Internship Projects

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  ACEP Internship Program 2023

  In its fifth year, the ACEP Utility Student Internship program selected 19 interns to pursue projects in various areas of energy research. Students are each mentored by an Alaska Center for Energy and Power (ACEP) researcher on a project around the state to work on a variety of energy research.

  The internship cohort consists of both internship strands -- NSF REU (Research Experiences for Undergraduates) as well as the ACEP Undergraduate Student Internship (AUSI). 

  As part of their preparatory work, the students attended a five-day Microgrid Boot Camp, an intensive experiential training week focusing on the resources, technologies and operations of Alaska's wide range of microgrid energy systems.

  To learn more, visit the ACEP YouTube page for the intern final presentation recordings.

  2023 Interns

  • • Sarah Andreanoff
    • Major: Geoscience; Minor: Biological sciences -- UAF
    • Participating Partner(s): Mentor: Vanessa Raymond (Fairbanks, AK)

    Data Librarian

    Sharing, locating, and accessing scientific data is essential to the research process. Data librarians support other intern projects regarding data management and governance. Improve internal processes of the ACEP data program and contribute to a data culture based on best practices and ethical guidelines. Special projects: Develop a cooperative card game that reinforces data management skills and culture. Working with Kartorium to map the village of Galena using UAVs.

    This project is part of the AUSI internship strand and is made possible by funding from the ACEP Data Collection & Management initiative.

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    • Find out more about Sarah Andreanoff's projects.

    
  • • Lauren Bryan
    • Major: Environmental Science; Minors: Chemistry, Political Science, Geology -- Hope College
    • Participating Partner(s): Mentor: Erin Trochim (Fairbanks, AK)

    Arctic Energy Atlas

    This project seeks to examine the viability of connecting the Pan-Arctic power grids, with the aim of increasing both community development, sustainable energy resources and national security. Bryan will work to analyze the financial, geographic, and political constraints on grid development, using cloud-based geospatial processing to develop visualizations. Multiple scenarios for grid development will be considered, ranging from international development to development at community level. 

    This project is part of the AUSI internship strand and is made possible by funding from the Denali Commission.

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    • Find out more about Lauren Bryan's projects.

    
  • • Adrian Burke
    • Major: Computer Engineering -- UAF
    • Participating Partner(s): Mentor: Vanessa Raymond (Fairbanks, AK)

    Data Librarian

    Sharing, locating, and accessing scientific data is essential to the research process. Data librarians support other intern projects regarding data management and governance. Improve internal processes of the ACEP data program and contribute to a data culture based on best practices and ethical guidelines. Special projects: Develop a cooperative card game that reinforces data management skills and culture. Design a video game that illustrates the principles of community-based microgrid development.

    This project is part of the NSF REU internship strand and made possible by funding from the National Science Foundation.

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    • Find out more about Adrian Burke's projects.

    
  • • Ashton Curry
    • Major: Computer Science -- UAA
    • Participating Partner(s): Mentor: Michelle Wilber (Anchorage, AK)

    Analyzing Electric Vehicle Performance in the North

    Momentum for electric vehicles (EVs) in Alaska has grown rapidly in recent years. The objective of this internship is to analyze recent data on electric vehicles in Anchorage, Fairbanks, and other communities and investigate how energy usage varies in different conditions. In this investigation, the intern will create a charging station model that will place charging stations along road systems using data collected from EVs in Alaska. The charging stations for EVs will be placed at the theoretical lowest average ranges for EVs to ensure all EVs can make it through the Alaska road system. Curry may also look into electrification of public transportation in Anchorage, such as the people mover system.

    This project is part of the AUSI internship strand and is made possible by funding from the Office of Naval Research.

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  • • Rachel Curtis
    • Major: Engineering Science; Minors: Physics, Creative Writing -- Trinity University
    • Participating Partner(s): Mentor: Mark Masteller, Dominique Pride (Fairbanks, AK)

    The High Cost of Kotzebue Home Heating: Learning the story, telling the story

    Curtis’ project focuses on energy use in rural Alaska, building science, and energy education. As part of ACEP’s Diesel-Free Heating study through the NSF Navigating the New Arctic program, Curtis will learn the basic inputs of AKWarm, the energy audit software used in Alaska, attend Arctic Lecture Series and growth mindset in research training, and shadow staff installing fuel flow and other home energy-monitoring devices. Curtis will work with Teaching through Technology (T3) to develop energy education materials that can be used for middle and high school students interested in exploring building science and energy literacy. She will travel to Kotzebue, Alaska, and the village of Noatak to work with the T3 Upward Bound summer program and shadow and assist a professional energy auditor with energy audits on sixteen local residences.

    This project is part of the AUSI internship strand and is made possible by funding from the Office of Naval Research.

