Transportation
An important part of preparing for an oil-free future, is to have well functioning solutions for private, public and industrial transportation needs. Everyone knows the electric car, but we are currently also exploring the use of electric ferries, fishing boats, airplanes and more.
Wind Power
Wind driven devices has been around for thousands of years. Today it has become a very well developed technology for generating electricity. The challenges are the high peaks in output when there is strong wind, and considerations around the use of untouched nature for setting up large wind turbines, opposed to using existing infrastructure and smaller turbines. These are some of the questions we are excited to explore further in ARC.
Related Projects People
Tobias Boström
Matteo Chiesa
ARC Philosophy
ARC aims to tackle energy related issues through a synthetic and symbiotic approach. By cultivating interdisciplinarity and combining technologies to create optimal solutions while ensuring their harmonious integration in society, we can achieve sustainable living and the wellbeing of people - the core of ARC. Our people-centric philosophy is embodied in the snowflake symbol, reflecting unity and balance between the people and the natural environment of the Arctic region.
ARC is aligned with the mission of UiT in the 21st century to engage this approach in problem solving. Namely, to shift away from analytic approaches based on seeking solutions to isolated problems in order to consider the following instead: the phenomenon of energy through a holistic view of the interconnectedness of all its intrinsic components.
The advantage of this approach is that resources are not equally distributed by sector or specific problem only, but rather considers the importance of the whole development of a project instead of the evolution of individual aspects only. For this, before rushing to create new technology, already available technology is to be considered regardless of its current application. This has the further advantage of building on top of already available infrastructure and forming rapid collaboration rather than competition only.
Rather than analysing a given problem as an isolated case, ARC goes a step beyond and looks at putting the necessary ingredients together that can provide the optimal solution. In this respect, the energy problem is not seen as a purely technological issue, instead, it is treated in its societal context as well.
The ARC initiative is established as the answer to the realisation that a higher educational institution must provide solutions and participate proactively in solving problems in society, while caring for the public’s concerns and managing perceptions related to its value.
The structure of ARC is embracing this new way of looking at things, where rather than using the top down approach, a cooperation of individuals that want to find common grounds in order to solve different problems, come together in a form of natural synthesis. Technology agrees and maintains the values of society and society embraces technology in a symbiotic relationship while in balance with nature.
Photovoltaics
Solar panels have become a mature technology during the past decades, and have dropped drastically in price the past couple of years. Today it is actually cheaper to produce electricity from solar panels then from fossil fuel. It might seem counter-intuitive to have solar panels in arctic regions, but due to the lower temperatures, the panels have higher efficiencies then in warmer and sunnier regions. The snow also reflects additional sunlight to reach the panels. It has been shown to be only a 15% increase in yield from solar panels in the south of Norway (Oslo) compared to arctic regions (Tromsø), which make them well suited to be used in combination with other methods of energy production.
Related Projects People
Senja Grid Tobias Boström
Matteo Chiesa
Materials
Material technology is one of the columns on which a new future is built, and the world of renewable energy is no different. The properties of a new material can be the difference to make or break a new concept.
Philosophy and environment
ARC is about creating new solutions from existing technologies. Such a process brings up everything from ethical to existential questions that need to be considered, in order to build a solid foundation for solutions that are implemented, as well as being prepared for the long term transformations they will commence - sometimes in surprising fields. Philosophy is an important tool to be one step ahead of development, and lay down the stepping stones that are needed to cross the boundaries between theory and practice when exploring new territories.
Analytics
In the energy transition towards 2030, the EU has acquired a role as a global leader. Nordic countries have specific goals towards developing sustainable energy systems that are more efficient, more flexible and with a high share of renewable energy generation.
The Energy Transition significantly contributes to the climate goals. However, there are challenges in the development of renewable energy systems that have to be overcome. Examples include voltage stability and the capacity of the electrical distribution grid, due to the varying loads that renewable systems typically produce. Technology shifts, such as smart metering and 'Internet of Things', create both opportunities and new levels of complexity in contracts and data management.
A substantial part of the challenge emanates from the increased need for flexibility - the untapped potential of having access to both smaller and larger networks of resources, to avoid unecessary investments in energy infrastructures. The EU’s initiative “Clean Energy for all Europeans” has started to address these challenges, and has highlighted how the 'smart citizen' and digital technology will be part of the solution. Digitalization is one of the critical approaches to address these challenges. We can tackle the challenges of fossil-free transport by developing innovative solutions in an integrated local energy system. We can develop a market mechanism for energy trading, enabled by digital platforms and advanced algorithms to optimize electricity usage.
Transportation An important part of preparing for an oil-free future, is to have well functioning solutions for private, public and industrial transportation needs. Everyone knows the electric car, but we are currently also exploring the use of electric ferries, fishing boats, airplanes and more.
Wind Power
Wind driven devices has been around for thousands of years. Today it has become a very well developed technology for generating electricity. The challenges are the high peaks in output when there is strong wind, and considerations around the use of untouched nature for setting up large wind turbines, opposed to using existing infrastructure and smaller turbines. These are some of the questions we are excited to explore further in ARC.
Related Projects People
Tobias Boström
Matteo Chiesa
ARC Philosophy
ARC aims to tackle energy related issues through a synthetic and symbiotic approach. By cultivating interdisciplinarity and combining technologies to create optimal solutions while ensuring their harmonious integration in society, we can achieve sustainable living and the wellbeing of people - the core of ARC.
Our people-centric philosophy is embodied in the snowflake symbol on our homepage, reflecting unity and balance between the people and the natural environment of the Arctic region.
ARC is aligned with the mission of UiT in the 21st century to engage this approach in problem solving. Namely, to shift away from analytic approaches based on seeking solutions to isolated problems in order to consider the following instead: the phenomenon of energy through a holistic view of the interconnectedness of all its intrinsic components.
The advantage of this approach is that resources are not equally distributed by sector or specific problem only, but rather considers the importance of the whole development of a project instead of the evolution of individual aspects only. For this, before rushing to create new technology, already available technology is to be considered regardless of its current application. This has the further advantage of building on top of already available infrastructure and forming rapid collaboration rather than competition only.
Rather than analysing a given problem as an isolated case, ARC goes a step beyond and looks at putting the necessary ingredients together that can provide the optimal solution. In this respect, the energy problem is not seen as a purely technological issue, instead, it is treated in its societal context as well.
The ARC initiative is established as the answer to the realisation that a higher educational institution must provide solutions and participate proactively in solving problems in society, while caring for the public’s concerns and managing perceptions related to its value.
The structure of ARC is embracing this new way of looking at things, where rather than using the top down approach, a cooperation of individuals that want to find common grounds in order to solve different problems, come together in a form of natural synthesis. Technology agrees and maintains the values of society and society embraces technology in a symbiotic relationship while in balance with nature.
Photovoltaics
Solar panels have become a mature technology during the past decades, and have dropped drastically in price the past couple of years. Today it is actually cheaper to produce electricity from solar panels then from fossil fuel. It might seem counter-intuitive to have solar panels in arctic regions, but due to the lower temperatures, the panels have higher efficiencies then in warmer and sunnier regions. The snow also reflects additional sunlight to reach the panels. It has been shown to be only a 15% increase in yield from solar panels in the south of Norway (Oslo) compared to arctic regions (Tromsø), which make them well suited to be used in combination with other methods of energy production.
Related Projects People
Senja Grid Tobias Boström
Matteo Chiesa
