Seatrec, the renewable energy company that harvests energy from temperature differences in the environment, today announced the successful field test of its first-of-its-kind Arctic Power Station (APS) that creates electricity using temperature differences in the environment. The month-long field test was conducted at Michigan Technological University's (MTU) Great Lakes Research Center's (GLRC) Frozen Marine Testbed and saw the APS successfully deployed, operated, and recovered in harsh winter conditions ranging from blizzards and subfreezing temperatures to sunshine.
“The Arctic's remoteness and harsh environment make transporting generators and batteries cumbersome and expensive, even as the region's strategic and research importance grows with the changing climate,” explains Yi Chao, Ph.D., Seatrec's CEO and founder. “The technology to create unlimited, clean power from natural temperature differences in the environment unlocks exciting possibilities across industry, defense, and research in this vital region.”
Lake Superior's vast, frigid waters, powerful storms, and seasonal ice cover mirror, in several key ways, the extreme conditions of the far north, making it a natural test bed for Arctic research. Its unique environment offers a rare opportunity to explore extreme cold weather conditions and the resilience of ecosystems in a setting that echoes the challenges of the Arctic—no expedition to the pole required.
“With harsh winter temperatures often dropping well below freezing, along with the vast waters and extensive ice cover of Lake Superior, our region provides an unparalleled testbed for Arctic technologies,” said Pengfei Xue, Professor of Water Resources and Associate Director of GLRC. “By leveraging our Frozen Marine Testbed, we offer an exceptional environment to validate technologies like Seatrec's power station in an accessible yet Arctic-like environment, reducing risks before deployment in the high Arctic.”
GLRC's team also facilitated a pre-deployment design review to help Seatrec optimize the system for survivability in Great Lakes winter conditions. They also assisted with shipping logistics and freight receiving and hosted Seatrec's engineers on-site with full access to workshop space, tools, and technical staff.
The APS was deployed on GLRC's seasonally frozen pier within its deep-water takeout well, with additional infrastructure provided for power and network connections. Throughout the test, GLRC engineers supported routine system maintenance, monitored environmental conditions, and provided boots-on-the-ground troubleshooting to ensure smooth operation and documentation. Simultaneously, the Seatrec team monitored the system's performance remotely from its California-based headquarters. Additionally, GLRC's expertise in ice safety and winter field operations helped Seatrec's team gain hands-on experience while they were onsite in Houghton, Michigan, to prepare for future Arctic deployments.
GLRC also supported project collaborators from the Naval Postgraduate School (NPS) in conducting a demonstration and test of the APS's ability to power a suite of ocean sensors—including underwater hydrophones, an omnidirectional sound source, and a cryophone on top of the ice. The test proceeded flawlessly, with no interruptions or evidence of electrical interference in the data. NPS researchers recorded sounds of personnel walking on the ice at various times, passing snowmobiles, and holes being drilled through the ice by the research team, along with several curious, unidentified sounds that are still under review.
Through rigorous testing in a challenging, real-world environment, the Seatrec team was able to advance the APS prototype's technology readiness level in preparation for future Arctic deployments.
“We enjoyed working with Seatrec's team and their novel marine energy harvesting technology,” said Travis White, Research Engineer and Test Support Manager. “We're glad we could help them validate their system in a real-world environment and prepare for next year's Arctic deployment. We wish them success in that endeavor and look forward to seeing the next iteration of their technology.”
About Seatrec
Seatrec designs and manufactures energy harvesting systems that generate electricity from naturally occurring temperature differences in ocean waters. This renewable energy can be used to power deep water oceanographic research equipment such as floats, gliders, and autonomous underwater vehicles, resulting in the most scalable, cost-effective deep ocean data collection possible. The company is headquartered in Vista, CA. Visit us at www.seatrec.com and @seatrecinc.
About Michigan Technological University's Great Lakes Research Center's Frozen Marine Testbed
Over the past decade, GLRC's Frozen Marine Testbed has supported a wide range of Arctic-domain research—from sensor and energy technology development to under-ice autonomy and physical ocean science—making it the go-to site for organizations seeking accessible, cost-effective winter test conditions. This enduring commitment to advancing polar research not only strengthens individual projects but also fosters collaborative innovation for future Arctic and Antarctic endeavors.
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