Energy Highlights
A twice-monthly energy news update from MMPEI
April 16 , 2008
Vol. 2 No. 7
U-M NEWS
2008 MMPEI - Rackham Energy Fellowships
Applications for the 2008-2009 MMPEI - Rackham Fellowship Program are now available. The MMPEI-Rackham Energy Fellowship Program supports outstanding graduate students engaged in energy research throughout the University in the areas of (but not limited to): policy, economics and societal impact of the energy challenge; carbon-neutral electricity sources; energy storage and utilization; transportation systems and fuels. The application deadline is 5:00 p.m. Friday, May 9, 2008. Visit our website for additional information and application. http://www.mmpei.umich.edu/edu/fellowships.html
U-M Expands Nanotech Center
The University of Michigan on Friday opened its expanded nanotechnology lab, a $40 million project dedicated to inventing ultra-small tools for reshaping the worlds of medicine, computing and energy.
FACULTY NEWS
From Detroit to Dubai
MMPEI Fellow Robert Marans, research professor at the Institute for Social Research and professor emeritus of architecture and urban planning was a keynote speaker at a sustainability conference in Dubai, UAE in late February. Marans discussed UM's energy initiative and his reseach on the behavioral aspects of energy conservation in campus buildings. An additional article can be found here.
ENERGY NEWS
Solid State Lighting Steps Out of the Shadows
Attracted by the low power demands of solid-state lights, which use semiconductor materials, the Department of Energy is financing projects to overcome technical and marketing problems that have prevented the technology from successfully challenging more conventional incandescent and fluorescent lighting.
DTE Energy Seeks Renewable Energy Proposals for GreenCurrents Renewable Energy Program
DTE Energy has issued a Request for Proposal to purchase Michigan-based renewable energy for the company's GreenCurrents renewable energy program. GreenCurrents provides DTE Energy's 2.2 million electric customers the option of choosing environmentally friendly renewable energy for their homes and businesses. More than 8,000 customers have signed up for GreenCurrents since its inception last April, making it one of the fastest growing voluntary renewable energy programs in the country.
Americans Prefer Energy Fix to Cancer Cure: Poll
A nationwide survey of nearly 700 people suggests that Americans would prefer more money be invested in technology to solve the nation's energy ailments than to cure cancer or other diseases.
The Great Forgotten Clean-Energy Source: Geothermal
If we could extract all the geothermal energy that exists underneath the United States to a depth of two miles, it would supply America’s power demands (at the current rate of usage) for the next 30,000 years. Getting at all that energy is not feasible—there are technological and economic impediments—but drawing on just 5 percent of the geothermal wealth would generate enough electricity to meet the needs of 260 million Americans. The Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) asserts that reaching that 5 percent level, which would produce 260,000 megawatts of electric power and reduce our dependence on coal by one-third, is doable by 2050.
FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES
Michigan Energy Efficiency Grants - Due 05/01/2008
The Michigan Public Service Commission is seeking proposals for Michigan Energy Efficiency Grants. The total amount available for these grants is $12 million. Of particular note is the Energy Efficient Technology Program, whose goals are to: Develop or improve energy efficient technologies including the use of alternate fuels; improve energy consumption efficiency; advance development of emerging technologies; expand renewable energy technologies; and improve energy production and distribution. Increase the availability, distribution, and market share of energy efficient technologies. Demonstrate the application of energy efficient technologies.
University Research in Biomass Technologies: Applied Research in Conversion of Biomass to Advanced Fuels - Due 06/02/2008 (Letter of Intent 04/28/08)
This DOE announcement (DE-PS36-08GO98017) is intended to solicit innovative and unique approaches to addressing the needs of biochemical and thermochemical processing of biomass as implemented in integrated biorefinery operations. This announcement includes two topic areas with several potential subtopics: Biochemical Conversions and Thermochemical and Chemical Conversions.
Support of Advanced Coal Research at US Colleges & Universities - Due 06/10/2008
DoE - National Energy Technology Laboratory program is intended to maintain and upgrade the education, training, and research capabilities of our colleges and universities in the fields of science, environment, energy, and technology related to coal. At least one student is required to receive support for their participation in the proposed research project. Areas of interest are: Multiphase Flow Research, Process/Equipment Co-Simulation Advanced Fossil Energy Plants, Novel New Materials for Energy Conversion from Coal, Computer-Aided Development of Materials, Novel Materials for Sensing or Monitoring in Extreme Environments.
Energy Frontier Research Centers - Due 10/01/2008 (Letter of Intent 07/01/08)
The DOE Office of Science EFRC awards(DE-PS02-08ER15944) will pursue the fundamental understanding necessary to meet the global need for abundant, clean, and economical energy. The awards are expected to be in the $2–5 million range annually for an initial 5-year period. A Funding Opportunity Announcement has been issued that requests applications from the scientific community for the establishment of the initial suite of EFRCs. It is anticipated that approximately $100 million will be available for multiple EFRC awards starting in FY 2009. Letters of intent are requested, but do not appear to be a requirement.
Single-Investigator and Small-Group Research in Basic Energy Science (BES) - Ongoing Submissions
This DOE, Office of Basic Energy Sciences has released solicitations for single-investigator and small-group awards. Awards are expected to be in the range of $150k to $1500k per year. Initial contact with the appropriate BES program manager is encouraged. Topic Areas include: Grand Challenge Science: Ultrafast Science; Chemical Imagine; Complex Systems or Emergent Behavior. Midscale Instrumentation, Accelerator and Detector Research. Use-Inspired Discover Science: Solar Energy Utilization; Hydrogen Fuel Initiative; Advanced Nuclear Energy Systems; Electrical Energy Storage; Geological Sequestration of Carbon Dioxide; Catalysis for Energy; Clean and Efficient Combustion; Materials under Extreme Environments; Solid-State Lighting; and Superconductivity
Additional funding opportunities are listed on the MMPEI Opportunities Page.
UPCOMING EVENTS
Carbon Culture at the Crossroads: Embracing a Green Michigan
When: Tuesday, April 22, 2008 (7:30 a.m. 12:00 p.m.)
Where: Wayne State’s Community Arts Auditorium, 450 Reuther Mall
What: Michigan’s University Research Corridor (URC) and WWJ Newsradio 950 will bring together Michigan’s key go-to people in energy innovation, including leading researchers from Wayne State University, Michigan State University and the University of Michigan. Speakers and panel discussions are free to journalists as well as Wayne State, MSU and U-M students, faculty and staff with university ID.
Sponsors: URC and WWJ Newsradio
Registration: http://www.wwj.com/Embracing-A-Green-Michigan:-Carbon-Culture-At-The-/1958825
Energy and Social Science: Opportunities and Challenges
When: Tuesday, May 6, 2008 (8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.)
Where: The Michigan League Ballroom, North University Avenue, Ann Arbor
What: A workshop which will address energy issues from the Social Sciences, Physical Sciences and Public Policy perspectives. U-M research projects will be presented and the University of Michigan’s vision for an energy future will be discussed.
Sponsors: MMPEI, The Center for the Study of Complex Systems and the Center for Advancing Research and Solutions for Society (CARSS)
Registration Deadline: April 28, 2008 - http://www.isr.umich.edu/carss/about/registration.html
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