ARC

ARC Philosophy

The core of ARC is sustainable living and the wellbeing of people. 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 in a new approach to problem solving. Namely, to shift away from analytic approaches where solutions are sought for isolated problems, and rather consider the phenomenon of energy in a holistic way: The interconnectedness of all its intrinsic components, both technological and social.

An advantage of this approach is that resources can be distributed where they are needed the most, when the development of a project is considered as a whole. Rather than rushing to create new technology to solve a problem, available technology can be given new applications. If this does not solve the problem, it still pinpoints the missing pieces and allows for a focused and efficient process of innovation. This has the further advantage of building on top of existing infrastructure and forming rapid collaboration rather than competing paradigms.

ARC goes a step beyond analysing problems as isolated cases and looks at putting the necessary ingredients together that can provide working solutions in terms of sustainability. In this respect, the energy problem is not seen as a purely technological issue but is also treated in its societal context.

The ARC initiative is established as an answer to the realisation that higher educational institutions should both 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. We establish broad cooperation over disciplinary borders to find common grounds. We aim to solve the challenges we face through synthesis of thoughts and methods. Create technology that agrees with- and maintains the values of society, so that society embraces the technology it produces. A symbiotic relationship - in balance with nature.

eSystems

The output from many renewable energy devices is dependent upon weather or other natural conditions. To have enough power for the peaks in consumption, it is important to combine different types of devices, as well as managing the consumption of power in smart ways, so the curve of consumption is matching that of production. The development of smartgrid technology, storage systems and other means of optimizing the efficiency of a renewable energy system, is paramount to create reliable solutions, and reduce the amount of infrastructure needed to be built.

People: Bjarte Hoff, Terje Gjengedal

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. 

People : Yngve Birkelund, Clara Good

Wind Power

Wind driven mechanical devices have been around for over thousand 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 wind turbines, opposed to using existing infrastructure and smaller turbines. These are some of the questions we are excited to explore further in ARC.

People: Hans Christopher Bernstein

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. 

People : Tobias Boström, Kirsten Krause

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.

People: Matteo Chiesa and Annette Bayer

Society and Ethics

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.

People : Berit Kristoffersen,  Jennifer Clare Heyward

Digitalization

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 renewable energy and 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.

Digitalization is based on research areas of strategic importance such as supercomputing (HPC), artificial intelligence and machine learning (AI/ML), and cybersecurity, as highlighted in the new EU Digital Europe Programme

People : Stian Normann Anfindsen, Hoai Phuong Ha

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