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  • • Cameron Dolan
    • Major: Computer Science -- UAA
    • Participating Partner(s): Mentor: Michelle Wilber (Anchorage, AK)

    Analyzing Electric Vehicle Performance in the North

    Momentum for electric vehicles (EVs) in Alaska has grown rapidly in recent years. The objective of this internship is to analyze recent data on electric vehicles in Anchorage, Fairbanks, and other communities and investigate how energy usage varies in different conditions. In this investigation, Dolan will develop a general-use energy optimization model to determine the feasibility of integrating EVs and EV charging stations in microgrid communities. The model will use data from the energy sources in the communities as well as electrical load data to measure this feasibility. Dolan may also analyze data obtained from large electric utility trucks in order to assist the Anchorage Municipality in acquiring electric garbage trucks.

    This project is part of the AUSI internship strand and is made possible by funding from the Office of Naval Research.

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  • • Audrey Eikenberry
    • Major: Electrical Engineering -- UAF
    • Participating Partner(s): Mentor: Phylicia Cicilio (Fairbanks, AK)

    Synthetic Power System Model Development, Electrical Engineering Track

    The goal of this project is to develop a fictional but realistic electrical grid model of a remote Alaskan community based on real and publicly available information. The work will include data collection of publicly available electrical grid information of remote Alaskan microgrids and performing statistics on that data to develop metrics that quantify key characteristics of these systems. There will be opportunity to learn power system modeling software to develop a synthetic microgrid model based on the developed metrics that will be overlaid on a geographical area of a community with location specific resource availability (such as from wind and solar generation).

    This project is part of the NSF REU internship strand and is made possible by funding from the National Science Foundation.

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  • • Dallas Fisher
    • Major: Electrical Engineering; Minors: Environmental Science, Mathematics -- Hope College
    • Participating Partner(s): Mentor: Phylicia Cicilio (Fairbanks, AK)

    Railbelt Decarbonization and Energy Resources

    Become an expert on Alaska’s Railbelt electrical grid and energy resources! Interns will choose an energy technology (he will be working with long term energy storage) to perform extensive technology and availability research on to gain a greater understanding on how that technology may 1) be developed for use in the Railbelt, 2) be modeled and simulated in power system simulation software, and 3) have other non-electrical implications and consequences (such as land-use, human health, etc.). This project will contribute to ACEP’s Railbelt decarbonization projects.

    This project is part of the AUSI internship strand and is made possible by funding from the Office of Naval Research.

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    • Find out more about Dallas Fisher's projects.

    
  • • Cathy Hou
    • Major: Computer Science; Minors: Environmental Science, Public Policy -- Harvard College
    • Participating Partner(s): Mentor: Phylicia Cicilio (Fairbanks, AK)

    Synthetic Power System Model Development, Data Track

    The goal of this project is to develop a fictional but realistic electrical grid model of a remote Alaskan community based on real and publicly available information. The work will include data collection of publicly available electrical grid information of remote Alaskan microgrids and performing statistics on that data to develop metrics that quantify key characteristics of these systems. There will be opportunity to learn power system modeling software to develop a synthetic microgrid model based on the developed metrics that will be overlaid on a geographical area of a community with location specific resource availability (such as from wind and solar generation).

    This project is part of the NSF REU internship strand and is made possible by funding from the National Science Foundation.

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    • Find out more about Cathy Hou's projects.

    
  • • Lauren Leadbetter
    • Major: Data Science; Minor: Applied Mathematics -- Claremont McKenna College
    • Participating Partner(s): Mentor: Ben Loeffler (Fairbanks, AK)

    Cook Inlet Tidal Mapping

    The Cook Inlet contains the majority of the US's tidal energy potential and is adjacent to the Alaska railbelt electrical grid.  The railbelt is reliant on declining natural gas production in Cook Inlet to provide electricity and space heating to residents.  Hilcorp Alaska owns and operates 15 oil and gas platforms in Cook Inlet and is publicly making them available for tidal energy research and development and potentially as hubs for future commercial harvesting of the tidal energy resource.  The intern on this project will work with subject matter experts at ACEP and National Labs to investigate existing datasets collected by Hilcorp in the course of their oil and gas operations, including bathymetry, ADCP, salinity, turbidity, and environmental data.  These data will be used to evaluate the potential of hydrokinetic technology deployment and to identify data gaps that need further study.

    This project is part of the AUSI internship strand and is made possible by funding from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory.

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  • • Gus Lewis
    • Major: Electrical Engineering; Minor: Mathematics -- UAA
    • Participating Partner(s): Mentor: Phylicia Cicilio (Fairbanks, AK)

    Railbelt Decarbonization and Energy Resources

    This project works with Alaska’s Railbelt electrical grid and energy resources. Gus will choose an energy technology (i.e. solar, wind, tidal, geothermal, hydro, heat pumps, electric vehicles, etc.) to perform extensive technology and availability research on to gain a greater understanding on how that technology may 1) be developed for use in the Railbelt, 2) be modeled and simulated in power system simulation software, and 3) have other non-electrical implications and consequences (such as land-use, human health, etc.). This project will contribute to ACEP’s Railbelt decarbonization projects. My research was specific to nuclear small modular reactors (SMRs). I was and am responsible for compiling information related to particular models currently in operation worldwide and those in development. These machines were implemented around the Railbelt using various software programs and simulated for power flow.

