ACEP Summer Internship Program 2024

Creating Contextualized Community Resources for the Railbelt Decarbonization Report: Data Visualization

After two years of scenario development, surveys, and analysis, the Railbelt Decarbonization Project is publishing the Railbelt Decarbonization Report in early 2024. Kemi will work with the PSI program manager to create digestible guides for the general public to engage with the information outlined in the report. First, Kemi will build context for understanding the energy system and physical infrastructure of the Alaska Railbelt, pulling from existing data, reports, and literature. Kemi will also build context for understanding the technical Railbelt Decarbonization Report through interviews with contributors to the report and reviews of the functions and limitations of modeling software used in the report. Then, she will identify specific audiences to create public-facing materials that empower Alaskans. These audiences and deliverables will be co-developed based on the intern’s interests and skills. Examples include:

• Infographics

• Wiki pages for undergraduate students

• Wikipedia articles

• Videos (example: How Does the Power Grid Work? by Practical Engineering)

• Infrastructure scavenger hunt

 

Introduction to Marine Energy: Community Study for River Energy in McGrath, Alaska

Lydia’s project will have two goals: 1) participate in a community assistance project evaluating river energy in McGrath, Alaska, and 2) assist PMEC staff at the TRTS in Nenana. Lydia will learn preliminary data analysis techniques for water levels and velocities measured by acoustic Doppler current profilers (ADCP). Tasks will also include planning, prepping, and executing remote fieldwork, learning how to program and deploy numerous oceanographic and river instruments (ADCPs, ADVs, CTDs, and sonars), boat driving, basic mechanical applications and development of community outreach materials. Lydia will work out of the PMEC lab/shop on the UAF Campus, with optional travel to UAA campus in Anchorage.

Liam's projects are:

1. Sustainable Aviation Fuel Study and CO2 Emissions Calculator for the Anchorage Airport
   
   A deep-dive analysis of the possibilities of Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAFs) and their practical implementation at the Ted Stevens Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport. Additionally, created a carbon dioxide emissions calculator for the Anchorage Airport, tracking real-time cargo and commercial airline movements to determine the resulting release of carbon into the atmosphere as well as general origin hotspots.
   
   
2. Waste-to-Energy Study for Fairbanks North Star Borough
   
   Studied the history of Waste to Energy globally, nationally, and within Alaska with a specific focus on the FNSB region. Analyzed two past borough failed implementations of WtE plants and determined the environmental and economic feasibility of restarting a project for general combustion of municipal waste.

Gathering Stakeholder and Community Perspectives on the Power Cost Equalization Program

Chase’s project consists of conducting interviews and surveys with a variety of stakeholders and community members across both urban and rural Alaska. As the Power Cost Equalization program (PCE) approaches its 40 year anniversary, stakeholders are beginning to discuss how PCE continues to support rural Alaska. The goal of this project is to center these conversations and include underrepresented perspectives.

3-Phase Inverter Controller

The objective of this project is to develop C/C++ code for a three-phase inverter for implementation on the DSP controller.  The controls wll be developed on our controller hardware-in-the-loop (CHIL) platform, which is based on an Opal-RT OP5707 real-time simulator.  The work will include: (1) complete design of a printed circuit board (PCB) which will interface between the DSP development board and the OP5707; (2) Become familiar control algorithms for three-phase inverters; and (3) Program the DSP chip.

Creating an Educational Resource to Tell the Story of Energy Subsidies and Renewable Energy in Rural Alaska

Talia will work to articulate how PCE is affected by different renewable energy ownership structures by creating engaging and creative online educational content. This internship will provide Talia a deep understanding of the PCE program and renewable energy ownership structures, as well as hands-on experience creating a public outreach product.

The project will be broken into two parts: 1) The intern will compile existing resources regarding PCE and deepen their understanding of the current ownership structures that exist in different Alaskan utilities through interviews and reading. 2) The intern will identify a specific audience in the general public and create an engaging educational multimedia resource regarding PCE and integrating renewables. The final outreach product will be developed based on the interest and experience of the intern.

