Energy Highlights
A twice-monthly energy news update from MMPEI
May 16, 2008
Vol. 2 No. 9
U-M NEWS
OVPR and MMPEI Announce Request For Proposals for "Seventy Percent Solution"
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. Due date 06/30/08. ( Podcast on the Seventy Percent Solution)
FACULTY NEWS
Heat Transfer the Focus of New Research Grant
A team led by MMPEI Fellow Kevin PIpe has received a five-year, $6.8-million grant from the Air Force to examine heat reansfer between materials, which is a barrier to more powerful, efficient devices. Inefficient heat flow is a main roadblock in the development of lasers and transistors that can attain higher powers. On the other hand, blocking heat exchange can dramatically improve the efficiency of thermoelectric energy conversion for compact power sources. In addition to Pipe, the U-M team includes materials science and engineering professors Rachel Goldman (MMPEI Fellow) and John Kieffer, and assistant professor Max Shtein (MMPEI Fellow), as well as physics professor Roberto Merlin and associate professor David Reis. Other members of the team include physics professor Humphrey Maris and engineering professor Arto Nurmikko of Brown University and electrical engineering associate professor Ali Shakouri of U-C Santa Cruz.
Time for CEOs to Face Climate Change
Chief executives can no longer brush off concerns about climate change but need to start figuring out how global warming -- and regulations intended to curtail it -- will affect their businesses. So asserts "Climate Change: What's Your Business Strategy? "You can remain completely agnostic about the science of climate change but still recognize its importance as a business issue," write U-M Professor Andrew Hoffman and John Woody. (Additional information here.)
ENERGY NEWS
Germany Debates Subsidies for Solar Industry
Thanks to its aggressive push into renewable energies, cloud-wreathed Germany has become an unlikely leader in the race to harness the sun’s energy. Now, though, conservative lawmakers, in particular, want to pare back generous government incentives that support solar development. They say solar generation is growing so fast that it threatens to overburden consumers with high electricity bills.
Hybra-Drive Gets Demo For Hydraulic Hybrid Trucks
Deerfield-based Hybra-Drive Systems LLC has been selected to negotiate with the Parcel Delivery Working Group of the Hybrid Truck Users Forum in Pasadena, Calif. for validation and testing of hybrid hydraulic power on parcel delivery vehicles. Hydraulic hybrid trucks will be leased for an 18-month evaluation period and are expected to yield up to a 60 percent reduction in fuel use and emissions. Vehicle performance will be demonstrated in chassis dynamometer and field testing. The working group members to lease the hybrid parcel trucks include UPS, FedEx and Purolator.
Abu Dhabi Aims to Build First Carbon-Neutral City
In Abu Dhabi, there's an area of nothing but wind-swept desert. But 10 years from now, if all goes according to plan, a city of 6 square kilometers housing 50,000 people will rise in the United Arab Emirates — and it will be carbon neutral. The project, called Masdar City, will burn no gas or oil, so its contribution to greenhouse gases will be minimal. Masdar is the centerpiece of emirate Abu Dhabi's plans to get into the renewable energy market, a hedge against the day its oil wells run dry.
Hydrogen Cars Won't Have Impact for 40 Years
President Bush, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and the big automakers agree on this much: They love hydrogen-powered fuel cell technology and its promise of a zero-emission, petroleum-free future. Unfortunately, experts say it will be 40 years or more before hydrogen has any meaningful impact on gasoline consumption or global warming, and we can't afford to wait that long. In the meantime, fuel cells are diverting resources from more immediate solutions. "As a climate strategy, it's not very good," said Dr. Joseph Romm, executive director of the Center for Energy and Climate Solutions and author of The Hype About Hydrogen: Fact and Fiction in the Race to Save the Climate. "We don't have the time."
FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES
Solid-State Lighting Core Technologies - Due 06/19/2008
This DOE announcement (DE-PS26-08NT00290) encompasses six areas of interest: Internal Quantum Efficiency, Phospors and Conversion Materials, Encapsulants and Packaging Materials, High Efficiency OLED Mateirals and Structures, OLED Encapsulation and Substrates, and OLED Fabrication.
Solid State Lighting Product Development Funding Opportunity Round V - Due 06/27/2008
The objective of this DOE announcement (DE-PS26-08NT00291) is product development of general illumination SSL sources, luminaires, and enabling products. The specific program areas of Interest are in seven areas: LED based Integrated Luminare, High Efficiency LEDs or Arrays, Phosphors or Encapsulants, Electronics Development, Organic Light Emmitting Diode panel, Low -cost substrates and encapsulation for OLEDs and Off-grid SSL Products.
Advanced Heat Transfer Fluids and Novel Thermal Storage Concepts for Concentrating Solar Power Generation - Due 07/10/08
This DOE announcement (DE-PS36-08GO98032) will identify and support long term research activities and near term demonstration in two areas: improved heat transfer fluids, 1. advanced HTF, and 2. novel thermal energy storage concepts, novel TES systems, that may increase the efficiency and reduce the cost of this promising, renewable technology. Work that includes a consortium of solar technology providers is encouraged.
Other funding opportunities are listed on the MMPEI Opportunities Page.
UPCOMING EVENTS
New Mobility Panel Discussion
When: Wednesday, June 11, 2008 (6:30 - 8:30 p.m.
Where: U-M Rackham Auditorium
What: Panel focusing on sustainable transportation and accessibility in city regions of the world and is open to the Public as part of the New Mobility Conference (SMART: Sustainable Mobility & Accessibility Research & Transformation)
Sponsors: U-M CARSS (Center for Advancing Research and Solutions for Society )
8th Annual Ann Arbor Green Fair
When: Friday, June 13, 2008 - 6:00pm to 9:00pm
Where: Main Street - downtown Ann Arbor
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