Murkowski wins authorization for DOE office in Alaska

Facility to promote research and development of alternative energy, including wind, geothermal, coalbed methane, GTL technology

Petroleum News Alaska

In an effort to promote, develop and install new-technology electric power facilities in rural, remote, cold-climate areas like Alaska, Alaska Sen. Frank Murkowski won Senate approval July 11 for an amendment that authorizes the establishment of a new Department of Energy office-laboratory research facility in Alaska.

The new facility, the Office of Arctic Energy, most likely will be located at the University of Alaska in Fairbanks.

The legislation calls on the facility to focus on development and deployment of electric power technology “that is cost-effective, and especially well suited to meet the needs of rural and remote regions, especially where permafrost is present.” That likely includes alternative energy technology involving wind, geothermal and fuel cell technology, small hydroelectric facilities, river turbines and tidal power technology.

The laboratory is also tasked with promoting research, development and deployment of other forms of energy technology including:

• Enhanced oil recovery technology, including heavy oil, reinjection of carbon and new extended “directional” drilling technologies.

• Gas-to-liquids technology and research into liquefied natural gas systems.

• And natural gas hydrates, coalbed methane and shallow bed natural gas technology.

The authorization includes $1 million for opening of the office/ laboratory at a university with “special expertise and unique experience” in such research.

The University of Alaska, Fairbanks, has been involved in a host of research on such issues from gas-to-liquids technology to fuel cells.