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HomeMy WebLinkAboutEmerging Energy Technology Fund (EETF) Prospectus - Oct 2015October 2015 Emerging Energy Technology Fund Program Prospectus Program Description The Alaska State Legislature created the Emerging Energy Technology Fund (EETF) in 2010 to promote the expansion of energy sources available to Alaskans. EETF grants are for demonstration projects of technologies that have a reasonable expectation of becoming commercially viable within five years. Projects can:  test emerging energy technologies or methods of conserving energy;  improve an existing technology; or  deploy an existing technology that has not previously been demonstrated in the state. Eligible technologies include those that promote, enhance, or expand the diversity of available energy supply sources or means of transmission, increase energy efficiency, or reduce negative energy-related environmental effects. This includes technologies related to renewable sources of energy, conservation of energy, enabling technologies, efficient and effective use of hydrocarbons, and integrated systems. Project funding is money appropriated by the legislature, gifts, bequests, contributions from other sources, and federal money appropriated to the Fund. Thus far, $11.6 Million has been committed to the Program with Alaska and the Denali Commission investing $6.8 and $4.8 Million of State and Federal funds respectively. An additional $4.7 Million was dedicated by the award recipients and project partners. Data collection is a central component of all EETF awards and $1.1 Million has been devoted to this effort. Under an agreement with the University of Alaska, performance data generated by projects are independently verified and analyzed by the Alaska Center for Energy and Power (or another independent third party, as needed). As projects conclude, summary reports and non-sensitive data are made available to the public. _____________________________________________________________________________________ Program Highlights  Twenty demonstration projects selected over two funding rounds from an applicant pool of nearly 100  Funded projects include energy storage, wind-diesel integration, and space heating technologies, all key areas of focus in Alaska  Field deployments of 3 river hydrokinetic devices each successfully generating electricity  Diesels off operation of two remote wind-diesel power grids using battery and flywheel energy storage systems  Continued development of in-state technologies, including building efficiency, power electronics, and diesel generation efficiency  Use of technology testbeds made available by the University of Alaska for power systems integration and hydrokinetic testing Alaska Emerging Energy Technology Fund Project Status Updates February 2015 Page | 2 ____________________________________________________________________________________ Project selection for the EETF program uses a two-stage application process and a volunteer advisory committee appointed by the governor. In the first stage, brief project abstracts submitted in response to a funding solicitation are reviewed by the advisory committee and the Alaska Energy Authority. Select applicants are then invited to submit full applications and give in-person presentations to the committee. Applications are scored and ranked on a range of criteria including the quality of the innovation, the method of validation, and the public benefit and market potential for the proposed technology. Priority is given to projects demonstrating potential for widespread deployment, partnerships with post- secondary institutions, Alaska entities, and projects committing in-kind or matching funds. In 2012, 15 projects were awarded over $8 million in grants in Round 1 of the Emerging Energy Technology Fund. The state funds available for awards was nearly doubled by a matching contribution by the Denali Commission, a federal agency. A wide range of technologies were selected for funding, including energy storage, building efficiency, biomass, wind generation, and river hydrokinetics. In 2014, Round 2 project selections of an additional 5 projects with a focus on energy storage and heating efficiency were announced. _____________________________________________________________________________________ Emerging Energy Technology Fund Advisory Committee National Renewable Energy Laboratory Brian Hirsch, Senior Project Leader – NREL Alaska (Committee Chair) Alaska Industrial Development and Export Authority Lori Stender, Project Manager - AIDEA Arctic Energy Office – National Energy Technology Laboratory seat currently unfilled Denali Commission John MacKinnon, Executive