Equitable Implementation for Rural Alaska EV Charging Station

Greta’s project will involve the collection of data relevant to EV charging infrastructure deployment in rural communities in Alaska, including socioeconomic and energy data, and to organize and package the data to be usable by a statewide team to help make decisions on EV charging infrastructure deployment. Greta will design a survey to be used in conjunction with EV charging station deployment to determine the impacts of charging stations on populations and communities in Alaska. Although charging stations funded by this project will not be deployed until subsequent years, trial runs of the survey may be tested at existing charging stations in the state. This survey may be deployed remotely via posted QR codes on the charging stations and in person via intercept surveys (where Greta will travel to the charging station and directly ask users to answer survey questions). Greta will also help determine what energy data will be able to be collected from deployed EV charging stations and what future analysis this will allow.

Introduction to Cybersecurity: Developing a Small Energy Utility Gap Assessment

The primary objective of this project is to develop a comprehensive Gap Assessment Template for small energy utilities, tailored to align with the Section 40216 Cybersecurity Plan, and incorporating principles from the NIST Cybersecurity Framework and NIST SP 800-82 Rev. 3 Guide to Operational Technology (OT) Security. This involves gaining an in-depth understanding of these frameworks and standards, focusing on their applicability to the unique challenges faced by small energy utilities. The intern will design the template to be user-friendly, adaptable, and scalable, ensuring it is applicable to a diverse range of small energy utilities. A significant aspect of the project is the integration of best practices for cybersecurity, particularly in operational technology security, ensuring the template not only assesses readiness but also guides utilities towards enhancing their security posture. The project will also involve testing the template in real-world scenarios and refining it based on feedback from industry experts or relevant stakeholders. Additionally, the intern will be responsible for creating comprehensive documentation and training materials to facilitate the effective implementation of the gap assessment process by small energy utilities.

Data Librarian

Jenae’s project will bring a data librarian intern into the ACEP Internship program to provide data management and data archiving services for other intern projects. The ACEP Data Team facilitates access to ACEP’s data, creates and maintains data inventory, and advises on data decisions both technical and ethical. They are involved in projects in data inventory, data sharing agreements, data management plans, data publishing and archiving. They are working on supporting implementation of best practices in platforms and tools that ACEP designs and uses for data governance.

Assessing the Impacts of the Diesel Fuel Life Cycle on Rural Alaskan Communities and Their Resilience

Abby will use a resilient livelihoods framework to examine the impact of diesel fuel production and use on rural Alaskan communities throughout the diesel fuel life cycle. This study aims to develop a new framework for identifying intervention points to enhance the resilience of these communities.

Introduction to Cybersecurity: Cybersecurity Awareness Training Development

RJ’s project involves developing a mini-series of modular cybersecurity awareness training presentations, each complemented by a training video. These modules are designed to be flexible, allowing for both in-person presentation and individual viewing via shared videos. Collaboration with the project mentor is essential to identify and organize the training modules and curriculum content.

For each training module, a presentation slide deck will be created, likely using Google Docs or PDF format. There will also be a focus on developing or curating legally licensed graphics and video content for the presentations. Importantly, all module content will be published under a liberal open source license, ensuring easy adoption by any organization. Each module is intended to be concise, lasting between 15 to 30 minutes.

The videos will be published on YouTube and potentially other platforms, depending on their suitability. Additionally, the project will consider alternative media formats to address issues like the digital divide, ADA accessibility, and generational communication gaps.

The training modules will cover a range of topics, including: Cybersecurity Awareness Basics, Handling Sensitive Information, Social Engineering, Cyber Hygiene and Security Tools, Digital Privacy Best Practices, Encrypting Data, Research in Cybersecurity, Cybersecurity for Seniors, Introduction to Cybersecurity Compliance Frameworks, Network Security, and Operational Security.

