| September 18 , 2008 | Vol. 2. No. 15 |
IN THIS ISSUE: MMPEI IN THE NEWS, U-M IN THE NEWS, ENERGY NEWS, FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES and UPCOMING EVENTS
MMPEI IN THE NEWS
Stephen Forrest, U-M Vice President for Research, Testifies Before House Select Committee on Energy
The key to meeting the challenges of a secure energy future is strong partnerships between universities, government and business. Stephen Forrest, U-M vice president for research testified in Washington before the Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming at its first hearing to address energy research and development. He urged Congress to strengthen and expand collaborative energy research initiatives between universities, government and business. "To succeed at this task, which is acknowledged as the biggest challenge facing humankind in this century, we must truly harness the brainpower of scientists and engineers across the country,” Forrest said. “Scientists from both academia and industry already have a solid history in finding solutions to meet our energy priorities."
Solar Industry Supporters Seek Critical Mass in Michigan
Getting the solar companies to work together on some projects in a "pre-competitive way" represents an opportunity for Michigan to establish a reputation as a solar energy powerhouse, said Gary Was, director of the University of Michigan's Michigan Memorial Phoenix Energy Institute.
Michigan Universities Lead Alternative Energy Research
The state's three largest universities brought in nearly $80 million in alternative energy research and development dollars in 2007 and are well-positioned to be leaders in "green energy," according to the second annual University Research Corridor report. The annual report card of the University Research Corridor institutions -- University of Michigan, Michigan State University and Wayne State University -- highlighted for the first time their alternative energy initiatives, ranging from U-M's Michigan Memorial Phoenix Energy Institute to MSU's Great Lakes Bio-energy Research Center.
U-M IN THE NEWS
Clean Energy Entrepreneurship Prize Offers $100,000 In Awards
To help move clean energy technologies from the laboratory to commercial production, DTE Energy and the University of Michigan are challenging teams from Michigan colleges and universities to develop the best business plans for bringing new clean energy technologies to market. The teams with winning ideas will share $100,000 in prize money, to be awarded in the spring of 2009. For project details ...
U-M Announces Eight New Assistant Professor Positions In Energy Research
The University of Michigan is making a significant, aggressive and strategic commitment to hire junior tenure-track faculty to create multidisciplinary teams charged with one of the nation’s – and the world’s – most pressing challenges: energy.The university announces five new positions exploring energy storage and three new positions exploring social science.
Graham Institute Offers Undergrads Opportunity To Study Sustainable Energy In South America
The Graham Environmental and Sustainability Institute is offering a multi-disciplinary course (CEE 490) to investigate proposed hydropower projects in Patagonia. The ten day field site excursion will take place during the 2009 U-M spring break. Interested students must apply for this Winter 2009 course by October 10.
UM Energy Saving Effort Aims To Cut Use 10%
The University of Michigan aims to cut utility costs by 10 percent over the next three years at its Ann Arbor campuses by reaching out to faculty, staff and students in an energy-conservation program called Planet Blue. The University spent $111 million on utilities in Ann Arbor during fiscal year 2007. Planet Blue's goal is to reduce those costs by combining energy-saving technologies and building upgrades with behavioral changes from building occupants.
ENERGY NEWS
Can Offshore Drilling Really Make the U.S. Oil Independent?
Industry experts say no matter how much oil there may be offshore, only some of it will be "recoverable," that is, able to be removed at a cost that's cheap enough to guarantee oil companies enough profit on their investment. Current shortages of both oil rigs and skilled manpower to operate them could also bottleneck such efforts. According to Phyllis Martin, a senior EIA energy analyst, Atlantic and Pacific oil fields tend to be smaller on average than those in the Gulf of Mexico, but it is just as costly to drill them, making the economics of drilling these areas especially tough to justify. In fact, oil companies have yet to take advantage of the nearly 86 billion barrels of offshore oil in areas already available for leasing and development.
Micro Inverters for Solar Energy: Working Independently, Generating Power Collectively
There’s a game-changing solar technology out there. It’s a change in how electricity from solar photovoltaics is put to work. It’s a fundamental change in inverters, the devices that convert direct current (DC) electricity generated by solar modules to alternating current (AC) that’s used on the power grid and thus in your home. The game-changing technology, the micro-inverter, is an inverter that’s attached to each solar module as opposed to a large single inverter for an entire solar electric system. This fundamental change could make it significantly easier to design, build, and monitor solar systems, particularly smaller systems for homes and businesses.