Director - Associated General Contractors of Alaska Electric Utility Eric Eriksen, V.P Transmission & Distribution - Alaska Power Association Fossil Fuel Energy Sector Stephen Trimble, President – Trimble Strategies, LLC Renewable Energy Sector Brent Petrie, President – Petrie and Associates _____________________________________________________________________________________ Alaska Emerging Energy Technology Fund Project Status Updates February 2015 Page | 3 Emerging Energy Technology Fund Project Status Updates February 2015 Project Project Lead Page Air Source Heat Pump Potential in Alaska Cold Climate Housing Research Center 11 Application of Composite Flywheels Hatch 14 Arctic Field Testing the Eocycle 25/12 Wind Turbine Northwest Arctic Borough 4 Arctic Thermal Shutters & Doors Arctic Sun, LLC 6 Biomass Reforestation for Boreal Forests Alaska Division of Forestry 12 BRI Cyclo-Turbine Hydrokinetic Demonstration Boschma Research, Inc. 13 Cold Climate Heat Pump Demonstration Cold Climate Housing Research Center 7 Enhanced Condensation for Organic Rankine Cycle UAF – Inst. of Northern Engineering 18 High Capacity Airborne Wind Turbine Altaeros Energies, Inc. 19 High Efficiency Diesel Electric Generator Set Marsh Creek 17 Liquid Metal Battery Demonstration UAF – Inst. of Northern Engineering 19 Multi-Stage Energy Storage System Chugach Electric Association 19 Oceana In-Stream Hydrokinetic Demonstration Oceana Energy Company 16 RivGen Power System Hydrokinetic Demonstration Ocean Renewable Power Company 15 Safe and Efficient Exhaust Thimble UAF – Inst. of Northern Engineering 8 Small Community Self-Regulating Grid Intelligent Energy Systems 18 St Paul Flywheel Demonstration TDX Power 10 Trans-Critical CO2 Heat Pump System Alaska SeaLife Center 17 Ultra-Efficient Generators and Diesel-Electric Propulsion Genesis Machining & Fabrication 5 Wind-Diesel Battery Hybrid for Kwigillingok Intelligent Energy Systems 9 Additional information is available at AEA’s website, www.akenergyauthority.org. Alaska Emerging Energy Technology Fund Project Status Updates February 2015 Page | 4 Arctic Field Testing of the Eocycle EO-25/12 Wind Turbine Project Lead: Northwest Arctic Borough Location: Kotzebue The Northwest Arctic Borough is demonstrating the cold weather capabilities of a 25 kW wind turbine at the Kotzebue wind farm. The turbine is mounted on a tilt-up monopole tower that uses a winch to raise and lower the unit during installation and for maintenance, eliminating the need for a crane. Project Status The turbine and tilt-up tower arrived at Kotzebue on the last barge of 2013 and the project team was able to take advantage of an existing unused tower foundation to the mount the turbine. Commissioining began in late 2013 and continued for the next year with extensive troubleshooting as numerous problems were encountered including: overheating in the nacelle, a problem with the brake assembly shutting down the turbine, converter failure and data/communication issues. The turbine has been operational since November 2014. Assembling the tower Installing turbine blades What’s Next Performance data will be collected for one year. A fully instrumented meteorological tower will be installed within five rotor-lengths of the tower to collect baseline wind data as the turbine generates electricity. Tower tilted down Raising the tower Photos from Northwest Arctic Borough and Kotzebue Electric Association. Alaska Emerging Energy Technology Fund Project Status Updates February 2015 Page | 5 Ultra-Efficient Generators & Diesel Electric Propulsion Project Lead: Genesis Machining & Fabrication Location: Kodiak Genesis Machining and Fabrication is demonstrating two core technologies, the Power Dense Motor and Universal Modular Inverter Controller, for use in both stationary power generation and propulsion applications. The technologies are being concurrently developed and demonstrated in stages using prototypes of increasing in size and capacity that will be used to power electric vehicles and gensets of varying sizes. Ultimately, the team hopes to demonstrate that its approach to variable speed generation and diesel-electric propulsion offers efficiency gains over traditional technologies. Project Status In the first year, the team demonstrated the functionality of the inverter in an electric vehicle testbed which has logged over 1,000 Kodiak road miles. A proof-of-concept 15 kW load matching genset which delivers power via the inverter was also built and demonstrated. Work has since focused on design of the next generation inverter module prototype for installation in a Diesel-Electric bus testbed. A 275 horsepower engine has been acquired along with a 50 