ASEC Continuing Conversations Virtual Workshops

Join us for a quarterly series of free virtual workshops in partnership with UAF and ACEP, between now and ASEC 2026.

Following the most successful Alaska Sustainable Energy Conference to-date, we are excited to announce a quarterly series of virtual workshops in partnership with the Alaska Center for Energy and Power at the University of Alaska Fairbanks.

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 at alaskasustainablenergy.com if you can’t tune in live.

Workshop 1: Lessons in Transmission Planning

Dates: August 5-6, 2025

Times: 8:30 AM - 12:30 PM AKT

Description: This workshop will cover a range of topics, with subject matter experts from Hawaii to New England, 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

Dates: October 28-29, 2025

Times: 8:30 AM - 12:30 PM AKT

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

Dates: January 27-28, 2026

Times: 8:30 AM - 12:30 PM AKT

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

Dates: April 1-2, 2026

Times: 8:30 AM - 12:30 PM AKT*

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.

*Times are subject to change.

For more information, visit our event website: https://alaskasustainableenergy.com/virtual-workshops/