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Railbelt Decarbonization

Become an expert on Alaska’s Railbelt electrical grid and energy resources! Interns will choose an energy technology to perform extensive technology and availability research on to gain a greater understanding on how that technology may 1) be developed for use in the Railbelt, 2) be modeled and simulated in power system simulation software, and 3) have other non-electrical implications and consequences (such as land-use, human health, etc.). This project will contribute to ACEP’s Railbelt decarbonization projects.

Featured article: A new study will help inform decisions on hydropower technologies in Alaska

Railbelt Decarbonization (Fairbanks, AK)

Become an expert on Alaska’s Railbelt electrical grid and energy resources! Interns will choose an energy technology to perform extensive technology and availability research on to gain a greater understanding on how that technology may 1) be developed for use in the Railbelt, 2) be modeled and simulated in power system simulation software, and 3) have other non-electrical implications and consequences (such as land-use, human health, etc.). This project will contribute to ACEP’s Railbelt decarbonization projects.

Featured article: Students Gain Research Work Experience through ACEP Undergraduate Summer Internships

Kotzebue Modeling Support (Fairbanks, AK)

This project focuses on retrieving data from the Kotzebue Electric Association infrastructure through fieldwork and, in turn, creating GIS maps and electrical models with QGis, PowerFactory and HOMER software programs. The goal is to provide KEA with models and analysis to assist it in increasing renewable generation while maintaining a reliable grid. 

Featured article: Reaching Higher Renewable penetration Drives AUSI Intern Lindy Guernsey

Data Collection and Management Support (Fairbanks, AK)

In this project, a tech savvy student familiar with IT and programming will work with ACEP’s computer and information research scientist to support energy researchers. This is an opportunity to learn about the network and system architecture of data hosting platforms that are used in research institutions and designing secure computing environments in the cloud and in-field locations. The intern will work with a team to design & debug data pipelines for moving, archiving, processing, and analysing energy datasets.  use, debug, and support data processing systems. 

Featured article: Students Gain Research Work Experience through ACEP Undergraduate Summer Internships

Coastal Mapping / Hydrokinetic Characterization (Fairbanks, AK)

This project will focus on environmental characterization necessary for hydrokinetic energy applications. This will include using remote sensing data to look at coastal change and fieldwork to understand site variability. The intern will learn to apply and interpret geospatial models.

Featured article: ACEP interns explore Alaska’s uncharted waters

Cold Climate Electric Vehicle Data Analysis (Anchorage, AK)

Momentum for electric vehicles (EVs) in Alaska has grown rapidly in recent years. The objective of this internship is to analyze recent data on electric vehicles in Anchorage, Fairbanks, and other communities and investigate how energy usage varies in different conditions. In this investigation, the intern will have the opportunity to create and pursue additional lines of inquiry including, but not limited to, grid impact, integration of charging with renewable energy, EV applications in rural Alaska, or research on electrification beyond passenger vehicles (to include buses, boats, planes, snow machines, etc). The student may also help design and implement a data collection and analysis plan for additional EV and charger data from new projects in the state.

Featured article: ACEP intern supports EVs' drive north to the future

Prototype for Refrigerator Efficiency (Fairbanks, AK)

Using heat exchangers to use waste heat in diesel generators to run an absorption cycle has many practical applications in Alaska including air conditioning, refrigeration, and seafood processing. The intern on this project will build a heat exchanger prototype that will make a refrigerator more efficient. The prototype will be built using a 3D printer and laser welder and tested in the lab. The intern will present findings through internal presentations and contribute to a paper that will eventually be published. 

Featured article: Students Gain Research Work Experience through ACEP Undergraduate Summer Internships

Alaska Remote Microgrid Power System Simulations (Fairbanks, AK)

This project will be a continuation of previous work on medium voltage DC interties connecting rural Alaskan communities, to include techno-economic feasibility analyses and power system simulations. The intern may also work on developing and validating power electronic controllers using controller hardware in the loop (CHIL) and/or developing Autocad drawings for a 500 kW scale microgrid test bed. 