horsepower motor for conversion into a power dense generator head and another motor for propulsion. Converted ’97 Eagle Talon EV testbed Monitoring performance in the EV testbed What’s Next Once assembly of the next generation inverters is complete, the team will set about installation and integration of the technology into a Diesel-Electric bus testbed. The testbed will house a genset employing both core technologies (inverter and power dense motor) for propulsion and stationary power generation. The project team has also filed for several patents and reached out to potential investors in anticipation of commercialization. Printed circuit board design for the inverter Heat sink modelling Photos from Genesis Machining and Fabrication. Alaska Emerging Energy Technology Fund Project Status Updates February 2015 Page | 6 Arctic Thermal Shutters & Doors Project Lead: Arctic Sun, LLC Location: Fairbanks Arctic Sun, LLC is demonstrating energy efficiency improvements of homes in colder climates using arctic doors, arctic shutters and blown-in insulation shutters. Maintaining climate control in arctic high- efficiency housing has been challenging because of high condensation on doors and windows. The technological improvements proposed by Arctic Sun include improving R-values in the arctic doors; creating exterior arctic shutters that are controlled by an electric drive and use air-tight weather stripping; and shutters for retrofitted fixed-pane windows that can be automatically filled and emptied with insulating beads. Project Status The project team has completed design, component selection, and prototype construction of the arctic door and two shutter types. A fully instrumented dedicated testing structure was designed and constructed for comprehensive performance monitoring; baseline data was collected in advance of installation of the arctic shutters. For the blown-in shutter cavity, solid extruded polystyrene (EPS) beads were selected as the fill material, and subjected to ultra-violet resistance testing over the course of the summer. After undergoing design revisions, all components have now been field installed and performance data is being gathered. Arctic door design Testing box under construction What’s Next The project will continue to gather data through the end of the 2014-2015 heating season and hope for cooler temperatures to provide a contrast to the abnormally high temperatures experienced to date. Installing vacuum panels into the arctic shutter Testing the blown-in shutter Photos from Arctic Sun, LLC. Alaska Emerging Energy Technology Fund Project Status Updates February 2015 Page | 7 Cold Climate Heat Pump Demonstration Project Lead: Cold Climate Housing Research Center Location: Fairbanks The Cold Climate Housing Research Center (CCHRC) is demonstrating the potential for ground source heat pumps (GSHPs) as an efficient and economic heat source in colder climates. This project will install a GSHP at the Cold Climate Housing Research Center’s research and testing facility in Fairbanks in a narrow band of thawed ground. Several different surface treatments will be modeled and tested to maximize surface heat capture during summer months and to prevent winter heat loss. Project Status The horizontal loop field was installed and buried along with a network of thermcouples at varying depths. The heat pump unit was then installed and fully comissioned. Different surface treatments have been installed above selected areas of the ground loop including several gravel types and grass; a fence has been installed around the area to minimize snow compaction and maximize wintertime insulation. During the first year, the heat pump operated with an average Coefficient of Performance of 3.6. The system is now gathering its second heating season of performance data. System layout Installation of the slinky loop What’s Next With installation complete, the remainder of the project will consist of data collection of the system’s performance, monitoring the loop field for thermal degradation, and comparison of the effect of the different surface treatments on the thermal health of the loop field. Data collection for the EETF project will continue through the 2015-2016 heating season. First year performance data Photos and plot from Cold Climate Housing Research Center. Alaska Emerging Energy Technology Fund Project Status Updates February 2015 Page | 8 Safe and Efficient Exhaust Thimble Project Lead: UAF - Institute of Northern Engineering Location: Fairbanks The Institute of Northern Engineering is demonstrating a new design of ventilated exhaust thimbles for wood stoves, oil-fired furnaces, diesel generators and other high-temperature exhaust-generating