For the past five years Kempy Energetics worked closely with the Alaska Longline Fishermen’s Association to advance our understanding of energy use in the fishing fleet. In the past year we’ve focused our effort on alternative propulsion systems for fishing vessels. That effort got a big boost this summer when ALFA became a formal partner in the Energy Transitions Initiative Partnership Project (ETIPP). ETIPP connects remote and islanded communities with resources available from national laboratories. The partnership will provide technical assistance to ALFA, and ALFA will connect the labs with to our knowledge and network of fishermen. Since fishing is an essential industry in many of the communities that ETIPP serves, ALFA’s work will benefit the partnership broadly. As ALFA’s principle contractor for energy efficiency work, Kempy Energetics is a central part of the partnership.
The National Renewable Energy Laboratory and Sandia National Laboratory will bring their extended experience in hybrid, battery electric and hydrogen fuel cell power systems to the fishing fleet. The labs have evaluated and helped design novel power systems for commercial trucks guided national policy and are at the leading edge of the nascent national hydrogen economy. According to their recent statement of work, the labs plan to assist ALFA in designing and understanding hybrid propulsion systems and completing a feasibility assessment of hydrogen powered vessels.