    This project is part of the AUSI internship strand and is made possible by funding from Sandia National Laboratory and the Office of Naval Research.

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  • • Kate Modler
    • Major: Physics, Environmental Science; Minor: Data Science -- University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
    • Participating Partner(s): Mentor: Chris Pike (Fairbanks, AK)

    Solar Research Design and Analysis

    Modler will assist in current and individual community based solar projects from a multitude of lenses. Primarily, she will spend time developing knowledge and insight in the application of solar arrays for specialized communities. Tasks will include preliminary research on solar related fields like snow drifting effects, conducting a comparative study with solar data from the Fairbanks community comparing flush mounted and high tilt solar arrays, and inspecting the degradation of solar modules. Modler will also design and implement a ground temperature monitoring system for a solar array in Kotzebue to provide insight to stabilize the array in the future. Weekly maintenance and monitoring of the local solar test site and weather station will also be the intern’s responsibility. Through these tasks, Modler will have the unique opportunity to analyze the clean energy transition in Alaska and craft hands-on research and development experience in sensors, data logging, and programming.

    This project is part of the AUSI internship strand and is made possible by funding from the Office of Naval Research.

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  • • Kristian Nudlash-Barger
    • Major: Electrical Engineering -- UAA
    • Participating Partner(s): Mentor: Chandler Kemp (Dillingham, AK)

    Green Energy Project: Hands-on technical measurements in mariculture

    The green energy project aims to realign the industry at a critical time so that as it grows without developing a dependence on fossil fuels. Nudlash-Barger will be trained to install data logging devices that measure site energy use, then travel to various locations in Alaska to build relationships with local mariculture practitioners and install data logging devices. Nudlash-Barger will be responsible for overseeing data collection from the logging devices and compiling it into a final report. Data loggers may be electric meters that must be clamped around conductors, pressure sensors that are installed in hydraulic lines or flow sensors installed in fuel lines. The data will be extracted to comma separated variable files and processed using the Python programming language. The report will describe preliminary findings, identify opportunities for improvement in the measurement process and suggest key components of a standardized mariculture energy audit process.

    This project is part of the AUSI internship strand and is made possible by funding from the Office of Naval Research.

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  • • Mary Ella Rinzler
    • Major: Physical Geography, Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences; Minors: Arctic Studies, Geographic Information Sciences -- University of Colorado Boulder
    • Participating Partner(s): Mentor: Erin Trochim, Noelle Helder (Fairbanks, AK)

    Coastal Mapping

    This project will focus on understanding coastal environments across the state. In Alaska, there are many opportunities for marine energy, including offshore wind, wave, riverine, and tidal. We need better characterizations of the coastal and ocean environments to understand where and when this technology is viable. Rinzler is working on creating a StoryMap through ArcGIS detailing the project to create a space where community members and government agencies can learn about how and why data is being collected and how they can access this data. Rinzler will also be working in Google Earth Engine and QGIS to aid in the creation of the StoryMap.

    This project is part of the NSF REU internship strand and is made possible by funding from the National Science Foundation.

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  • • Karsten Sierra
    • Major: Mechanical Engineering -- UAF
    • Participating Partner(s): Mentor: Erin Trochim, Noelle Helder (Fairbanks, AK)

    Coastal Mapping

    Karsten joins Erin Trochim's exceptional team to study Alaska's coastal environments, focusing on marine energy research that directly benefits coastal communities.This involves processing Alaskan coastal geospatial data to explore offshore wind, wave, riverine, and tidal power potentials. Karsten will learn techniques for analyzing diverse coastal remote sensing data, including satellite imagery and Topobathy LiDAR. Karsten will also conduct hands-on fieldwork, collecting and analyzing geospatial data using UAS (Small Unmanned Aircraft).

    This project is part of the AUSI internship strand and made possible by funding from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. 

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  • • Jobel Y. Villafañe-Pagán
    • Major: Geology -- University of Puerto Rico Mayaguez
    • Participating Partner(s): Mentor: Dayne Broderson (Fairbanks, AK)

    Galena Energy Infrastructure Mapping

    The project will focus on developing the best available GIS database that community members and researchers can use as work is done to map energy infrastructure for the community. Villafañe-Pagán will summarize the geo-environmental challenges for Galena’s energy infrastructure and energy planning (public facing, for the community).

    This project is part of the AUSI strand and is made possible by funding from the Office of Naval Research.

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  • • Eli Willett
    • Major: Ocean Engineering, Aerospace Engineering -- Virginia Tech
    • Participating Partner(s): Mentor: Steph Fisher (Fairbanks, AK)

    Hydrokinetics and Field Work Introduction

    This internship is the ideal opportunity to learn the basics of hydrokinetic field work including mobilization, operations, and demobilization of the Tanana River Test Site (TRTS), Coastal Mapping, Backyard Buoys, Terrain Interactions, among other projects. The intern can expect to learn boat driving, basic mechanical applications, planning, prepping, and executing remote fieldwork. This position also includes learning how to program and deploy numerous oceanographic instruments (ADCPs, ADVs, CTDs), and data collection systems (Campbell data loggers). Drone work and Trimble survey equipment will also be utilized at different times throughout the summer. Intern will work out of UAF’s Pacific Marine Energy Center (PMEC) lab/shop on the UAF Campus and can expect lots of hands-on work.

