Podcasts
Greener computer data centers
March 2009
By 2011, the nation's computer data centers will consume more power than 8 million average U.S. households. A new strategy cuts down on their energy waste by putting servers to sleep when they're not in use. Listen to the podcast with MMPEI's Thomas Wenisch.
U-M energy research on rise
February 2009
Collaborative energy-research partnerships will enable the University of Michigan to prosper while helping to diversify and revive the state's economy, according to Vice President for Research Stephen Forrest. Listen to the podcast.
Finding the missing carbon
February 2009
Professor Anna Michalak is working to solve the mystery of the missing carbon. She uses sophisticated mathematical tools to help predict future climate change. Listen to the podcast.
What will it take to stop climate change? Auto emissions at one-eighth today's levels
January 2009
In order to stabilize the amount of carbon dioxide in the air, carmakers in the U.S. will have to cut emissions eight-fold by 2050. That's the conclusion of a new study from the University of Michigan.
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has set targets for how to stave off the most dramatic effects of global warming by 2050.
And researchers at the U of M decided to find out exactly what would have to be done with automobiles to reach those targets.
The answer - cut emissions to an eighth of today's levels.
Greg Keoleian is one of the study's authors.
"So if we wanted to achieve that eight-fold reduction by improvement in fuel economy, we'd have to go from an on-road fuel economy today of about 20 miles per gallon up to 136 miles per gallon by 2050," Keoleian says
He says that's not a realistic goal. So to achieve the targets, he says the U.S. also needs to cut down on the number of miles driven, and find cleaner fuels.
A new renewable energy concept
December 2008
A device called VIVACE developed at the University of Michigan draws power out of slow water currents to produce clean electricity. It imitates the swim strategy of a school of fish.. See the video of Mike Bernitsas explaining his research.
V.P. for Research on Developing Alternative Energy
July 2008
U-M Vice President for Research Steve Forrest, an expert on energy research, discusses the opportunities to developing alternative energy research with U-M News Service. Listen to the podcast.
OVPR and MMPEI Announce Request For Proposals for "Seventy Percent Solution"
May 2008
The Office of the Vice President for Research, in cooperation with the Michigan Memorial Phoenix Energy Institute (MMPEI), announces a competition for funds to support interdisciplinary research on The Seventy Percent Solution. Based on current IPCC estimates, a 50-85% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions world-wide is required to stabilize global temperatures over the next few decades. In the US, forty percent of greenhouse gas production results from electric power generation, and an additional thirty percent arises from transportation. Hence, if a transition could be made to carbon-free transportation and electric power generation, a 70% reduction in America’s greenhouse gas production could be realized. MMPEI and OVPR are soliciting project proposals to develop a better understanding of the interplay between the various parts of the energy system so that the Seventy Percent Solution can be realized. Listen to the podcast.
MMPEI: Part of University Research Corridor's Big Plans
April 2008
In this video clip URC's mission is outlined. Steve Forrest, U-M Vice President for Research and MMPEI Fellow states " we are not interested in incremental advances..... we want to take some big steps to see what the outcome is" See video
Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles: Technical Challenges and Impacts to the U.S. Power System
September 2007
On September 25, MMPEI announced the kick-off of a research project on plug-in hybrid electric vehicles. Teams of researchers at the University of Michigan and Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) will explore this question and others with $2 million from the U.S. Department of Energy's offices of Electricity Delivery and Energy Reliability and Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy.
- Listen to John Lee, professor - Nuclear Engineering and Radiological Sciences, discuss the part of the study that will examine how PHEVs would impact the reliability of the electricity grid.
- Listen to Peter Sweatman, director of the University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute (UMTRI), discuss the part of the study that will look at technological barriers to acceptable PHEV performance and cost and consumer attitudes, behaviors, and beliefs about PHEVs.
The Cars of the Future
September 2007
U-M engineering professor Zoran Filipi believes plug-in electric hybrid vehicles will be common on roads a decade from now. He discusses how they work, and why they offer a promising cleaner technology in this 5-minute conversation. Listen to audio (4MB mp3) »
Energy Independence and Diversification
WEMU Public Radio, July 4, 2007
Dr. Gary Was, Director of the Michigan Memorial Phoenix Energy Institute and professor of nuclear engineering and radiological sciences, talks about energy research at U-M, the potential of renewable energy sources, and the role that nuclear power can play in the energy challenge. Listen to audio (10 MB mp3)»
MMPEI Faculty Expert Podcast: Duderstadt on Energy Policy
June 6, 2007
Dr. James Duderstadt, President Emeritus, Universty Professor of Science and Engineering, and chair of the Michigan Energy Research Council discusses the current state of energy public policy in the United States--what works, what doesn't, how it compares to the EU, and which direction we need to move towards to solve the energy challenge. Listen to audio (12 MB mp3)»
Our Michigan, Our Future at UM
WWJ Newsradio 950 Detroit, April 30, 2007
Dr. Levi Thompson, Professor of Chemical Engineering, talks about U-M's push to develop fuel cells and other forms of alternative energy, the Phoenix Project and the Holy grail of finding the energy to power the cars and cities of tomorrow. Listen to audio (2 MB mp3) »
State and Regional Climate Change Initiatives: Michigan Lagging Behind
WEMU Public Radio, Issues of the Environment, May 9, 2007
Dr. Barry Rabe, Professor of Public Policy at the Ford School, discusses state and regional climate change policies. Listen to audio (10 MB mp3) »
Michigan Memorial Phoenix Energy Institute Expands Energy Research
UM News & Information Services, October 20, 2006
Dr. Gary Was, Professor and Director of the Michigan Memorial Phoenix Energy Institute, discusses U-M's expanded efforts in energy research. Listen to audio (12 MB mp3) »
Potential of Nuclear Power as a Clean Energy Option
UM News & Information Services, November 4, 2006
Dr. William Martin, Professor and Chair of the Nuclear Engineering and Radiological Sciences department, discusses nuclear power's evolution and its potential as a clean energy option. Listen to audio (7 MB mp3) »
Dr. William Martin, Professor and Chair of the Nuclear Engineering and Radiological Sciences department, discusses the different kinds of waste produced in the process of making power and how it can be be contained safely. Listen to audio (10 MB mp3) »
Climate Change Strategies in Business
UM News & Information Services, October 27, 2006
Dr. Andrew Hoffman, Professor of Business and Natural Resources and Associate Director of the Erb Institute for Global Sustainability, discusses how companies are taking action on climate change, not solely for social benefit but for business economics. Listen to audio (12 MB mp3) »