The ECE Seminar Series presents:

Smart Energy Solutions for and by Alaska

with Michelle Wilber
Alaska Center for Energy and Power, University of Alaska, Fairbanks

Join us for this incredibly informative seminar on Friday, April 10 in Innovation Hall Rm E432 from 3:30 -- 4:30PM!

ABSTRACT: The Grid Edge Research Program at UAF's Alaska Center for Energy and Power seeks to explore a range of distributed energy resources to unlock healthy and cost-effective solutions for Alaska and other parts of the world. These resources include small-and mid-market solar and wind facilities, behind-the-meter resources, electrified loads, and battery storage. Michelle will discuss the team's research working with communities in Alaska to improve the understanding of approaches in islanded microgrids and cold climates; investigate social, technical, economic, and regulatory factors affecting grid edge technologies; and engage and grow stakeholder relationships. This work includes modeling solar, battery, and hydrogen storage integration in community microgrids, analyzing data on electric garbage trucks deployed in the state, and developing smart home energy optimization appropriate for rural Alaska. 

BIO: Michelle Wilber, Research Engineer, leads the Grid Edge Research Group at the University of Alaska Fairbanks' Alaska Center for Energy and Power. Her research focuses on the performance and integration of solar photovoltaic and electrification technologies (such as EVs and heat pumps) in cold climates and microgrids. She holds a BS from the California Institute of Technology and an MS in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Alaska Anchorage.