    This project is part of the AUSI strand and is made possible by funding from the Office of Naval Research.

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    • Find out more about Eli Willett's projects.

    
  • • Lilian Zhu
    • Major: Computer Science, Mathematics -- Harvey Mudd College
    • Participating Partner(s): Mentor: Erin Trochim (Fairbanks, AK)

    Arctic Energy Atlas

    The Arctic Energy Atlas focuses on estimating future grid connectivity across the Pan-Arctic power grids, a region characterized by many, smaller microgrids. The project aims to analyze data on transmission networks, roads, rivers, coastlines, and power availability by using cloud-based geospatial processing and developing visualizations. The intern will evaluate financial, geographic, and political constraints on grid development, with policy and economic implications in mind and the goal of increasing sustainable energy resources and the resiliency of the grid network as a national security concern. 

    This project is part of the NSF REU internship strand and is made possible by funding from the National Science Foundation.

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    • Find out more about Lilian Zhu's projects.

    

• Summer 2021

  Utility Student Internship 2021

  In its third year, the ACEP Utility Student Internship program selected 13 interns to pursue projects in various areas of energy research. The Alaska Center for Energy and Power (ACEP) has partnered with utilities/organizations around the state to work with interns in a combination of remote work and on-site visits.

  Several of the interns are enrolled in University of Alaska programs of computer science, electrical and mechanical engineering; two are enrolled in economics programs. One intern is an Alaskan at Montana State University studying industrial/management systems engineering and mechanical/industrial engineering programs, and another intern is a Canadian masters student pursuing an Indigenous Development program at the University of Winnipeg.

  As part of their preparatory work, the students successfully completed the Alaska Energy Utility Lecture Series, a 1-credit hour course through UAF Bristol Bay Campus, during the 2021 spring semester.  Immediately preceding the internship, the students attended a 5-day ACEP/ASU Microgrid Boot Camp, an intensive training course focusing on the resources, technologies and operations of Alaska's wide range of microgrid energy systems.

  2021 Interns

  • • Emma Beeler
    • Major: Electrical Engineering -- UAF
    • Participating Partner(s): Kawarak Inc. / Pilgrim Hot Springs (Nome, AK)
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  • • Ryan Bickford
    • Major: Industrial / Management Systems Engineering; Mechanical & Industrial Engineering -- Montana State University
    • Participating Partner(s): CASES Project (Galena, AK)
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  • • Max Brinker
    • Major: Mechanical Engineering -- UAA
    • Utility: Sitka Electric Department (Sitka, AK)
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  • • Noah Faso-Formoso
    • Major: Electrical Engineering -- UAA
    • Participating Partner(s): ACEP / IARC (Fairbanks, AK)
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  • • Ramiro Garcia
    • Major: Computer Science -- UAA
    • Participating Partner(s): ACEP Data Collection & Management (Fairbanks, AK)

    
  • • Hyun Jang
    • Major: Economics -- UAA
    • Participating Partner(s): ACEP (Fairbanks, AK)
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  • • Jack McCaslin
    • Major: Mechanical Engineering -- UAA
    • Participating Partner(s): Tanana Chiefs Conference (Hughes, AK)
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  • • Luke Meiwes
    • Major: Mechanical Engineering; Electrical Engineering -- UAA
    • Utility: Alaska Power & Telephone (Eagle, AK)
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  • • Agustin Mendoza
    • Major: Electrical Engineering - Alternative power generation & Electromagnetics -- UAF
    • Participating Partner(s): Delta Wind Farm (Delta Junction, AK)
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  • • Jules Mermelstein
    • Major: Electrical Engineering; Sustainable Energy OEC -- UAA
    • Participating Partner(s): ACEP (Fairbanks, AK)
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  • • Wayne Koelsch
    • Major: Mechanical Engineering -- UAF
    • Participating Partner(s): ACEP (Fairbanks, AK)
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  • • Cloda O'Neill
    • Major: Business Economics -- UAA
    • Participating Partner(s): Solarize Fairbanks (Information Insights) (Fairbanks, AK)
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  • • Kate Robb
    • Major: Development Practice: Indigenous Development -- University of Winnepeg
    • Participating Partner(s): CASES Partnership

    

• Summer 2020

  Utility Student Internship 2020

  The ACEP Utility Student Internship program is on its second year running for summer 2020. The Alaska Center for Energy and Power (ACEP) and participating utilities/organizations selected a total of 10 students to work on identified energy research projects. Several of the interns are enrolled in University of Alaska electrical and mechanical engineering degree programs; the other three students are enrolled in a computer engineering program at Purdue University, a mechanical engineering degree at Seattle Pacific University and a master's degree program in Sustainable Energy Systems at Imperial College London. As part of their preparatory work, the students successfully completed the Alaska Energy Utility Lecture Series, a 1-credit hour course through UAF Bristol Bay Campus, during the 2020 spring semester.  Immediately preceding the internship, the students attended a 5-day Microgrid Boot Camp, an intensive training course focusing on the resources, technologies and operations of Alaska's wide range of microgrid energy systems.