sources. Stove thimbles prevent wood framing from igniting from the hot exhaust flues pass through the building envelope. In this project, the traditional thimble will be replaced with one that relies on thermal siphoning for passive cooling. The new design building eliminates heat loss that accompanies traditional thimbles by maintaining integrity of the building’s envelop. Project Status The project team has completed final design and computational fluid dynamics modeling of the exhaust thimble, modified a conex container for testing, and constructed prototypes of varying sizes. Testing has been completed for each prototype size under a range of temperature conditions. Modelled airflow at thimble base (left) and temperature distribution at vent outlet (right) Instrumented prototype What’s Next The project team is compiling its data into a final project report. An independent report assessing performance data will be completed by ACEP. Thimble in operation Infrared image Images from UAF. Photo credit Stephen Gemmel. Alaska Emerging Energy Technology Fund Project Status Updates February 2015 Page | 9 Wind-Diesel Battery Hybrid for Kwigillingok Project Lead: Intelligent Energy Systems Location: Kwigillingok Intelligent Energy Systems is demonstrating the use of high-performance lithium ion batteries, similar to those found in some electric vehicles, to provide short-term energy storage in Kwigillingok’s wind- diesel electrical system. Project Status A lithium ion battery manufactured for use in electric cars was selected and delivered by barge to Kwigillingok in the fall of 2013. An abnormally warm winter delayed freeze-up and transportation to the installation site. Commissioning, started in 2014, continues as unrelated issues with the wind turbines, diesel generators, and distribution system have presented challenges and delays. The battery system was operational for two weeks before a genarator failure precluded sufficient wind contribution; during the two weeks, however, the grid was able to transition to wind-battery mode 8 times for a total of 42 hours of diesels off operation. Battery and enclosure awaiting freeze up Transport to the installation site What’s Next Improvements to the powerhouse are critical prior to project continuation. Repairs on one generator are underway and a replacement generator will be purchased and installed by the utility in coming weeks, after which commissioning will continue and performance data will recorded and analyzed. Start of commissioning Installation Photos from Intelligent Energy Systems. Alaska Emerging Energy Technology Fund Project Status Updates February 2015 Page | 10 St. Paul Flywheel Demonstration Project Lead: TDX Power Location: St. Paul A flywheel energy storage system manufactured by Beacon Power will be integrated into an isolated wind-diesel microgrid and operated to facilitate extended diesels-off electricity generation. A successful demonstration could pave the way towards higher wind penetration rates and increase the value of the power contributed by renewables into hybrid systems. Project Status After factory acceptance testing, the flywheel was barged to St. Paul and installed and commissioned in late 2014. The system has been operating and collecting data since December 2014 and ample winter winds have enabled significant periods of diesels off operation. Frequency regulation is being provided by a load regulating boiler and voltage regulation is provide by a synchorous condenser (both installed and operational prior to the project). Flywheel cutaway (Beacon Power) Flywheel containment (blue), dust control system (green), and power control module (gray) What’s Next Data collection will continue for one year and the impact of the flywheel on diesels off capability will be assessed. Ideally, a flywheel would also be capable of providing frequency control if equipped with a grid-forming inverter. TDX wind turbines Alaska Emerging Energy Technology Fund Project Status Updates February 2015 Page | 11 Air Source Heat Pump Potential in Alaska Project Lead: Cold Climate Housing Research Center Location: Juneau, Wrangell, Dillingham The performance of a new generation of air-source heat pumps will be demonstrated in an effort to provide energy efficient space heating for Alaska’s cold climates and better define the potential geographic range for economic operation of the technology. Cold Climate Housing Research Center instrumented three air source heat pump installations in order to determine performance over the 2014-2015 heating season. Project Status The project team has design and installed comprehensive instrumentation packages on the three heat pump systems and has been