In the vast, rugged landscapes of Alaska, where communities are scattered and often accessible only by air or boat, a quiet revolution is unfolding. These remote outposts, once reliant on diesel generators, are now leading the charge in renewable energy innovation, harnessing the power of the elements to light up their homes and businesses.
At the heart of this transformation are microgrids – self-contained electricity distribution systems that seamlessly balance energy resources, generators, and energy users. And the University of Alaska Fairbanks’ Alaska Center for Energy and Power (ACEP) is playing a crucial role in this renewable energy revolution.
Unlocking the Potential of Remote Microgrids
More than 200 remote communities in Alaska have independent microgrids, the majority of which are diesel-based. But a growing number of these are now incorporating renewable energy sources like solar, wind, biomass, and hydro – and ACEP is there to help them every step of the way.
“Part of ACEP’s role is helping these remote communities get the most out of their microgrids,” explains Henry Toal, a research engineer at the center. “We work to help them choose whether renewable energy is the right choice for them and what sources are optimal for their unique needs.”
One such example is ACEP’s Onsite Realtime Collection and Acquisition (ORCA) project, which aims to assist communities in the development and effective integration of renewable energy. The ORCA is an “inexpensive plug-and-play device” developed by ACEP researchers and the Office of Naval Research, allowing easy collection of power plant energy use data directly from the communities.
“The data directly coming from the communities enables ACEP to analyze them and this helps communities better understand their current energy consumption patterns,” says Emilia Sakai Hernandez, the PSI project manager at ACEP. “With that information, they can make informed decisions that suit their conditions and needs in planning and integration of renewables, batteries, and other upgrades.”
Simulating Microgrid Scenarios in the Lab
But ACEP’s support for remote communities goes beyond just data collection. The center also operates the Power Systems Integration (PSI) Laboratory at the Energy Technology Facility on the UAF campus, where they can simulate and test renewable energy integration into real-world microgrid conditions.
“The PSI Lab is sized to emulate rural Alaska microgrids, which have smaller power levels than people Outside may consider,” explains Hernandez. “This design allows the PSI team to take energy load data from specific communities, plug it into the lab system, and run simulations closely mimicking real-world conditions.”
By using actual solar and wind data collected from the communities, the PSI team can run realistic simulations of integrating renewable energy sources into a community’s existing system. They can also test the integration of battery energy storage systems – devices that enable energy from renewable sources to be stored and released when the power is needed most.
“Following these simulations, the team shares the results with the communities, showing them what they would look like with their readily available natural resources,” says Hernandez. “This helps ensure smooth integration of renewables with their existing diesel-based systems.”
Optimizing Grid Bridging Systems for Remote Microgrids
ACEP’s expertise in microgrid simulation and testing has also proven valuable for private companies developing systems to work in remote settings. One such example is the Grid Bridging System (GBS), a short-term energy storage system that enables diesel generators to turn off for periods of time and run on renewables, reducing fuel use.
“The recent installation of a GBS in remote Alaska communities was first tested and optimized in the PSI Lab,” Hernandez explains. “Engineers from the Alaska Village Electric Cooperative, ACEP, and the manufacturer of the GBS performed testing in the PSI Lab and found that the controls needed to be reconfigured before it would be able to perform its intended functions.”
The manufacturer had assumed that its system, which had been created in Europe and previously tested on an urban grid-connected microgrid in Germany, would work seamlessly in rural Alaska microgrids. However, the GBS needed months of redesign and overhaul in the lab before it could be successfully delivered to the remote communities.
“We were glad that this was discovered while testing in Fairbanks rather than in St. Marys, one of the communities where the GBS was to be installed,” says Hernandez. “The testing in Fairbanks identified fixes that ensured the system could function in a remote, islanded community microgrid in Alaska.”
Driving National-Level Innovations
ACEP’s work in the PSI Lab plays a significant role on the national level as well. The center is a member of a nationwide consortium called UNIFI, which is trying to develop certain inverters – hardware that converts direct current power into alternating current – as the nation moves toward renewables.
“Because the PSI Lab can emulate a microgrid in rural Alaska, it serves a key role in helping to develop and troubleshoot designs that are unique to remote, small communities,” explains Hernandez. “The tests done at the lab ensure that rural Alaska is not left behind in the energy transitions.”
This collaborative effort not only benefits the remote communities in Alaska but also contributes to the broader national push for renewable energy integration, ensuring that the unique challenges of rural microgrids are addressed.
Funding Opportunities for Remote Clean Energy Projects
The Energy Improvements in Rural or Remote Areas (ERA) program, part of the Biden-Harris Administration’s Justice40 initiative, is providing a crucial boost to renewable energy projects in remote communities. Backed by $1 billion in funding from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, the ERA program offers grants to help rural communities develop clean energy demonstration projects that lower energy costs, improve resilience, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
The program is particularly focused on supporting rural electric cooperatives (co-ops), which are member-owned, nonprofit utilities serving more than 42 million Americans and 60% of the U.S. landmass. As the main electric utilities providing power to areas with populations of 10,000 or less, co-ops are well-positioned to leverage the ERA investments for deploying renewable energy-based microgrids.
One shining example is Holy Cross Energy, a Colorado-based co-op that’s leading the clean energy transition. With a goal to generate 100% renewable energy by 2030 and completely offset its greenhouse gas emissions by 2035, Holy Cross Energy is heavily investing in distributed energy resources like large-scale microgrids and on-site battery storage.
“Energy storage and microgrid development will be crucial to make the leap from 50% to 100% renewable energy in just seven years,” explains Jenna Weatherred, the vice president of member and community relations at Holy Cross Energy.
By pairing solar energy with battery storage, the co-op’s projects, like the Colorado Mountain College solar and battery storage complex, are not only reducing emissions but also increasing resilience and saving money for its members. And with the support of the ERA program, more remote communities like those in Alaska could follow in Holy Cross Energy’s footsteps, harnessing the power of renewable microgrids to light up their futures.
The Future of Renewable Energy in Remote Communities
As the world continues to grapple with the challenges of climate change, the innovations unfolding in remote Alaska communities offer a glimmer of hope. Microgrids powered by renewable energy are not only reducing carbon footprints and energy costs but also increasing resilience and spurring local economic development.
And at the forefront of this charge is the tireless work of the Alaska Center for Energy and Power, whose researchers are pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in remote microgrid technology. By collecting data, running simulations, and collaborating with private partners, ACEP is ensuring that these communities are not left behind in the renewable energy revolution.
The future of remote energy may be uncertain, but one thing is clear: with the ingenuity and determination of innovators like those at ACEP, the power to transform these communities is in the hands of the people who call them home. And as the world watches, these remote outposts may just become the shining example of what’s possible when we harness the elements to light up our world.
So, what are you waiting for? Explore how we can help power your renewable energy solutions and be a part of this exciting energy transformation.