Energy Highlights
A twice-monthly energy news update from MMPEI
May 6, 2008
Vol. 2 No. 8
U-M NEWS
2008 MMPEI - Rackham Energy Fellowships - Due May 9, 2008
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
'Energy Futures' Theme Semester Examines Political and Social Dimensions of Energy Policy
Creating new forms of energy presents formidable challenges that go beyond engines, fuel and solar power. University of Michigan's College of Literature, Science, and the Arts 2008 LSA Theme Semester, "Energy Futures: Society, Innovation and Technology," will examine the human and social behaviors associated with energy demand. The LSA Energy Futures theme semester is part of a University-wide Initiative on Energy Science, Technology and Policy, established by U-M Vice President for Research Steve Forrest. U-M is home to the Michigan Memorial Phoenix Energy Institute (MMPEI) and is a leader in the development of solar energy, fuel cells, batteries and other technology.
Michigan ChE Car Team Triumphs at AIChE Regional Conference
During the last weekend in March, the newly rebuilt Chemical Engineering Car team excelled at the AIChE North Central Regional Competition, earning first place in car performance, 2nd place in the poster competition, and selected for the Students’ Choice Award. With MMPEI Fellow Levi Thompson serving as the team advisor, this year’s Michigan car was powered by a hydrogen fuel cell, coupled with a magnesium/hydrochloric acid stopping mechanism.
FACULTY NEWS
Planet Needs a Greater Effort to Break From Fossil Fuels
MMPEI Director Gary Was and MMPEI Fellow Tom Lyon discuss ideas on reducing fossil fuel reliance in this Detroit Free Press article.
- Steve Forrest on solar energy: "..in 20 minutes enough solar energy falls on the earth to satisfy human energy needs for a year." Click here to listen to the podcast
- Gary Was discusses the energy challenge. Click here to listen to the podcast.
- Carl Simon states, " energy is much more than an engineering problem." Click here to listen to the podcast.
- Mike Bernitsas explains his research on harnessing energy from water currents. "Water is a natural storage medium for energy". Click here to listen to the podcast.
- Levi Thompson discusses using nanotechnology for hydrogen fuel cell applications. Click here to listen to the podcast.
ENERGY NEWS
Waste Not: A Steamy Solution to Global Warming
A 2005 report by the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory found that U.S. industry could profitably recycle enough waste energy—including steam, furnace gases, heat, and pressure—to reduce the country’s fossil-fuel use (and greenhouse-gas emissions) by nearly a fifth.
Europe Turns Back to Coal, Raising Climate Fears
Driven by rising demand, record high oil and natural gas prices, concerns over energy security and an aversion to nuclear energy, European countries are expected to put into operation about 50 coal-fired plants over the next five years, plants that will be in use for the next five decades.
Controlling the Crystalline Structure of Silicon
Scientists at the Max Planck Institute for Metals Research in Stuttgart have now found a way to systematically lower the crystallization temperature of silicon - from 700º to 150ºCelsius and to any temperature within that range. They succeeded in doing this by applying a thin layer of aluminum to disordered silicon; the thickness of the layer determined the crystallization temperature. Thes findings could help to manufacture solar cells and other electronic components on cheap and flexible materials such as glass, plastic or even paper.
Can Renewable Energy Make a Dent in Fossil Fuels?
4.2 billion. That's how many rooftops you'd have to cover with solar panels to displace a cubic mile of oil (CMO), a measure of energy consumption, according to Ripudaman Malhotra, who oversees research on fossil fuels at SRI International. The electricity captured in those hypothetical solar panels in a year (2.1 kilowatts each) would roughly equal the energy in a CMO. The world consumes a little over 1 CMO of oil a year right now and about 3 CMOs of energy from all sources.
Stripping Mountains to Power D.C. In W. Va., Mining Companies Shear Off Peaks And Transform Landscape in Search for Coal
This is a place where "moving mountains" is no longer a figure of speech. Here, among the steep green Appalachians, mining companies are moving mountains off their pedestals to get the kind of coal that Washington needs.
FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES
Advanced Water Power Projects - Due 06/16/08
This DOA announcement (DE-PS36-08GO98030) solicits partnerships with U.S. industry for the testing, demonstration, validation and development of advanced waterpower systems, through projects led by U.S. industry and universities. The purpose of this FOA is to advance the commercial viability, cost-competitiveness, and market acceptance of these novel systems. Applicants will compete for DOE funding within the following Topic Areas: 1. Advanced Water Power Renewable Energy In-Water Testing and Development Projects. 2. Marine and Hydrokinetic Renewable Energy Market Acceleration Projects. 3. National Marine Renewable Energy Centers
Biomass Fast Pyrolysis Oil (Bio-oil) Stabilization - Due 05/29/08
This DOE announcement (DE-PS36-08GO98018) seeking applications offering practical, cost effective methods for stabilizing biomass fast pyrolysis oil. For purposes of this FOA, stabilization means a reduction of oxygen content within the various organic compounds collectively comprising pyrolysis oil, with a preference toward rejecting the oxygen as an economically optimum balance between carbon oxides and water.
Deep Burn: Development of Transuranic Fuel for High-Temperature Helium-Cooled Reactors - Due 05/22/08
This DOE funding opportunity (DE-PS07-08ID14907) aims at establishing the technological foundations to support the role of the VHTR in the nuclear fuel cycle and to enable a quantitative assessment of the scope, cost and schedule implications of adding this mission to the Next Generation Nuclear Plant. There are two parts to this FOA. Part 1 initiates the development and application of a code system that will employ and leverage modeling and simulation capabilities (e.g., for radiation physics and materials behavior) such as those sponsored by the NNSA in its Advanced Simulation and Computing (ASC) Program, and computer science and software engineering advances such as sponsored by the Department’s Office of Science Advanced Scientific Computing Research (ASCR) Program. Part 2 aims at establishing the technological foundations to support the role of the VHTR in the nuclear fuel cycle and to enable a quantitative assessment of the scope, cost and schedule implications of adding this mission to the NGNP.
Coal Utilization Science: Process Monitoring, Modeling, and Simulation of Next Generation Fossil Energy Power Systems - Due 05/29/08
The U.S. Department of Energy National Energy Technology Lab is soliciting applications for projects (DE-PS26-08NT00440-00) in the Advanced Coal Utilization Science (CUS) areas of Sensors and Controls as well as Computational System Dynamics for the improvement of next generation fossil energy power systems. NETL's CUS program is crosscutting research and development aimed towards expanding the basic understanding of the underlying chemical and physical processes involved in the utilization of coal as well as the barriers to such utilization.
Production Engineering and Commercialization of Residential R-5 Highly Insulating Windows - Due 07/08/2008
The U.S. Department of Energy National Energy Technology Lab funding opportunity (DE-PS26-08NT00318) is seeking applications for the development or selection of innovative technologies, accompanying production design and engineering, and commercialization strategies to accelerate the market introduction and widespread consumer adoption of highly-insulating windows. The focus is on cost effective, highly insulating windows for residential buildings in cold climates.
Additional funding opportunities are listed on the MMPEI Opportunities Page.
UPCOMING EVENTS
The Cultural Politics of European Union Energy Security
When: May 8-9, 2008
Where: 1636 International Institute/SSWB, 1080 South University, Ann Arbor
What: International Workshop
Sponsors: The European Union Center of Excellence at the University of Michigan
Developing the Market and Infrastructure for Electric & Plug In Hybrid Vehicles
When: May 28-29, 2008
Where: Detroit Marriott, Troy, MI
What: A Global Conference Focusing On The Commercial Benefits Of Developing And Investing In Electric & Plug In Hybrid Vehicle Markets
Sponsors: Advanced Transportation Technology Institute, EVWorld.com, EVtransportsl
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