The Emerging Priorities in Energy Research Day held in Anchorage, Alaska on October 31st was co-hosted by NRECA and the Alaska Power Association and sponsored by CFC. Over 60 participants from utilities, 5 DOE national labs, the University of Alaska, and CFC came together to learn more about the emerging energy trends in the industry and to learn about the research taking place in this space. Senator Lisa Murkowski was able to provide an overview of what she sees as the challenges utilities face. Speakers from the DOE national labs, the University of Alaska, NRECA, CFC, and cooperatives provided updates on existing research in the energy field and how it relates to challenges that utilities in Alaska face.

The following are the presentations from this event:

• Agenda

• Welcome
  Meera Kohler, Alaska Village Electric Cooperative
  Crystal Enkvist, Alaska Power Association

• The Future of the Industry in Technology and Energy Services
  Optimizing Technology for Value: The Cooperative's Role
  Jim Spiers, NRECA

• Challenges of Integrating Renewables in Small Grids
  Mariko Shirazi, Alaska Center for Energy & Power (moderator)
  Dustin Highers, Chugach Electric Association
  Bill Thomson, Alaska Village Electric Cooperative
  Brian Miller, National Renewable Energy Laboratory

• U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (AK), Chair - Senate Energy and Natural Resources

• Technology Improvements in Battery Storage
  Vincent Sprenkle, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory
  Clay Koplin, Cordova Electric Cooperative

• Remote Utilities Research: Resiliency and Infrastructure Improvements
  Robert Harris, NRECA (moderator)
  Burke Wick/Russell Thornton, Chugach Electric Association
  Janet Reiser, Alaska Energy Authority
  

• Lunch Keynote: Emerging Technologies and the Financial Impact
  Greg Starheim, National Rural Utilities Cooperative Finance Corporation

• IEEE 1547-2018 Revision: Considerations for Challenging Grid Scenarios
  George Roe, Alaska Center for Energy & Power (moderator)
  Charlie Vartanian, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory
  Robert Harris, NRECA

• Microgrids: Benefits and Opportunities
  Kevin Schneider, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

• Distributed CHP Challenges in Remote Communities
  Devany Plentovich, Alaska Energy Authority (moderator)
  Ben Loeffler, Alaska Center for Energy & Power
  David Van Holde, Department of Energy CHP Taps

• Performance Optimization
  Rich Wies, Alaska Center for Energy & Power (moderator)
  Rob Hovsapian, Idaho National Laboratory
  Dan Bishop, Golden Valley Electric Association
  Alec Mesdag, Alaska Electric Light and Power