Many remote communities across the Arctic rely on expensive, imported fuel oil for both electricity generation and space heating, leading to a high energy cost burden for households. In an effort to reduce dependence on fuel oil, some communities in Alaska have integrated renewable energy (RE) resources into their electrical microgrids.

When excess renewably generated electricity is available, it can be sold at a discounted rate and used by consumers to charge electric thermal storage heaters (ETSH), thereby reducing heating costs. Energy efficiency must also be considered as it may be most cost-effective to reduce fuel oil consumption through a combination of energy efficiency improvements and RE capacity additions.

This research investigates whether displacing fuel oil used for space heating with energy efficiency improvements and renewably generated electricity can substantially reduce households’ energy cost burden, reduce carbon emissions and increase the RE contribution in isolated microgrids in remote Arctic communities.

ACEP researchers are partnering with Kotzebue Electric Association and the Northwest Arctic Borough to lead a 24-month field study in Kotzebue, which aims to reduce fuel oil use and home heating costs. This will be done by improving home energy efficiency and by using electric thermal storage heaters. Data from the field study will be used to inform an energy system model to include thermal loads. Additionally, the team will be looking at how state economic policies may influence the adoption of RE for space heating. 

This project is funded by the National Science Foundation Navigating the New Arctic Award #2220615