  Find the 2020 intern project highlights in the news here.

  2020 Interns

  • • Josiah Alverts
    • Major: Mechanical Engineering -- UAF
    • Participating Partner(s): Alaska Power & Telephone (AP&T) (Eagle)

    As an intern for AP&T for the summer of 2020, Josiah Alverts is using the XENDEE microgrid design tool to working on a project on a Skagway radiator for a new engine, and a feasibility study in Eagle, Alaska, and other interior communities. He also makes AutoCAD conversions, file updates and site drawings.

    Alaska Power and Telephone (AP&T) is a power and telecommunications utility which services many locations in southeast and interior Alaska. They operate both diesel and hydroelectric power plants and the power needs of their customers are steadily growing. As their company expands, AP&T has pushed to generate cleaner and more sustainable power for their customers. In some large communities such as Upper Lynn Canal (ULC) and Prince of Wales (POW), most of their power generation consists of storage hydro and run-of-river hydro. However, AP&T (in a partnership with Haida Corporation) is currently constructing a new 5 MW storage hydroelectric system on POW called the Hiilangaay Hydropower Project, which will even further decrease the need for diesel throughout the year. AP&T is also researching the implementation of an energy storage system (ESS) in ULC to allow the area’s storage and run-of-river hydros to better offset diesel consumption in the winter months.

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  • • Jordan Barde
    • Major: Mechanical Engineering -- Seattle Pacific University
    • Participating Partner(s): Copper Valley Electric Association (CVEA) (Valdez)

    Jordan Barde interned with Copper Valley Electric Association (CVEA) to assist with identifying and analyzing options for possible future integration of nuclear micro-reactors into the grid.

    Barde performed a feasibility study for the integration of nuclear microreactors into Copper Valley Electric Association’s grid.

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  • • Logan Borger
    • Major: Mechanical Engineering -- UAF
    • (Yakutat, Fairbanks, Foggy Island Bay)

    Logan Borger worked on a photogrammetry project for his internship with the International Arctic Research Center. 

    Borger developed and optimized the processing of photogrammetric data collected via unmanned aerial systems into digital surface models for the permafrost tunnel site in Fairbanks and coastal erosion sites in Southeast Alaska and the North Slope.

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  • • Trisha Jimmie
    • Major: Mechanical Engineering -- UAA
    • Participating Partner(s): Doyon Utilities (Fort Wainwright)

    As an intern with Doyon Utilities, Trisha Jimmie developed a heat transfer MATLAB script for measuring heat loss along the underground piping systems for Doyon Utilities at Fort Wainwright U.S. Army post.

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  • • Abigail Leigh
    • Major: Mechanical Engineering -- UAF
    • Participating Partner(s): Matanuska Electric Association (MEA) (Healy)

    Abigail Leigh is interning with Matanuska Electric Association (MEA). She is working on the MEA Talkeetna Microgrid Project to develop a conceptual design and specification for a microgrid solution for MEA to improve reliability and service to members served by Stevens Substation feeder #4156.

    Leigh is modeling a microgrid to provide reliable power in support of existing radial feeders to remote areas of their grid.

    MEA is the oldest existing and second largest electric cooperative in the state and is owned and operated by its 51,000 members. They are a generation, transmission and distribution coop. Most of their power is generated at the Eklutna Generation Station Power Plant, a duel fuel facility that operated primarily on natural gas but in case of interruption to the supply can switch smoothly to diesel fuel. The facility contains 10 generators and can produce a total of 171 MW of power. Grace spent time at the generation plant and toured the facility to learn about the design and operating processes. Other power comes from net-metering of customers, Bradley Lake Hydroelectric facility and the coop also purchases power from other utilities on the railbelt when needed.

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  • • Matt Moses
    • Major: Mechanical Engineering & Math -- UAA
    • Participating Partner(s): Taġiuġmiullu Nunamiullu Housing Authority (TNHA) (Utqiaġvik)

    Matt Moses interned with Taġiuġmiullu Nunamiullu Housing Authority. 

    Moses built data analysis tools and developed a thermal model for Taġiuġmiullu Nunamiullu Housing Authority for analysis of heating and solar energy data for energy efficient homes in Utqiaġvik, Alaska.

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  • • Jack Rodman
    • Major: Computer Engineering -- Purdue University
    • Participating Partner(s): 60Hertz (Anchorage, AVEC Villages)

    Jack Rodman is interning with a Power Cost Equalization (PCE) program data automation project for import into the 60Hertz application.

