2022-23 ARENA Program

Following the success of the ARENA pilot program in 2017, Canada, Iceland, Gwich’in Council International and the U.S. heads of delegation under the Sustainable Development Working Group (SDWG) of the Arctic Council made plans to move forward with a second iteration of the program under the U.S. chairmanship in 2020. However, the program was delayed two years due to the COVID-19 global pandemic.  

The program kicked-off in Alaska in July 2022 before convening again in Iceland in October and came to a close with the third and final on-site in Yukon Territory in January of 2023. Each on-site included a full seven-day agenda.  Learn more about the 2022-23 Cohort.

Resources

2022-23 ARENA Final Report

On-Site Programs

Alaska

July 17-23, 2022

• Presentations and lectures on microgrids; low-temperature geothermal; project management for energy projects; home heating in northern communities; hydrokinetic research in Alaska; electric cooperatives; and American Federalism, Tribal Governance, and the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act.
• Field excursions to Chena Hot Springs to tour the low-temperature geothermal power plant and hydroponic greenhouses; microgrid demonstration in the UAF Power Systems Integration Lab; and a tour of NREL’s Alaska Campus, formerly the Cold Climate Housing Research Center.
• Multi-day excursion to Kotzebue with visits to community scale wind and solar installations, Kotzebue Electric Association, water treatment plants, and sea wall coastal erosion project.
• An at-a-glance agenda can be found here.

 

Iceland

October 22-29, 2022

• Presentations and lectures on the development of geothermal utilization in Reykjavik; geothermal energy and geothermal exploration; utilization of geothermal energy with emphasis on low-temperature resources; production of electricity from low- and medium temperature geothermal resources; environmental and regulatory aspects of geothermal development; and developing hydropower in Iceland with emphasis on a small scale.
• Geothermal and cultural excursions in Reykjavik and to the Southern Lowlands (Hellisheidi Power Plant, Set Pipe factory, CO2 production from geothermal wells at Hædarendi, commercial greenhouses at Reykholt and Flúdir, electrical production from low- temperature resources at Kópsvatn, and Gullfoss waterfall, Geysir geothermal field and Thingvellir National Park).
• Field excursion to the Reykjanes geothermal field, Haustak geothermal fish drying plant, and HS Energy in Svartsengi – ending the day swimming in the Blue Lagoon.
• You can find a detailed agenda here.

 

Yukon Territory

January 15-21, 2023

• Presentations and lectures on community energy planning and engagement; industry partnerships; power and renewables in off-grid communities; partnerships and negotiations with utilities; Indigenous and community led wind projects; and integrating renewable energy onto a grid.
• Overnight trip to Old Crow, home to the Vuntut Gwitchin, learning about their community-led solar project, history, and culture.
• Field excursion to Teslin for learning and discussions about biomass.