Fueling the Future: DOE's Arctic Energy Seed Awards Ignite Innovation in Alaska

Today marks a significant step forward in securing an affordable, reliable and secure energy future for the U.S. Arctic. The U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Arctic Energy Office announced the recipients of the Arctic Energy Seed Awards (PPO-CWX-022-AE), supporting innovative energy projects that will help strengthen energy security, improve reliability, and lower costs for communities across Alaska.  

The Arctic is critical to America’s energy future, economic prosperity, and national security. The community faces energy challenges including limited infrastructure and extreme weather conditions. The Arctic Energy Seed Awards are designed to help bridge early-stage funding gaps, accelerate project development, and support innovative technologies that can be deployed across the region.  

“These awards will help unlock the American Arctic’s vast energy potential and support innovative solutions that strengthen energy security, improve reliability, and lower costs for communities across Alaska,” said Michael McEleney, Acting Director of DOE’s Arctic Energy Office. “The Arctic Energy Office is committed to advancing projects that put America’s abundant resources to work, strengthen our national security, and ensure Arctic communities have access to affordable, reliable and secure energy for generations to come.”  

These awards advance President Trump’s Executive Orders, "Declaring a National Energy Emergency," and "Unleashing Alaska's Extraordinary Resource Potential," by supporting locally driven energy solutions that develop the region’s abundant energy resources, enhance resilience, and address the unique challenges facing Arctic communities.  

We are excited to announce funding for the following organizations and their impactful projects: 

• University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF): Arctic Microgrid Resilience: Thermal Modeling and Storage Strategies for Energy Efficient Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) for Remote Microgrids in Extreme Climate. This project will research and develop thermal modeling and storage strategies for battery energy storage systems, crucial for enhancing grid resilience in the Arctic's harsh environment. 
• Northwest Arctic Borough (NAB): Updating the Northwest Arctic Regional Energy Plan and Projects & Opportunities Matrix. This initiative will focus on comprehensive energy planning, identifying key projects and opportunities to advance energy infrastructure and security in the region. 
• City of Nenana: Biomass Heat Plant Optimization and Modernization. This project aims to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of biomass heating systems, offering a affordable and reliable energy solution for the community. 
• City & Borough of Yakutat (CBY): YakWave Development Project. This innovative project will explore wave energy as an affordable and reliable power source, contributing to the diversification of energy generation in the Arctic. 
• Housing Alaskans Public Private Partnership (HAPPP): Developing Foundational Tools for Resilient, Energy-Efficient, and Affordable Housing in Alaska. This project will focus on creating essential AI tools and strategies to improve housing quality and energy efficiency, directly benefiting low-income communities and supporting regional workforce development. 

By supporting these diverse initiatives, the DOE is empowering local economies, facilitating the streamlining of development, and unlocking the vast resource potential of Alaska for the benefit of the nation and its citizens. 

The Arctic Energy Office is DOE’s only regionally focused office and serves as the Department’s lead advisor on Arctic energy issues. The office works across DOE program offices and with federal, state, Tribal, local, and industry partners to advance energy development, strengthen energy security, and support economic growth throughout Alaska and the U.S. Arctic. Through initiatives like the Seed Awards, the DOE seeks to enable and accelerate the delivery of projects that address local energy needs and contribute to long-term energy resilience in the Arctic. 

We look forward to the transformative impact these projects will have on Alaskan communities and the broader U.S. Arctic.