    60Hertz Microgrids is an Alaskan internet startup software company that has developed a maintenance platform for rural power plants suited for diesel, solar, battery, wind and small hydro technologies. The software is installed on tablets and the company is working with the Alaska Village Electric Cooperative (AVEC) and the Tanana Chiefs Conference (TCC) to test and deploy it in AVEC villages around western Alaska. During the pilot, the software was installed in 14 communities and 30 power plant operators participated. The software allows utility companies to track and monitor their remote assets in real time,  and replace the current hand-written and faxed logs. It is also a great platform for interactions of power plant operators from different villages and provides a peer-to-peer support network. The app allows managers and power plant operators to view and digitally capture data logs, field logs, power outages, and can be used as a messaging platform. The data is stored on the device until a Wi-Fi connection is available at which point the data gets transmitted (this is critical as data connectivity in rural locations is spotty at times).

     

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  • • Christian Seekins
    • Major: Electrical Engineering; Minor: Math/Applied Business -- UAF
    • Participating Partner(s): Golden Valley Electric Association (GVEA) (Fairbanks)

    Working with Steve Colt, Christian Seekins' internship is in support of the “CO2 Reduction Study” that is funded by Golden Valley Electric Association (GVEA). The goal of the project is to identify measures that GVEA could take during the next 10 years to reduce its own direct carbon emissions from electric power production by 26%, as well as measures that could reduce carbon emissions in the Fairbanks area by substituting electricity for direct fossil fuel use.

    Seekins researched, analyzed and modeled a number of technologies, including residential battery and electric vehicle storage.

     

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  • • Kim Swedberg
    • Major: Electrical Engineering with Computer Science concentration -- UAF
    • Participating Partner(s): Eaton Corporation (Eielson Air Force Base)

    As an intern, Kim Swedberg will support ACEP's work with Eaton team on the Eielson AFB microgrid and the Networked Metering System installed at Eielson AFB to support the data collection from the metering system convert the collected database into the Phase 1 developed database: Eielson Microgrid Research Data Archive (EMRDA). Additional effort on the Phase 2 project would be to collect power distribution grid information from GVEA and Alaska public commission and provide technical support to ERL with enhancement of the GVEA distribution grid model and HIL validation to facilitate protective relays parameter settings and coordination to enable Phase-II field demonstration.

     

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  • • Ilya Turchaninov
    • Major: Biological Sciences and Fisheries -- UAA
    • Participating Partner(s): CASES Project (Galena)

    In his internship, Ilya Turchaninov's work will support the Community Appropriate Sustainable Energy Security (CASES) Partnership. The work helps in assessing existing community energy systems as a baseline for the project, then develop community energy profiles as a planning resource for communities and utilities. For more information: https://news.usask.ca/media-release-pages/2019/usask-led-northern-energy-planning-project-awarded-2.5-million-by-sshrc.php

    Turchaninov built a template for conducting energy profile surveys as part of the international Community Appropriate Sustainable Energy Security partnership research initiative, and completed a survey for the city of Galena, Alaska.

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  Final Reports

  Each intern's final report and vodcast showcases their summer work with their utility / partner.  

  MEA Talkeetna Microgrid Project: Distributed Generation Across Alaska - Abigail Leigh

  GVEA Carbon Reduction Study Final Report - Christian Seekins

  Community Appropriate Sustainable Energy Security (CASES) Partnership Final Report - Ilya Turchaninov

  Power Cost Equalization Program: Addressing Problems and Inefficiencies through Software to Automate and Optimize Filing - Jack Rodman

  Feasibility of Microreactors for Copper Valley Electric Association - Jordan Barde

  Microgrid Feasibility Study: Considering Renewable Energy Technology in Eagle, Alaska - Josiah Alverts

  Eaton Data Management Project - Kim Swedberg

  Photogrammetry Project Final Report - Logan Borger

  Data Analysis and Modeling for Taġiuġmiullu Nunamiullu Housing Authority - Matthew "Morgan" Moses

  Heat Transfer Analysis Inside Underground Piping (sensitive data; not published publicly) - Trisha Jimmie

  Vodcasts

  Each intern's final report and vodcast showcases their summer work with their utility / partner.   

                  

              

   

   

• Summer 2019

  Utility Student Internship 2019

  

  The ACEP Utility Student Internship program was spearheaded in 2019. ACEP and 9 participating utilities selected a total of 9 students from the applicant pool. Each of the student interns had direct ties to Alaska, with the majority being enrolled at the University of Alaska in Anchorage and Fairbanks. The students were mechanical, electrical and civil engineering majors. As part of their preparatory work, the students attended a weekly lecture series with speakers from the utilities and ACEP during the spring semester. Immediately preceding the internship, the students attended a 5-day Microgrid Boot Camp in Fairbanks which focused specifically on the resources, technologies and operations of Alaska’s wide range of microgrid energy systems.

