ACEP Researchers Attend Alaska Interdisciplinary Science Conference

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Photo by Michael Lindemann
UAA master's engineering student Henry Toal presents his thesis work at the Western Alaska Interdisciplinary Science Conference in Dillingham, Alaska. He partnered with ACEP's solar team on his work.

April 19, 2023

ACEP researchers are working closely with communities around the state to better understand and share research findings on topics ranging from electric vehicles to solar energy and heat pumps.

Researchers traveled to the Western Alaska Interdisciplinary Science Conference in Dillingham earlier this month to present research results and network with other researchers, educators and community representatives active in the region. 

Research faculty Tom Marsik gave an update on heat pump research and the Arctic Dual Hood vent for heat pumps. Henry Toal, a UAA master's engineering student, presented his thesis work which, in partnership with ACEP鈥檚 solar team, aims to develop a solar photovoltaic (PV) forecasting approach for rural Alaskan communities using a distributed sensor network to detect incoming clouds. The project is currently testing a set of 10 solar irradiance sensors deployed around the Kotzebue Electric Association鈥檚 500-kW solar PV array.  

Research engineer Michelle Wilber presented on what has been learned from community meetings about electric vehicles in Kotzebue, Bethel and Galena during the NSF Navigating the New Arctic-funded planning grant Electric Vehicles in the Arctic.