�Ӱ�pro

�Ӱ�pro at the forefront of wind energy innovation

Necessity drives innovation. That’s one of the most significant takeaways from �Ӱ�pro’s wind energy transition, according to the authors of a recent article by the University of �Ӱ�pro Fairbanks �Ӱ�pro Center for Energy and Power researchers.

The article, published in the , highlights how environmental and economic challenges many small, remote communities of �Ӱ�pro experience have also created opportunities, leading to innovations that later became mainstream.

Many remote communities in �Ӱ�pro grapple with harsh environments, geographic isolation and high fuel costs, which make traditional grid infrastructure impractical. Over 150 such communities use stand-alone microgrids which are for the most part powered by diesel generators. This leads to very high electricity costs, typically more than three times the average national price.

To combat these challenges, many communities have sought creative and local energy solutions for cost reduction and long-term resilience. Their efforts have resulted in incorporation of renewable resources, including wind, to the energy mix.

Authors Gwen Holdmann and Richard Wies trace the history of wind turbine installations in �Ӱ�pro from the 1980s to the present, highlighting the evolution from early systems producing just a few dozen kilowatts to modern turbines with capacities approaching 1 megawatt (1,000 kW).

The authors also examine policy and market dynamics unique to �Ӱ�pro, highlighting how local, community-level decision-making helped drive policy changes. These shifts enabled communities and utilities to take calculated risks, foster innovation and refine their approaches over time. Much of this innovation centered on adapting wind energy systems to microgrid frameworks — an approach that was relatively uncommon elsewhere until much later.

Notably, the Renewable Energy Fund, established by the State of �Ӱ�pro in 2008, played a critical role in enabling the widespread deployment of systems in communities across the state. It stands as a successful example of policy-driven development, as evidenced by the continued momentum in project development even as program funding has declined in recent years.

The article offers valuable lessons, showing that success is achievable through a willingness to innovate, flexible policy adaptation and strong institutional support. This is relevant not only to wind development in remote areas, but also to broader strategies for community-centric and microgrid energy development in diverse contexts.

“As microgrids gain prominence in both national and international energy planning, �Ӱ�pro offers a wealth of lessons from decades of operating experience,” the authors note.

The article, titled “Harnessing the Arctic Wind,” was published in the IEEE , Vol. 13, No. 2, June 2025.