  2019 Interns

  • • Grace Bolt
    • Major: Electrical Engineering (Power Generation) -- UAF
    • Utility: Matanuska Electric Association (MEA) (Palmer)

    Grace interned with Matanuska Electric Association (MEA) at their headquarters in Palmer, AK. MEA is the oldest existing and second largest electric cooperative in the state and is owned and operated by its 51,000 members. They are a generation, transmission and distribution coop. Most of their power is generated at the Eklutna Generation Station Power Plant, a duel fuel facility that operated primarily on natural gas but in case of interruption to the supply can switch smoothly to diesel fuel. The facility contains 10 generators and can produce a total of 171 MW of power. Grace spent time at the generation plant and toured the facility to learn about the design and operating processes. Other power comes from net-metering of customers, Bradley Lake Hydroelectric facility and the coop also purchases power from other utilities on the railbelt when needed.

    Grace’s main responsible was to be a research assistant to the Director of Power Delivery and later on the new Grid Modernization Manager. She spent the majority of her time researching best practices from other utility companies, specifically EV charging infrastructure and integration of renewable energy in the absence of a Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS). Alaska currently does not have a RPS, so there is no justification to increase cost to members for integration of renewables. As part of the grid modernization projects, MEA’s goal is to increase integration of renewables and do it in a cost-effective way. Grace also job-shadowed: she went along with a technical staff member and learned the process of switching a service from temporary to permanent. And she attended vendor meeting with the director: specifically, vendors for electrical vehicle charging station where she learned that operating equipment in Alaska can work the limits of what this was designed for. The background for this work is that Alaska received a portion of the VW settlement and the Alaska Energy Authority developed a Beneficiary Mitigation Plan which contains an Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure task. The Alaska Roadbelt Electric Vehicle Task Force was formed and is currently conducting research on member electric vehicle use and interest. Phase 1 of the project is to develop a comprehensive regional plan and connect the Mat-Su Valley to Anchorage due to the high traffic volume and emissions in the commuter corridor between those 2 major population areas. Level 3 chargers will be installed first in strategic locations along the corridor and level 2 chargers will be installed subsequently in destination locations like shopping malls and grocery stores. The second phase of the project is planned to connect that corridor north to Fairbanks and south to the Kenai Peninsula.

    Grace also attended Alaska Wind Diesel Workshop in Anchorage where she was introduced to emergent technologies and learned about energy storage systems and wind turbine installations. She also listened to a presentation on cybersecurity and why that is important for remote microgrids in Alaska.

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  • • Liam Cassell
    • Major: Electrical Engineering (Digital & Power Electronics) -- UAF
    • Utility: Alaska Village Electric Cooperative (AVEC) (Anchorage, AVEC villages)

    Alaska Village Electric Cooperative is a non-profit electric utility serving residents in 58 locations throughout rural Alaska. One of the interns assisted with remote energy data collection, created an AutoCAD drawing library for a new data storage system, and assisted in the St. Mary’s wind turbine power measurement unit and optimizations project. The second intern worked with Anchorage startup 60Hertz and assist with the integration of a mobile application for keeping and sharing powerhouse maintenance logs.

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  • • David Chamberlain
    • Major: Mechanical Engineering -- UAA
    • Utility: Alaska Power and Telephone (AP&T) (Anchorage, Prince of Wales Island)

    Alaska Power and Telephone (AP&T) is a power and telecommunications utility which services many locations in southeast and interior Alaska. They operate both diesel and hydroelectric power plants and the power needs of their customers are steadily growing. As their company expands, AP&T has pushed to generate cleaner and more sustainable power for their customers. In some large communities such as Upper Lynn Canal (ULC) and Prince of Wales (POW), most of their power generation consists of storage hydro and run-of-river hydro. However, AP&T (in a partnership with Haida Corporation) is currently constructing a new 5 MW storage hydroelectric system on POW called the Hiilangaay Hydropower Project, which will even further decrease the need for diesel throughout the year. AP&T is also researching the implementation of an energy storage system (ESS) in ULC to allow the area’s storage and run-of-river hydros to better offset diesel consumption in the winter months.

    As an intern for AP&T for the summer of 2019, David Chamberlain worked both on the Hiilangaay project and the ULC ESS research project. He coordinated with the Alaska Center for Energy and Power (ACEP), Cordova Electric Cooperative, and several other organizations to determine which ESS systems might work best for ULC. David also created a spreadsheet model which estimates the benefits of an ESS
    using SCADA data from previous years. Although this project will likely not begin in the immediate future, David and other engineers at AP&T continue to pursue a better understanding of the costs and benefits. David worked primarily under the Project Manager, Ben Beste, on the Hiilangaay Project and was tasked with the design, fabrication, and installation of various components of the system in the powerhouse. He learned how to install conduit runs between the several enclosures and their respective units. He was responsible for wiring all the sensors at the turbine inlet valve (TIV) inside the powerhouse, and assisted in wiring for the switchgear and PLC. During his work at Hiilangaay, David was also exposed to the logistical side of running a project of this magnitude through involvement in project scheduling and material procurement.

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  • • Mitchell Hedrik
    • Major: Electrical Engineering (Power, Control), Mathematics (Minor) -- UAF
    • Utility: Chugach Electric Association (CEA) (Anchorage)

    The utility is working on an updated CMMS (computerized maintenance management system) in anticipation of integration efforts with Municipal Light & Power in 2020. The intern was responsible for writing a detailed document containing each component in every Chugach-owned power plant.