monitoring performance. Nearly thirty additional systems are being monitored for electrical consumption as a part of the proejct. Heat pump installation in Wrangell Heat pump installation in Juneau What’s Next At the conclusion of the heating system, the project team will analyze the collected data and issue a final report detailing their findings. Initial performance results Photos from Cold Climate Housing Research Center and ACEP. Alaska Emerging Energy Technology Fund Project Status Updates February 2015 Page | 12 Biomass Reforestation of Boreal Forests Project Lead: Alaska Division of Forestry Location: Palmer, Delta The Alaska Division of Forestry is demonstrating a low cost planting technique intended for forest regeneration after a biomass harvest that uses un-rooted poplar tree stem-cuttings. Although less energy-dense than other biomass fuel stocks, poplars have much faster growth rates. The technique involves the wintertime collection of branch cuttings that are stored and then planted as stems after snowmelt. Stooling beds will also be planted to facilitate future stem harvests of species that are found to thrive over the course of the project. Project Status The project team harvested cuttings during the winter of 2013 which then underwent a pre-soak treatment in advance of planting in the late spring at sites in the Matanuska-Susitna Valley and near Delta. Unfortunately, abnormally hot and dry conditions during the summer of 2013 resulted in a very high mortality rate of the planted cuttings. However, cuttings at the wettest site fared significantly better, and the project team noted higher survival rates among hybrid species. A replanting of 4 poplar varieties in 2014 resulted in significantly higher survival rates. Winter poplar cuttings Pre-soaking cuttings in preparation for planting What’s Next Survival will be evaluated after the 2014-2015 winter and all plantations will be evaluated for growth at the end of the 2015 growing seasons. Results will be compiled into a final project report. Mat-Su field site First year poplar growth Photos from AK Division of Forestry. Alaska Emerging Energy Technology Fund Project Status Updates February 2015 Page | 13 BRI Cyclo-Turbine Hydrokinetic Demonstration Project Lead: Boschma Research, Inc. Location: Igiugig Boschma Research, Inc. (BRI) demonstrated a 5 kW River In-Stream Energy Conversion (RISEC) device in the Kvichak River at Igiugig. The cycloidal turbine is housed within an open-ended venturi enclosure with a fish/debris guard at the entrance. Intended to be mounted on the river bottom in shallow water, the device’s frame uses buoyancy chambers for river transport which are filled with water to submerge the device to its final position. Project Status The project is now complete. The turbine was constructed in 2013 and deployed in the Kvichak River in the summer of 2014. The project team experience numerous difficulties manuvering in the device in the swift moving water; once positioned, moored, and sunk in place, the anchor slipped causing damage to the housing and communications cables. Ultimately, however, the device was able to operate, generate electricity, and feed power into the Igiugig grid for a brief time at the end of the permitted period. Assembled venturi box and ballasts Turbine assembly sketch What’s Next The project team has submitted a final project report summarizing the work performed and lessons learned. An independent report assessing performance data will be completed by ACEP. Assembly on the shores of Iliamna Lake Device on anchor prior to being submerged Photos from Boschma Research, Inc. Alaska Emerging Energy Technology Fund Project Status Updates February 2015 Page | 14 Application of Composite Flywheels Project Lead: Hatch Location: Fairbanks Hatch demonstrated a lightweight high-power flywheel which could be used to provide grid stability in wind-diesel systems. Project Status The project team collected one month of high resolution baseline data from Nome’s wind-diesel system which was used in modelling and controller programming. The flyhweel was installed in a simulated grid at the Alaska Center for Energy and Power’s Power System Integration lab in Fairbanks for a series of trials that characterized the response of the flywheel system and its capability of supporting the grid using the lab’s grid-forming inverter. What’s Next The tests are complete and the project team has compiled a final project report that is currently under review. An independent report assessing performance data will be completed by ACEP. Installed flywheel, control cabinet, and cooling system Flywheel response testing Alaska Emerging Energy Technology Fund Project Status