PRE-CONFERENCE VIRTUAL WORKSHOP SERIES
Sponsored by the University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF) and the Alaska Center for Energy and Power (ACEP)
2025/2026 Continuing Conversations
WORKSHOP 1: Lessons in Transmission Planning
Dates: Tuesday, August 5 and Wednesday, August 6, 2025
Location: Virtual via Zoom
Cost: Free to attend, must register in advance
Description: This workshop will cover a range of topics including planning methodologies, standards compliance, system modeling, and the intersections between transmission planning and other key utility planning processes such as integrated resource planning and interconnection procedures.
WORKSHOP 2: The Business of Alaska Rural Energy: Project Development and Operational Sustainability
Name: The Business of Alaska Rural Energy: Project Development and Operational Sustainability
Dates: Tuesday, October 28 and Wednesday, October 29, 2025
Location: Virtual via Zoom
Cost: Free to attend, must register in advance
Description: Alaska’s ~200 isolated villages rely on standalone power systems and bulk fuel storage facilities as critical infrastructure for electricity, heat, and transportation. These systems face escalating burdens from aging equipment, high capital costs, limited local resources, and shrinking public funding—including more than $1.5 billion in deferred maintenance. As a result, the gap between community needs and available resources continues to widen. This workshop will explore solutions to close that gap—examining new approaches to financing projects, ensuring safe and reliable energy delivery, and strengthening local and regional capacity to support long-term community energy security.
WORKSHOP 3: Beyond the Basics: The Potential Role of Advanced Nuclear in Alaska
Name: Beyond the Basics: The Potential Role of Advanced Nuclear in Alaska
Dates: Tuesday, January 27 and Wednesday, January 28, 2026
Location: Virtual via Zoom
Cost: Free to attend, must register in advance
Description: As advanced nuclear energy moves from research to reality, new questions arise about readiness, deployment timelines, and regional fit. Building on earlier discussions, this two-part workshop will focus on recent progress in U.S. demonstration projects, evolving regulatory frameworks, and the readiness of Alaska’s utilities and communities to evaluate nuclear options. Sessions will examine applications ranging from rural microreactors to larger systems serving the Railbelt or industrial hubs such as mines and data centers. Designed as a forward-looking dialogue, the workshop will connect national developments to Alaska’s practical energy needs—offering participants an up-to-date understanding of where advanced nuclear stands today and what it could mean for Alaska’s energy future.
WORKSHOP 4: Alternative and Synthetic Fuels for Energy and Transportation Systems
Name: Alternative and Synthetic Fuels for Energy and Transportation Systems
Dates: Wednesday, April 1 and Thursday, April 2, 2026
Location: Virtual via Zoom
Cost: Free to attend, must register in advance
Description: This workshop will explore the potential role of alternative and synthetic fuels across energy and transportation systems, with particular relevance for Alaska’s geography, climate, and reliance on fuel-intensive infrastructure. The session will take a broad view of emerging fuel pathways, recognizing that solutions may span aviation, marine and ground transportation, and stationary energy applications. Topics will include biofuels, synthetic liquid fuels (including sustainable aviation fuels), hydrogen and hydrogen blending, methanol, ammonia, and related fuel pathways. Discussion will focus on the opportunities, challenges, and tradeoffs associated with these fuels, including production pathways, emissions impacts, infrastructure and storage requirements, safety considerations, and compatibility with existing engines and equipment. Given Alaska’s dependence on imported fuels and the critical role of aviation and marine transport, alternative and synthetic fuels raise important questions about energy security, resilience, and long-term decarbonization. The workshop is intended to be exploratory and cross-cutting, creating space to connect ongoing research, emerging technologies, and potential partners working on fuels, engines, and integrated energy systems.
Click on each workshop to learn more!
WORKSHOP 1: Information Security for Electric Utilities
Name: Information Security for Electric Utilities
Dates: Tuesday, March 4 and Wednesday, March 5, 2025
Location: Virtual via Zoom
Cost: Free to attend, must register in advance
Description: This workshop will provide an overview of cybersecurity in Alaska’s critical infrastructure energy sector. It will cover the state’s cybersecurity compliance landscape and regulations while offering resources for building effective cybersecurity programs. Participants will also learn strategies to reduce the cybersecurity risk footprint of energy utilities in Alaska.