 

Prototyping a Solar Root Cellar

Kristian will determine if an unconventional solution using off-the-shelf materials is robust and cost effective enough for farmers to implement through a pilot test. The pilot testing would determine the system’s ability to meet the cooling load, evaluate the system’s economics, and determine maintenance needs and longevity. ACEP has most of the components in-hand and has conducted preliminary testing for an off-grid configuration. Additional testing of components and establishment of data collection methods will be required, as well as deployment, data collection, and analysis of the system.

 

Data Set Management for Digital Twin

Allison’s project supports a recently awarded NSF grant, STORM: Data-Driven Approaches for Secure Electric Grids in Communities Disproportionately Impacted by Climate Change. She will work for ACEP in support of Kartorium, a 3D digital twin platform, in supporting creation of a digital twin. This includes assisting in collecting and organizing data sets for use by the data team. Deliverables will be a data inventory of currently available and needed data sets for Project STORM's digital twin systems (2D and 3D) along with an evaluation of those data sets, for the purposes of visualization and modeling.

 

Creating Contextualized Community Resources for the Railbelt Decarbonization Report: Story Maps

After two years of scenario development, surveys, and analysis, the Railbelt Decarbonization Project is publishing the Railbelt Decarbonization Report in early 2024. Arana will work with the PSI program manager to create digestible guides for the general public to engage with the information outlined in the report. First, Arana will build context for understanding the energy system and physical infrastructure of the Alaska Railbelt, pulling from existing data, reports, and literature. Arana will also build context for understanding the technical Railbelt Decarbonization Report through interviews with contributors to the report and reviews of the functions and limitations of modeling software used in the report. Then, she will identify specific audiences to create public-facing materials that empower Alaskans. These audiences and deliverables will be co-developed based on the intern’s interests and skills. Examples include:

• Infographics

• Wiki pages for undergraduate students

• Wikipedia articles

• Videos (example: How Does the Power Grid Work? by Practical Engineering)

• Infrastructure scavenger hunt

 

 

Introduction to Marine Energy: Fieldwork and 3D Printing

Jack’s project will have two goals: 1) assist PMEC staff at TRTS and 2) create 3D models of Tanana River bathymetry data with the goal of designing a river flume for fluid dynamics testing. A wealth of data has been collected at the Tanana River Test Site including velocity and bathymetry data, and the intern will have the opportunity to observe the process of marine energy data collection while working with previously collected data for the 3D printing project. There is the potential to work on data analysis if applicable to the intern’s skills and interests.

Test Site activities will include two weeks of real-world testing with BladeRunner Energy and the assembly and deployment of a new debris diverter. Jack will be mobilizing, prepping, and implementing instruments and equipment, and be onsite for turbine testing and demobilizing. Jack will learn boat driving, basic mechanical applications, planning, prepping, and executing remote fieldwork. This position also includes learning how to program and deploy numerous oceanographic and inter-riverine instruments (ADCPs, ADVs, CTDs, and sonars), and data collection systems. Drone work and Trimble survey equipment will also be utilized at different times throughout the summer.

 

Development of an Active Vacuum Insulation System for Buildings

Micah will help advance the active vacuum insulation project. The specific focus will be co-developed, potentially:

• Testing different configurations of the active vacuum insulation system and studying the impacts of the system variables (such as the diameter of the vacuum hose connecting the vacuum pump to the panel)

• Developing a control system (for example Raspberry Pi based) that is going to take a signal from a pressure sensor and cause the vacuum pump to start or stop based on the level of the vacuum in the system
• Helping build a prototype of an active vacuum insulated building envelope.

 

Electricity Price Predictions using Data Driven Models: Machine Learning and Statistical Techniques

Developing a web application for the Fairbanks North Star Borough to predict their future Effective using historical data and trends from various key factors. Experimenting with regression-based and neural networks models to configure the best options for the public. Additional features include scenario simulation for potential situations, such as if net generation/load drops.