Updates February 2015 Page | 15 RivGen Power System Hydrokinetic Demonstration Project Lead: ORPC Alaska, LLC Location: Nikiski, Igiugig ORPC proposes to demonstrate the RivGen hydrokinetic device, a river bottom-mounted River In- Stream Energy Conversion (RISEC) device. The device is mounted on a redesigned pontoon support structure, which consists of a mounting frame resting on buoyancy chambers that can be filled and emptied of air for controlled submerging during deployment and floatation during retrieval. Project Status ORPC refursbished and dry-tested its first generation device prototype and completed modeling and redesign of the support structure in 2013. After testing of the support structure in Cook Inlet in 2014, the device was shipped by barge to Igiugig for summer deployment. The device was successfully submerged and operated, generating up to 13 kW. An issue with the inverter prevented synching with the Igiuig power grid, however, the project team has identified additional funding for a follow up deployment in 2015. Rendering of the RivGen device Device on anchor prior to being submerged What’s Next The project team will fold the results of an externally funded second deployment in 2015 into the EETF project and hope to demonstrate improved deployment techniques, performance, and successful feeding of power generated into the grid. Underwater operation Warning sign Photos from ORPC. Alaska Emerging Energy Technology Fund Project Status Updates February 2015 Page | 16 Oceana In-Stream Hydrokinetic Demonstration Project Lead: Oceana Energy Company Location: Nenana The Oceana Energy Company is demonstrating a barge-mounted River In-Stream Energy Conversion (RISEC) device in the Tanana River. Originally intended for tidal power applications, the demonstration will verify performance under harsh the conditions typical of Alaska rivers. The turbine uses an open ring design, with blades located on both the inside and outside of the structural ring. Project Status The project team completed a redesign of the first generation protoype (built and tested prior to this project), constructed a unit for testing, and performed tow testing to establish a performance baseline in the Carderock David Taylor Model Basin in Maryland prior to shipping the unit to Alaska. Next, the unit was deployed from a testing barge at the Alaska Hydrokinetic Energy Research Center river testbed in the Tanana River at Nenana. The unit was operated over the course of 2 weeks, dissipating power to an onboard load bank. Tow testing Lowering into the Tanana River What’s Next The unit is undergoing inspection and minor modifications are planned during the winter prior to a second season of testing in the Tanana River. Project completion is scheduled for the end of 2015. Left to right: testing barge, debris diverter, mooring buoy Alaska Emerging Energy Technology Fund Project Status Updates February 2015 Page | 17 Trans-Critical CO2 Heat Pumps Project Lead: Alaska SeaLife Center Location: Seward A trans-critical CO2 heat pump system using seawater as a heat source will provide space heating at the Alaska SeaLife Center and demonstrate the potential for higher output temperatures than is available from heat pumps using traditional refrigerants. Project Status The project team has surveyed available CO2 heat pumps units and completed initial design of the system. Procurement of long lead items has begun. The system will provide space heating for the building and additional sidewalk snowmelt heating, working in conjunction with the building’s existing heating system, which use seawater source heat pumps with a traditional refrigerant. What’s Next Final engineering and installation of the system is scheduled to take place during 2015. The system will then collect performance data over the course of a heating season. Photo from the Alaska SeaLife Center. High Efficiency Diesel Electric Generator Set Project Lead: Marsh Creek, LLC Location: Anchorage Marsh Creek is demonstrating the use of a permanent magnet “soft clutch” coupling in a diesel genset to facilitate engine operation at speeds of both 1200 and 1800 rpm. Operating at a lower rotational speed when power demand is low could significantly increase fuel efficiency. Project Status The project team has modelled performance, designed the system architecture, and constructed a prototype. Basline efficiency testing was conducted at 1200 and 1800 rpm, but excessive mechincal vibration prevented complete testing of the transition between the speeds. Coupling system design Prototype testing What’s Next The team has been designing a mechanical solution to address vibration and will resume testing early in 2015. Alaska Emerging