OMB number: 4040-0019 expiration date: 02/28/2025 project abstract summary this project abstract summary form must be submitted or the application will be considered incomplete

This Project Grant award from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) under the Congressionally Identified Awards and Projects program (CFDA 11.469) provides $110,000 to the University of Alaska Anchorage (UAA) to explore renewable energy-based methods for kelp processing in three selected locations in Alaska: Cordova, Homer, and Kodiak.

The key activities include: 1) Assessing the solar energy potential of the three locations to determine how much solar energy can be leveraged for kelp drying, 2) Developing solar energy-based kelp drying methodologies that integrate technologies like heat exchangers, thermal storage, and heat pumps to address solar energy's intermittency, and 3) Performing drying kinetics analysis to optimize the kelp drying process. The project aims to test five different renewable energy-based scenarios and identify the most effective combined technology for sustainable, low-cost kelp processing in Alaska. The award period runs from Sep 1, 2024 to Aug 31, 2027.

Ensure the project abstract field succinctly describes the project in plain language that the public can understand and use without the full proposal. Use 4,000 characters or less. Do not include personally identifiable, sensitive or proprietary information. Refer to agency instructions for any additional project abstract field requirements. If the application is funded, your project abstract information (as submitted) will be made available to public websites and/or databases including usaspending.GOV. Funding opportunity number NOAA-OAR-SG-2024-26526 cfda(S) 11.469 applicant name university of alaska anchorage descriptive title of applicant's project kelp processing in selected alaskan sites using combined renewable energy resources project abstract 1. Introduction alaska, with its 30,000 miles of pristine, nutrient-rich coastline, has an ideal environment for mariculture, the enhancement, aquatic farming, or restoration of shellfish and seaweed to meet more of the domestic and international demand. Recognizing this fact, commercial fishing industries in alaska are trying to diversify their business through kelp farming. Although, in general, alaska is the second largest farmed seaweed-producing region in the U.S. (behind maine), the development of seaweed (including kelp) markets is still in its infancy. Commercial wild kelp harvesting is also a new area in the state's commercial fishing industry, and IT has sparked interest in kelp farming. Infrastructure and logistics are huge barriers to making an alaskan kelp industry more successful. Companies looking into kelp processing in alaska strongly advocate employing affordable energy resources due to financial and environmental sustainability considerations. There is a need for sustainable kelp processing through alternative ways of kelp drying (other than fossil-fuel/electrical resistance-based heating). 2. Project purpose the alaska fisheries development foundations commissioned studies for assessing the potential of kelp processing for several locations in alaska's coastal areas. One of the study's most important findings was that low-cost energy might be more important to kelp processing business development. This project is motivated by the importance of mariculture such as kelp harvesting/farming to alaska's economy and the need to develop alternative, low-cost kelp processing methods. The purpose of this project is to address the concerns of low-cost sustainable energy processing of kelp. 3. Activities to be performed the main activities to be performed in this project are summarized as follows. A) the project will determine the solar potential of cordova, homer, and kodiak. This will provide important information on how much solar energy is available that can be utilized for kelp drying. B) the project will develop a solar energy-based kelp drying methodologies by combining solar energy with technologies such as heat exchangers, thermal storages and heat pumps. This will help balance solar energy's daily, monthly, and even seasonal intermittency, ensuring uninterrupted performance. C) the project will perform drying kinetics analysis to optimize process control. 4. Expected outcomes the proposed project will test five different scenarios of renewable energy-based combined technologies for kelp drying and assess each technology's efficacy and applicability in the selected 3 locations. IT is expected that the project will result in selection of the best combined technology for kelp drying. This will address the concerns of low-cost, sustainable energy processing of kelp. 5. Intended beneficiaries the PI has a long history of working on projects that help alaskan businesses. He has extensively collaborated with the alaska manufacturing extension partnership (alaska MEP) to help alaskan industries