WORKSHOP 2: Building Alaska's Future: Insights from Iceland
Name: Building Alaska’s Future: Insights from Iceland
Dates: Tuesday, April 8 and Wednesday, April 9, 2025
Location: Virtual via Zoom
Cost: Free to attend, must register in advance
Description: Join us virtually as we discuss Alaska’s and Iceland’s similarities—remote geographies, harsh climates, and resource-driven economies. In recent years, dialogue between the two regions has grown, highlighting valuable lessons Alaska can learn from Iceland’s approach to energy, industry, and innovation. This workshop will explore these opportunities through a broad, cross-sector lens, including electric utilities, data centers and energy use, innovation economy, and attracting industry. Join leading experts from Alaska and Iceland as we discuss these insights in the context of Alaska’s economic and energy future.
WORKSHOP 3: Dueling Over Dual Use Infrastructure
Name: Dueling Over Dual Use Infrastructure
Dates: Tuesday, May 6 and Wednesday, May 7, 2025
Location: Virtual via Zoom
Cost: Free to attend, must register in advance
Description: Dual use infrastructure is infrastructure that meets both civilian and military needs. For Alaska, planning for dual use electrical infrastructure is one option to achieve economies of scale and help ensure electrical resiliency and reliability for both the public as well as the military. This workshop will cover the basics of dual use, ways that dual use planning is already happening, and how Alaska can take fuller advantage of dual use.
WORKSHOP 4: IEEE 1547 Interconnection Standard: Enabler of Technical Innovation and End-User Benefit
Name: IEEE 1547 Interconnection Standard: Enabler of Technical Innovation and End-User Benefit
Dates: Tuesday, May 13 and Wednesday, May 14, 2025
Location: Virtual via Zoom
Cost: Free to attend, must register in advance
Description: This workshop will introduce the IEEE 1547-2018 Standard for Interconnection and Interoperability of Distributed Energy Resources (DER) with Electric Power Systems and will provide an overview of the 1547-2018 standard. This workshop will also put IEEE 1547 in the context of other standards that are used for integrating resources with electric power systems, outline how the industry will adopt and apply the IEEE 1547, and how it will facilitate the adoption of newer tech, including PV and ES. We will also brainstorm how newer interconnection topics can be informed by and support new challenges, serving Alaska energy end users.
Click on each workshop to learn more!
WORKSHOP 1: Utility Decision-Making: Navigating Constraints, Innovating for the Future
Name: Utility Decision-Making: Navigating Constraints, Innovating for the Future
Dates: Tuesday, March 5 and Wednesday, March 6, 2024
Location: Virtual via Zoom
Cost: Free to attend, must register in advance
WORKSHOP 2: Transmission and Distribution: The Clean Energy Transitions Secret Weapon
Dates: Tuesday, April 2 and Wednesday, April 3, 2024
Location: Virtual via Zoom
Cost: Free to attend, must register in advance
WORKSHOP 3: Betting Big: Investing in Emerging Energy Technology
Dates: Tuesday, May 7 and Wednesday, May 8, 2024
Location: Virtual via Zoom
Cost: Free to attend, must register in advance
Click on each workshop to learn more!
WORKSHOP 1: Low Carbon Energy Transitions: Lessons Learned from Global Pathfinders
Name: Low Carbon Energy Transitions: Lessons Learned from Global Pathfinders
Dates: Tuesday, March 7th and Wednesday, March 8th, 2023
Location: Virtual via Zoom
Cost: Free to attend, must register in advance
Description: Globally, many countries are striving to transition to lower carbon sources of energy. This transition has been economically and technologically challenging for many nations, but there are exceptions. Countries such as Iceland (geothermal), Denmark (wind), and France (nuclear) have been pathfinders – navigating this transition early, and making remarkable transformations in their energy supply in a relatively short period of time. This workshop will dive into the specific and varied experiences of these three countries. What were the drivers that set these nations on alternative energy paths? And what role did national policy, innovation and technology development play in helping navigate successful transitions?