Featured article: Intern Explores Hydropower as Energy Solution for Northwest Arctic Villages

Co-Developed Project for Research-Bound Student (Fairbanks, AK)

This project aims to provide an opportunity to apply analytical optimization techniques (both deterministic and stochastic) to economic dispatch and unit commitment problems. As a result of this research and code development work, different decarbonization pathways can be evaluated for Alaska's Railbelt electric grid.

Featured article: From Puerto Rico to Alaska — Intern Dives into Energy Optimization Analysis

Data Collection & Management Support, Arctic Energy Atlas (Fairbanks, AK)

This project will help build onto the Arctic Energy Atlas, which characterizes energy across the North. Currently, it provides information on transmission networks, roads, rivers, coastlines and power availability. The focus of the internship will be to develop new ways of updating renewable energy sources for the Atlas. This will be an opportunity to learn about data-mining information and explore semi-automated methods. There will also be opportunities to validate other policy related datasets.

Featured article: Students Gain Research Work Experience through ACEP Undergraduate Summer Internships

Integrated Renewables in Greenhouses (Fairbanks, AK)

This project will investigate questions around food, energy, and water security for remote Alaskan communities. The intern will research issues related to integrated renewables in greenhouses and gain hands-on technical experience of design and construction of products, including thermal meters for greenhouses, control systems, and solar panel installation on greenhouses. There are opportunities to connect this project to other ACEP research projects related to water security, environmental engineering, and beneficial equitable electrification. 

Featured article: Students Gain Research Work Experience through ACEP Undergraduate Summer Internships

Electrifying Vehicles in Alaska (Fairbanks, AK)

Momentum for electric vehicles (EVs) in Alaska has grown rapidly in recent years. The objective of this internship is to analyze recent data on electric vehicles in Anchorage, Fairbanks, and other communities and investigate how energy usage varies in different conditions. In this investigation, the intern will have the opportunity to create and pursue additional lines of inquiry including, but not limited to, grid impact, integration of charging with renewable energy, EV applications in rural Alaska, or research on electrification beyond passenger vehicles (to include buses, boats, planes, snow machines, etc). The student may also help design and implement a data collection and analysis plan for additional EV and charger data from new projects in the state.

Secondarily, create a load profile for Southeast Alaska Gillnetting fishery and assist with installation and testing of troll gurdey in Sitka, Alaska.

Featured article: Students Gain Research Work Experience through ACEP Undergraduate Summer Internships

Micro Nuclear Reactor Modeling in Alaska (Fairbanks, AK)

While many companies are working on the development of micro nuclear reactors, specific considerations for Alaska’s unique conditions are not factored. The interest in microreactors in Alaska, as evidenced by the Air Force selecting Eielson Air Force Base for the development and operation of its first microreactor, continues to grow. This project will focus on modeling micro nuclear reactors in applications including small military bases, university campuses, remote mines, and village hub towns. The intern will join an ongoing project using Xendee to model fuel alternatives, CO2 savings, and energy costs. This project has the potential to contribute to publishing a paper.

Featured article: Nuclear Energy Generation Inspires AUSI Intern Gus Lewis

Coastal Mapping / Hydrokinetic Characterization (Fairbanks, AK)

This project will focus on environmental characterization necessary for hydrokinetic energy applications. This will include using remote sensing data to look at coastal change and fieldwork to understand site variability. The intern will learn to apply and interpret geospatial models.

Featured article: ACEP interns explore Alaska’s uncharted waters

Community Solar Research in Support of Solarize (Fairbanks, AK)

Solarize MatSu is a joint effort between the Alaska Center and the Alaska Center for Energy and Power (ACEP) at the University of Alaska to make residential and small commercial solar photovoltaic (PV) energy systems more accessible and affordable for homeowners and commercial property owners in Southcentral Alaska. Solarize MatSu brings neighbors together to purchase solar panels as a group to receive discounted rates on panels and installation. It will provide home and business owners less expensive panels by pairing group discount rates with available state and federal incentives. The Solarize program has been widely used in the lower 48. It allows neighbors in specific geographic areas to organize for the collective purchase of solar installation. 

Featured article: Shining a light on Alaska household solar installation motives