Energy Technology Fund Project Status Updates February 2015 Page | 18 Enhanced Condensation for Organic Rankine Cycle Project Lead: UAF - Institute of Northern Engineering Location: Fairbanks The Institute of Northern Engineering seeks to demonstrate a technology that could improve the efficiency of Organic Rankine Cycle (ORC) systems by increasing the heat transfer rate of the condenser. A hydrophobic coating will be patterned onto the condenser to create a heterogeneous surface, reducing film formation on the condensing surface. Project Status The project team has completed design and construction of a testing apparatus that will be used to measure the efficacy of the hydrophobic coating that will be applied to give the condenser a heterogeneous surface. Instrumentation calibration and preliminary baseline testing of the apparatus revealed an issue with leaking. The leaks were identified and repaired and performance data collection is underway. What’s Next When instrumentation has been calibrated and baseline data collection completed, the effect of different hydrophobic coatings on heat transfer coefficient will be demonstrated. Design of the test apparatus Preliminary baseline testing Photos from the Institute of Northern Engineering. Small Community Self-Regulating Grid Project Lead: Intelligent Energy Systems Location: Tuntutuliak Intelligent Energy Systems (IES) is demonstrating a method of electrical grid stabilization using an advanced control system with ceramic electrical heating units. A distributed network of Steffes heaters in the community will be equipped with modified controllers that respond individually to grid frequency, providing grid stability during times of high wind penetration rates. Project Status A modified controller has been independently lab tested. Thirty heaters in the community have subsequently been retrofitted with the controllers; after initial tests the controller logic was revisited and improvements identified. What’s Next Programming revisions to the controller are under review and will then be disseminated to each individual unit in the field in advance of additional testing and commissioning, planned for the spring of 2015. Alaska Emerging Energy Technology Fund Project Status Updates February 2015 Page | 19 High Capacity Airborne Wind Turbine Project Lead: Altaeros Energies, Inc. Location: Fairbanks Altaeros Energies, Inc. proposes to demonstrate a 30 kilowatt (kW) wind turbine suspended 1,000 feet above ground in a helium-filled shell. The project seeks to take advantage of higher and more consistent wind speeds and to demonstrate an improved capacity factor relative to tower-mounted wind turbines. By tethering to a portable trailer, a substantial decrease in installed capital costs is expected. Altaeros plans to commercialize both 30 and 100 kW models. Project Status Altaeros has identified candidate sites throughout Alaska, visited a selection of sites, and selected the Eva Creek wind farm as the deployment site. In Maine, construction and testing of a half-scale prototype has progressed and the project team has raised additional capital to complete full-scale construction. What’s Next Permitting from FAA is the critical next step for the project. The agency has been drafting policy regarding airborne wind energy system deployment, and extended testing of any system awaits clarification from FAA regarding the permitting process. Multi-Stage Energy Storage System Project Lead: Chugach Electric Association Location: Anchorage Chugach Electric Association will use a pilot-scale energy storage system to demonstrate the technical and economic viability of a staged flywheel/battery response to grid instabilities. A full scale system could assist in integrating additional wind power into Alaska’s primary electrical grid in coordination with existing conventional hydroelectric and fossil fuel resources. Project Status A schedule and scope of work have been negotiatied and the project kickoff awaits execution of the grant agreement. Liquid Metal Battery Demonstration Project Lead: UAF – Institute of Northern Engineering Location: Fairbanks, Eagle A liquid metal battery being developed by Ambri, Inc. will be independently lab-tested at UAF and subsequently installed in a rural community to provide regulation and peak shifting in a solar/diesel grid. The project will demonstrate the battery’s capacity under both lab and real-world conditions; if successful, this new battery type could provide repeated cycling with a significantly reduced capacity loss than other batteries. Project Status A schedule and scope of work have been negotiatied and the project kickoff awaits execution of the grant agreement.