WORKSHOP 2: Carbon Capture and Sequestration: The Myth and the Reality
Name: Carbon Capture and Sequestration: The Myth and the Reality
Dates: Tuesday, April 11th and Wednesday, April 12th, 2023
Location: Virtual via Zoom
Cost: Free to attend, must register in advance
Description: Carbon capture utilization and storage (CCUS) covers the suite of technologies used to capture carbon dioxide from stationary point sources, industrial processes, or the atmosphere, and then transport it to either 1) utilize for other beneficial use, or 2) inject deep underground into subsurface formations for permanent storage. Although based on decades-old technology in the oil and gas sector, emissions reduction goals and changes to the federal tax code have ignited a growing wave of implementation on the international scale. Join us for this conversation to learn from project developers, subject matter experts, and regulators to address the myths and realities of this industry and discuss the potential role it may play in Alaska in the coming years.
WORKSHOP 3: Energy Storage: Beyond Lithium-Ion Batteries
Name: Energy Storage: Beyond Lithium-Ion BatteriesDates: Tuesday, May 9th and Wednesday, May 10th, 2023
Location: Virtual via Zoom
Cost:Free to attend, must register in advance
Description: Energy storage is a key enabling technology to help unlock the power of variable renewable resources (such as wind and solar energy) and to expand utilization of electric power for emerging applications (such as electric vehicles). At present, lithium-ion batteries are a leading storage technology, but they are both costly and contain materials that raise lifecycle concerns. What are alternative storage options that could provide alternatives to conventional battery technologies – such as hydrogen, flow batteries, gravity storage, pumped hydro, iron batteries, or even a thermal battery that stores energy in sand? Do any of these approaches offer the key to longer-duration storage solutions, including seasonal storage?
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FEBRUARY 1ST – 2ND | Nuclear Energy in Alaska: The Issues, The Opportunities
Industry and government efforts worldwide are seeking to field a new generation of small nuclear reactors as combined heat and power resources. What unknowns exist that would need to be resolved in order to determine whether this technology could play a significant role in Alaska’s future energy mix? This workshop is organized in a way to help address some of the questions and concerns of Alaskans related to nuclear energy, organized around four key themes:
1. Does the technology exist?
2. Is it safe?
3. Is it economic?
4. Is it environmentally and socially responsible?
Downloads
Agenda
Speakers
Read Ahead Materials
Recordings
March 1ST – 2ND | Going with the Flow: Ocean and River Energy
Alaska is estimated to have 90% of U.S. tidal energy resources and 50% of the U.S. wave energy and in-river energy resources. A number of small-scale test deployments and demonstration projects have been installed in Alaska over the past decade, but challenges to large-scale adoption remain. Globally:
- What is the current and emerging status of hydrokinetic energy technologies?
- What are the key challenges for their implementation in Alaska?
- What are the applicable lessons learned with other variable renewables?
- How do Alaska use-case scenarios compare with those elsewhere?
Downloads
Recordings
APRIL 5TH – 6TH | Hydrogen in the “Hy” North: Decarbonizing Fuels
Domestically and internationally, interest and investment are growing rapidly in the use of hydrogen and hydrogen carriers (like ammonia) for energy storage, power generation, and transportation.
- What exactly is happening with hydrogen elsewhere in the nation and the world?
- What are the economic, policy and technology drivers (and constraints) for its implementation in the Alaska context?
- Are there regional or scale considerations related to its adoption?
- Could Alaska someday export hydrogen as an energy commodity?
Downloads
Recordings
MAY 3RD – 4TH | Electrify EVERYTHING!?
This workshop will build on the foundation established at the recent Electrify Alaska! Conference in Cordova. Ongoing efforts across the state are exploring cold climate heat pumps, dispatchable thermal loads, and electric vehicles of many types (even airplanes!).
- What best practices are emerging?
- What makes something work in one location and not another?
- How can these systems enhance microgrid electrical and financial performance?
- What don’t we know about space and water heating requirements?
- Are there lessons learned from rural AK that could be applied in more urban markets, like the Railbelt?
Recordings
Following the most successful Alaska Sustainable Energy Conference to-date, we are excited to announce a quarterly series of virtual workshops! The purpose of these workshops is to sustain our connections, strengthen relationships, and share knowledge among this energy-focused community between now and the 2026 Alaska Sustainable Energy Conference. Registration is free, and recordings will be available if you can’t tune in live.