May & June Update
Local spotlight, continued product development, DOE grant approval!
The summer is off to a great start!
KTOO, Juneau’s local radio and news outlet, published a story about Sitkana and my journey (LINK TO THAT STORY). This was on the front page of the KTOO website for multiple days and the segment played on the radio, which has been great for raising visibility. The article led to product inquiries from customers across the region, including from an oyster farm eager to help pilot our technology. We also met a local boat captain willing to assist future testing and demonstrations. Sitkana’s local network is growing strong!
The Department of Energy Office of Technology Transitions recently announced an investment of $41.4M to help deliver clean energy solutions to market. Our partnership proposal with Sandia National Laboratories, titled “Mobilizing Under-utilized Vessels for Tidal Energy Capture” was selected as one of the projects by the EERE’s Water Power Technologies Office! This will be a two-year project in which Sandia Labs will assist Sitkana’s development, testing, and deployment. (LINK TO PRESS RELEASE).
Prototype Development
Chinook (1.6kW Device)
Building version 4.0
Key improvements from previous version:
Hermetically sealed (airtight) for long duration
In the Community
I was invited by Clay Good to participate in a middle-school summer camp called “The Nature of Energy,” hosted by Renewable Energy Alaska Project and Discovery Southeast
We met by Gold Creek to talk about the energy in flowing water
Grants
“Mobilizing Under-utilized Vessels for Tidal Energy Capture”
Partnership with Sandia Labs = APPROVED
“Co-Development of a Hydrokinetic Device for Buoy Systems”
Partnership with Woods Hole = DECLINED
Next Steps
Arrange for open-water studies at the Bourne Tidal Test Site
Seed Raise announcement — coming soon