Researchers Beam 'Space' Solar Power in Hawaii
The key to our energy future may be in space. A new long-range energy transmission experiment opens the possibility of sending solar energy from space to earth. Former NASA executive and physicist John Mankins captured solar energy from a mountain top in Maui and beamed it 92 miles to the main island of Hawaii.
FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES
U-M Frankel Commercialization Fund Seeking Applicants in Clean Technology - Due 10/22/08
The Frankel Commercialization Fund (FCF) is a pre-seed investment fund established to identify and accelerate the commercialization of ideas generated within the University community and the surrounding area.The Frankel Fund Clean Tech team was established last year to specifically fund technologies that provide solutions to global challenges while offering competitive returns for investors and customers. Clean Tech spans many industry verticals and is defined by the following eleven segments Energy Generation, Energy Storage, Energy Infrastructure, Energy Efficiency, Transportation, Water & Wastewater, Air & Environment, Materials, Manufacturing/Industrial, Agriculture, and Recycling & Waste. The first application deadline for those seeking funding from the Frankel Fund is on October 22nd, 2008.
Transit Greenhouse Gas Emissions Management Compendium - Due 11/03/08
This U.S. Department of Transportation FTA (program solicitation D2008-GHG-TRI) requests proposals to create a compendium of strategies for transit agencies to reduce the GHG (green house gas) intensity of their services. FTA may fund one application under this program. Funding for the cooperative agreement under this program will range from $50,000 to $175,000.
Visit http://www.energy.umich.edu/info/funding.html for additional funding opportunities.
UPCOMING EVENTS
Michigan Clean Transportation Expo & Awards Gala
When: Wednesday, Sept 24, 4 - 6:00
Where: Rock Financial Showplace, Novi
What: A Public Expo featuring presentations from technology innovators, vehicle displays, and other clean transportation exhibitors and Awards Gala, with dinner, from 7 to 9:00pm featuring two keynote speakers: John Hieftje, Mayor of Ann Arbor, who will describe Ann Arbor's efforts to become America's Greenest City. And John Hertel, who will outline in detail Detroit's forthcoming Woodward Light Rail transit system.
Organized By: Clean Energy Coalition, NextEnergy and Greater Lansing Area Clean Cities
Environmental Law and Policy Program - Fall 2008 Conference
When: Thursday and Friday, Sept 25 and 26
Where: University of Michigan Law School, Hutchins Hall
Events include:
- Keynote address by Michigan Governor Jennifer M. Granholm on Thursday afternoon, September 25th at 4:00
- Panel discussions concerning climate change, alternative energy, and sustainability on Friday, September 26th
- Luncheon address from Georgetown Law Professor Lisa Heinzerling
For a pdf of the conference brochure ....
Corporate Social Responsibility and the Environment: A Theoretical Perspective
When: Monday, Oct 6, 12 - 1:30
Where: University of Michigan, Dana 1028
Speaker: Tom Lyon
Sponsored By: Erb Colloquium
U-M Energy Systems Technology and Policy Program Offers Fall Seminars
ESE 501: Seminars in Energy Systems Technology and Policy
When: Tuesdays, 6 - 9:00 p.m.
Where: Room 165 Chrysler Building, University of Michigan - North Campus
What: Fourteen three-hour sessions in which speakers including researchers, industry leaders, entrepreneurs
and policymakers discuss critical issues in energy technologies.
Topics include:
- The energy landscape: policy, technology and economic drivers for sustainable global energy systems
- Key technologies: novel fuels, storage, generation and device technologies from portables to automobiles to grid sources
- Creating successful businesses in energy technologies: lessons learned and future directions in new and mature industries
- Changing the way we think: sustainable systems, flexible grids and the path ahead in energy systems
Speakers Include:
David Cole, Chairman of the Center for Automotive Research
Douglas Parks, Senior Vice President of New Market Development, Michigan Economic Development Corporation
Skiles Boyd, Vice President of Environmental Management and Resources, DTE Energy
Robert Kruse, Executive Director of Vehicle Engineering for Hybrids, General Motors
John Wolfe, Vice President of Limno-Tech
Ted Miller, Technical Leader of Advanced Batteries, Ford Motor Company
Chris Brown, Chief Executive Officer, Deep Water Wind
For further information contact: Christian Lastoskie cmlasto@umich.edu
www.energy.umich.edu Subscribe to Energy Highlights Unsubscribe top