Alaska Nuclear Energy Working Group meeting in August will feature a presentation and update from Orano's Alexander Hoppes on its nuclear waste reprocessing in France.

Webinar on system integration for microgrids
August 20, 2026
The inaugural Community Microgrid Assistance Partnership webinar on Aug. 20 will feature a presentation by experts from the National Laboratory of the Rockies titled, "System integration for microgrids: Planning to add new generation and storage assets."

Presentation on microreactor deployment
July 28, 2026
Adrienne Schweer with Oklo will discuss their microreactor deployment plan at Eielson Air Force Base during the Alaska Nuclear Energy Working Group meeting in July.
From the Grid
Dispatches from Alaska’s Energy Sector

Strengthening long-term energy resilience: Lessons from Cordova
July 31, 2026
What does it take to keep an isolated microgrid resilient for the long term? In Cordova, Alaska, the answer extends beyond hydropower and infrastructure to the people who operate, improve and sustain the system. Daisy Huang and George Reising share lessons from a community where innovation, local partnerships and workforce development are shaping the future of energy resilience.

What can Alaska learn from Iceland's geothermal success?
July 20, 2026
People around the world know Iceland for its geothermal energy. But what if its greatest energy asset is the knowledge built alongside it? ACEP researcher Eli Gudleifsson explores how decades of learning by people -- communities, engineers, researchers and policymakers -- fueled Iceland's success and what Alaska can learn as it strengthens its leadership in remote energy systems and microgrid development.

Tending to a spark: Developing tools to understand home heating
July 06, 2026
In Interior Alaska, where winter temperatures can plunge for months, heating isn't just a utility, it's survival. Yet most homes run on expensive fuel oil with little insight into how it is actually used day to day. ACEP's Alana Vilagi describes the development of a new monitoring apparatus, which helps make invisible fuel consumption visible and actionable.
Kotzebue home heating field study
Researchers at the ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø are recruiting participants for a 24-month field study in Kotzebue. The study aims to reduce fuel oil use and home heating costs.


