Solar is a great resource in Fairbanks. But with the extreme climate and the changing angle of the sun, the key to solar
energy is storage. Thermal storage allows us to capture energy in the summer, when the sun is shining, and use it during
the heating season. Last year we incorporated a massive storage system at the research center–16 solar collectors that
charge a 22,000-gallon tank of water buried outside. Now we’re testing it to see how much energy it can produce and
how Alaskans can incorporate it into their homes. In 2015 the system produced 13 million BTUs.
