ACEP news
Air Force cyber operations specialist finds new solutions at ACEP
May 22, 2026
Kjell Olson joined ACEP as an intern in February. Using expertise from his Air Force service, he tries to find practical and efficient ways to integrate technology into everyday life while ensuring systems remain secure, safe and energy efficient.
UAF and NLR extend partnership
May 21, 2026
The University of Alaska Fairbanks has signed a new five-year partnership plan with the U.S. Department of Energy's National Laboratory of the Rockies.
ACEP student among top finalists at national competition
May 19, 2026
Kaarle Strailey, a Ph.D. student working at ACEP, was selected as one of six finalists in the highly competitive PITCHES competition and delivered an invited presentation at the ARPA-E Energy Innovation Summit in San Diego.
Energy in the North on electrifying shore power and more
May 19, 2026
The "Energy in the North" episode on May 27 will feature Bri Gabel, the sustainability coordinator for the City and Borough of Sitka, and on June 3, Matteo Kuizenga, an ACEP student researcher.
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
Presentations on portable micro nuclear reactors and federal nuclear energy priorities
May 26, 2026
The Alaska Nuclear Energy Working Group meeting in May will feature two presentations, one on portable micro nuclear reactors and the other on federal nuclear energy priorities.
Alaska sustainable energy conference May 19-21
May 19, 2026
The fifth annual Alaska Sustainable Energy Conference will take place May 19-21 in Anchorage. Join researchers, industry leaders, policymakers and investors from across the world as the energy transition unfolds and emerging technologies advance.
Explore Arctic research at the 2026 open house
May 14, 2026
Discover and interact with innovative research by ACEP and other research programs on the UAF Troth Yeddha' campus at the annual Arctic Research Open House on Thursday, May 14.
From the Grid
Dispatches from Alaska’s Energy Sector
From internship to publication: Undergraduate interns publish first-author papers
February 18, 2026
Publishing a paper in a peer-reviewed journal as first author while an undergrad is a monumental achievement indicating the dedication of the student and support of the mentor. In this story, Magnus de Witt describes the journey of the two 2025 ACEP summer interns he mentored, from summer projects to peer-reviewed publications and discusses the impacts on the students and future possibilities.
From planting seeds to installing solar panels: Sean McDonald's journey into Alaska's energy future
February 11, 2026
When Sean McDonald joined Upward Bound and Teaching Through Technology Alaska in 2020 as a freshman in Wrangell, Alaska, he had no idea that a virtual summer program during COVID-19 would help launch him toward a future in renewable energy. Four years later, Sean is an electrical engineering college student spending his summers helping build solar arrays across rural Alaska -- proof that hands-on learning can change a young person's entire trajectory.
Future investment critical for continued energy data access in Alaska
January 20, 2026
Alaska's energy systems are complex, serving large industrial users, military bases and remote rural communities. As demand grows and infrastructure ages, long-term, costly decisions are unavoidable, yet gaps and inconsistencies in energy data have hindered effective planning. The Alaska Energy Data Gateway addresses this challenge by providing a centralized, public platform with validated energy and socioeconomic data for communities statewide. Rebuilt through legislative investment and led by the University of Alaska, AEDG integrates millions of data points into accessible dashboards. The platform empowers policymakers, planners, researchers and residents to guide investments, assess policy impacts and plan Alaska's energy future. Continued investment is needed to keep the data current.
Kotzebue home heating field study
Researchers at the University of Alaska Fairbanks are recruiting participants for a 24-month field study in Kotzebue. The study aims to reduce fuel oil use and home heating costs.
