Seward, Alaska (April 9, 2024) — The City of Seward has made another momentous stride toward harnessing the thermal potential of Resurrection Bay to heat its downtown facilities. Known as the Heat Loop Project, the initiative received a $315,000 US Department of Energy (DOE) grant last April, which required an allocation for workforce development. To satisfy this requirement, grant funds were applied to the acquisition of a new SanCO2 residential heat pump water heater that will enable the Alaska Vocational Technical Center (AVTEC) to offer hands-on installation and maintenance training.
Among those present for the unit’s arrival were AVTEC Director Cathy LeCompte, Instructional Administrator Colin Stewart, Comforts of Home owner Mark Houston, and Port & Commerce Advisory Board (PACAB) Chair Bruce Jaffa, who also heads the project’s ad hoc fundraising committee. Jaffa noted that the SanCO2 system employs the same carbon dioxide heat pump technology as the proposed heat loop.
“Almost all of the components that are in here will be replicated on the heat loop project,” Jaffa said. “This is taking everything and putting it into a box.”
On Wednesday, March 27, specialists from across the state joined AVTEC instructors at the school’s refrigeration facility to undergo training by ECO2 Systems Managing Director John Miles. A co-designer of the unit, Miles imparted his comprehensive knowledge of the SanCO2 system through an intensive two-day course, with equipment certifications for those who attended both days. Joining Mark Houston and others in the class was AVTEC refrigeration instructor Dan Kane, who will develop a curriculum around the unit.
“We train people from all over the state,” Director LeCompte remarked. “Being able to weave this into our existing program and maybe pull it out as a standalone training — whatever the demand requires — is very exciting.”
Also in attendance were two members of Seward’s Public Works department — Elijah Ballard and William Pike. Before training began, YourCleanEnergy founder and heat loop project designer Andy Baker opened the session with a special presentation on the heating potential of Resurrection Bay waters.
“Seward has enough heat in the bay to heat the whole town easily,” Baker told attendees.
In November, after fulfilling all required DOE milestones, the Seward Heat Loop Project will be eligible to compete for a deployment grant.
Among those present for the unit’s arrival were AVTEC Director Cathy LeCompte, Instructional Administrator Colin Stewart, Comforts of Home owner Mark Houston, and Port & Commerce Advisory Board (PACAB) Chair Bruce Jaffa, who also heads the project’s ad hoc fundraising committee. Jaffa noted that the SanCO2 system employs the same carbon dioxide heat pump technology as the proposed heat loop.
“Almost all of the components that are in here will be replicated on the heat loop project,” Jaffa said. “This is taking everything and putting it into a box.”
On Wednesday, March 27, specialists from across the state joined AVTEC instructors at the school’s refrigeration facility to undergo training by ECO2 Systems Managing Director John Miles. A co-designer of the unit, Miles imparted his comprehensive knowledge of the SanCO2 system through an intensive two-day course, with equipment certifications for those who attended both days. Joining Mark Houston and others in the class was AVTEC refrigeration instructor Dan Kane, who will develop a curriculum around the unit.
“We train people from all over the state,” Director LeCompte remarked. “Being able to weave this into our existing program and maybe pull it out as a standalone training — whatever the demand requires — is very exciting.”
Also in attendance were two members of Seward’s Public Works department — Elijah Ballard and William Pike. Before training began, YourCleanEnergy founder and heat loop project designer Andy Baker opened the session with a special presentation on the heating potential of Resurrection Bay waters.
“Seward has enough heat in the bay to heat the whole town easily,” Baker told attendees.
In November, after fulfilling all required DOE milestones, the Seward Heat Loop Project will be eligible to compete for a deployment grant.