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  • • Chong Her
    • Major: Mechanical Engineering -- UAA
    • Utility: 60Hertz Microgrids (Anchorage, AVEC villages)

    60Hertz Microgrids is an Alaskan internet startup software company that has developed a maintenance platform for rural power plants suited for diesel, solar, battery, wind and small hydro technologies. The software is installed on tablets and the company is working with the Alaska Village Electric Cooperative (AVEC) and the Tanana Chiefs Conference (TCC) to test and deploy it in AVEC villages around western Alaska. During the pilot, the software was installed in 14 communities and 30 power plant operators participated. The software allows utility companies to track and monitor their remote assets in real time,  and replace the current hand-written and faxed logs. It is also a great platform for interactions of power plant operators from different villages and provides a peer-to-peer support network. The app allows managers and power plant operators to view and digitally capture data logs, field logs, power outages, and can be used as a messaging platform. The data is stored on the device until a Wi-Fi connection is available at which point the data gets transmitted (this is critical as data connectivity in rural locations is spotty at times).

    Chong Her interned with 60 Hertz this summer and provided support for testing and deployment of the tablets. He went to out to 5 villages (St. Mary’s, Mt. Village, Pilot Station, Holy Cross, and Grayling) and helped 60Hertz staff train powerhouse operators on the software. While out on location, they also worked on troubleshooting issues that arose, e.g. a Wi-Fi connectivity issues.

    Back in the office in Anchorage, Chong did an array of different tasks. He contributed to a market research assessment of initial opportunities in Alaska, as well as the growth potential of Canadian and Colombian markets where remote areas still depend on diesel power generation. He developed better operating procedures for various tasks and wrote up procedure documents for both in-field and virtual trainings. And Chong independently conducted virtual trainings with rural power plant operators. Additionally, Chong provided customer support through follow up calls for troubleshoot problem and technical guidance on app usage. As he became more proficient with the backend of the software, he worked on configuring tablets for deployment, added customer profile data to the database, and customized configurators for the utility companies.

     

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  • • Kurt Nunn
    • Major: Computer & Electrical Engineering -- UAF
    • Utility: Cordova Electric Cooperative (Cordova)

    The utility continues the execution of the RADIANCE grid modernization project. The intern was assessing the Advanced Metering Infrastructure pilot implementation and the cybersecurity assessment related to that project.

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  • • Travis Oen
    • Major: Electrical Engineering -- UAF
    • Utility: Alaska Electric Light and Power (AEL&P) (Juneau)

    The intern was workingin the transmission and distribution department of the utility. Primary responsibilities were electrical system assets data collection, database entry, and AutoCAD/ArcGIS map updates.

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  • • Zachary Pinkley
    • Major: Mechanical Engineering -- UAF
    • Utility: Sustainable Energy for Galena Alaska (SEGA) (Galena)

    Zach interned for the Sustainable Energy for Galena Alaska Inc. (SEGA), a local non-profit corporation whose purpose is decrease the dependency of the community on fossil fuels and to develop reliable local sources of word. When the air force left 1.5 million gallons of fuel behind to run the base in Galena, the city decided to install a locally harvested wood-fired district heating and water system in what is now the Galena Interior Learning Academy (GILA), which is a boarding school and major economic force. The city was determined to make the left-behind fuel last as long as possible.

    Zach's primary tasks for the internship was matrix work for heat demand calculations and field work to prepare for the wood harvest season. First, he gathered literature and charts for references that were used to improve the existing data and to correct some assumptions that had been made in the matrix equations. Next, Zach conducted an experiment on the specific diesel fuel left behind by the air force (the diesel fuel boilers supplement the biomass boilers in the facility) to arrive at an energy value for the fuel in BTU/gal. Zach also worked on the heat production versus consumption model which is the main matrix SEGA uses to track energy consumed in the past and apply this data to predict heat requirements for the future. The final matrix contains heat demand values for every building at GILA for the next 10 months into the future. Out in the field, Zach helped implementing SEGA's Timber Harvest Management Plan. He participated in a 'timber cruise', looking at past harvest plots and selecting future harvest plots by determining which trees are viable. This meant measuring diameter and height of the trees, collecting the data and deciding if the entire area was worth harvesting. Furthermore, a moisture content analysis on the supply of wood that was drying in the yard was done to forecast future harvest volumes. 

    Zach worked on several other local projects, e.g. assisted with a lighting cost analysis for the Remote Alaskan Communities Energy Efficiency Competition (RACEE) grant that the city had received, and he helped with the installation of solar panels on the south-side wall of the SEGA building, amongst other things.

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  • • Arianna Sosnowski
    • Major: Civil Engineering -- UAA
    • Utility: City of Buckland (Buckland)

    The community recently received three BoxPower containerized solar arrays, a Saft battery bank, and a grid-forming inverter from ABB. The intern was working on reviewing and updating procedures related to the operation, maintenance, data-gathering and management of the upgraded utility systems.

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