Press release from the Arctic Council
Calling all renewable energy enthusiasts, the Arctic Remote Energy Networks Academy (ARENA) is seeking its next set of project participants. The ARENA project is a circumpolar knowledge sharing and capacity-building program focused on isolated power systems integration. The project, which is endorsed by the Arctic Council’s Sustainable Development Working Group, is held in partnership with Canada, Gwich’in Council International, the U.S. and Iceland. Now in its second iteration, ARENA 2020 is accepting applications from eligible candidates. The application deadline has been extended to 1 March 2020.
ARENA 2020 will combine visits to communities and participant knowledge exchanges with presentations and laboratory demonstrations. The program connects current and emerging energy professionals with hands-on learning experiences, mentors and project development leaders from throughout the circumpolar north. The selected participants will be provided with the necessary knowledge-base, skills and collaboration networks to develop clean energy projects in their own communities or regions with a view of effectively achieving balance between economic viability, energy security, environmental and public health concerns in the circumpolar Arctic region.
ARENA 2020 Program Schedule
Canada – 24 May to 1 June 2020:
The Canada on-site session will be based at the Canadian High Arctic Research Station in Cambridge Bay, Nunavut, with visits to community scale projects within the territory of Nunavut (Rankin & Iqaluit). The focus will be on community and Indigenous energy development, ownership and management, capacity building and the roles of governments and utilities in building success.
Alaska – July 2020:
The Alaska on-site session will be held in Fairbanks and Kodiak, with a focus on energy system integration, northern energy project management, high penetration variable renewable resources, wind energy, hydroelectric energy, energy storage, utility governance and supportive energy policy.
Iceland – November 2020:
The Iceland on-site session, based at the UNU Geothermal Training Programme, will focus on value-added and cascading uses of available energy resources. A combination of lectures and visits to various energy and business sites in Iceland will be employed.
Participant Eligibility and Application
The ARENA program is designed for those involved in community-scale renewable energy projects or initiatives. The curriculum is designed for a non-technical audience with a focus on project management, networking and knowledge sharing to catalyze power systems integration across small communities in the north. Criteria for consideration as a member of the ARENA 2020 cohort include:
- Citizen of one of the eight Arctic States or observer nations of the Arctic Council, and/or affiliated with an Arctic Council Permanent Participant group
- Prior knowledge of energy projects relevant in an Arctic context
- Good English language communication skills
- Commitment to participate in all aspects of the program and to comply with program expectations for preparation and conduct
- Support from their employer to make available the time required to participate in all program activities
- · Articulation of an energy project relevant to their community and region that they will commit to plan and refine over the course of the program
For more information and to apply for the program before the 1 March deadline, visit http://arena.alaska.edu/apply-now/.
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Date of publication: 19 Feb 2020
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