| April 17, 2009 | Vol. 3. No. 7 |
IN THIS ISSUE: MMPEI and U-M NEWS, ENERGY NEWS, FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES, UPCOMING EVENTS
MMPEI and U-M NEWS
Energy Research Opportunity grants awarded
Dennis Assanis, professor of Mechanical Engineering and director of the Automotive Research Center, and Marios Papaefthymiou. professor of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science and director of the Advanced Computer Architecture Laboratory, have been awarded the Energy Research Opportunity Grants, sponsored by the Michigan Memorial Phoenix Energy Institute and the College of Engineering. Assanis’ proposal is for an NSF Engineering Research Center for Carbon-Neutral Vehicles. Papaefthymiou’s proposal calls for the establishment of Energy-Efficient Data Centers.
Energy competitions spur student creativity
Universities and businesses are teaming up around the United States to promote clean-energy ventures that get students out of the laboratory and into the business world, marketing much-needed solutions to the nation's energy woes. .... Now stakeholders are eyeing a new segment of the population -- students -- as a potential powerhouse in moving these efforts forward. "Most fundamental research (on green energy) is being done at universities as corporate America has moved into much more focused … applied research," said Paul Kirsch, program manager for entrepreneurial studies at the University of Michigan's Ross School of Business. "As such, many green ideas will be explored initially in motivated labs by talented faculty and students."
DTE Energy Prize participants interviewed on Greening of the Great Lakes Radio
Three University of Michigan graduate students who competed in -- and in one case won -- a new, state-wide competition to develop business plans for bringing clean energy technology to market. The Clean Energy Prize, organized in part by the Phoenix Energy Institute, encouraged entrepreneurship in Michigan.
U-M advances state's economic development
As the nation and state struggle with a difficult business climate, the University of Michigan is intensifying its efforts to help transform the Michigan economy. On April 6, U-M announced the creation of a new Innovation Economy Web site, www.innovationeconomy.umich.edu. The site is designed to raise the visibility of its economic development activities and encourage tech transfer and entrepreneurial ventures among faculty. The site also gives potential business partners a robust source of information about university resources.
NPR's The Enivronment Report: U-M's Tom Lyon on energy
Congress is considering a carbon cap-and-trade program that would make fossil fuels more expensive and give renewable energy an advantage. The U.S. is in the middle of a huge transition in where we get energy and how we use it. Some businesses leaders predict these changes will be disastrous for the economy killing jobs and making energy expensive. Lester Graham discussed some of those concerns with Tom Lyon, the Director of the Erb Institute for Global Sustainable Enterprise.
ENERGY NEWS
Pentagon prioritizes pursuit of alternative fuel sources
For the Defense Department, the largest consumer of energy in the United States, addiction to fuel has greater costs than the roughly $18 billion the agency spent on it last year. By some estimates, about half of the U.S. military casualties in Iraq and Afghanistan are related to attacks with improvised explosive devices on convoys, many of which are carrying fuel. .... "Every time you bring a gallon of fuel forward, you have to send a convoy," said Alan R. Shaffer, director of defense research and engineering at the Pentagon. "That puts people's lives at risk." Spurred by this grim reality, the Pentagon, which traditionally has not made saving energy much of a priority, has launched initiatives to find alternative fuel sources.
Michigan No. 2 among states in 2008 national wind energy growth
Some 24 states saw new wind turbine and component manufacturing plants opened, expanded or announced in 2008, according to the annual wind energy industry rankings report released on April 13 by the American Wind Energy Association. .... Michigan was the No. 2 state in wind energy growth on a percentage basis.
Michigan company's proposal for improving grid moves forward
Michigan's Novi-based ITC Holdings Corp. (NYSE: ITC) announced Monday that its Green Power Express LP subsidiary has received approval from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission for favorable transmission investment incentives. ....The Green Power Express Project is a network of transmission lines that will transport 12,000 megawatts of power from wind-abundant areas of the Upper Midwest to Midwestern and Eastern states that demand clean, renewable energy.
California utility to capture solar power in space
Solar power beamed down from space will generate electricity for California homes as soon as 2016, under a new plan by a utility company to ramp up renewable energy technology far beyond solar panels on roofs.
A guide to carbon capture and storage
Can carbon capture and storage save the climate from the consequences of fossil fuel burning?
FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES
RFI - Solar Policy and Analysis Regional Centers (SPARCs) - Due 05/07/09
This is a Request for Information (RFI) and not a Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA); therefore, DOE is not accepting applications and is instead seeking information regarding the creation of Solar Policy and Analysis Regional Centers (SPARCs) to develop and disseminate accurate and timely local, state and regional policy research and analysis that supports solar commercialization to benefit stakeholders nationwide. Reference DE-PS36-09GO39007-RFI.
Fundamental Developments in Sensors and Controls for Power and Fuel Systems - Due 05/12/09
The National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) is seeking innovative research and development of sensor and control systems to support the full-scale implementation and operation of highly efficient, near zero emission power generation technologies. These technologies include advanced combustion, gasification, turbines, fuel cells, gas cleaning and separation technologies, and carbon capture. Technology development is also in place for the concurrent production of synthetic fuels from coal and other domestic resources. This is funding opportunity DE-FOA-0000059.
Advanced Water Power - Due 06/04/09
This Advanced Water Power Funding Opportunity Announcement contains three separate topic areas for funding: 1. Marine and Hydrokinetic Energy Conversion Device or Component Design and Development 2. Marine and Hydrokinetic Site-specific Environmental Studies/Information 3. Advanced Water Power Market Acceleration Projects/Analysis and Assessments. This is funding opportunity DE-FOA-0000069.
Visit http://www.energy.umich.edu/info/index.html for additional funding opportunities.
UPCOMING EVENTS
Sectors of Promise for the Michigan Economy: Energy & Life Sciences
Wed., April 22
7:30 - noon
Troy, MI 48098
Join WWJ Newsradio 950 and the University Research Cooridor at the MSU Management Education Center for a FREE morning conference titled "Sectors of Promise for the Michigan Economy: Energy & Life Sciences". WWJ Technology Editor Matt Roush will be moderating the panel discussions that will outline the sectors showing the most promise of growth, new businesses and new jobs for Michigan's economy.
This morning conference will include two panel discussions in collaboration with the University Research Corridor to discuss, What's Happening with Energy Technologies in Michigan and Bio-Medicine; Healing Hands for the Michigan Economy. Information will be presented in two panels of experts, multimedia presentations, and hands-on displays. Registration is FREE! Sign-up at www.wwj.com/pages/4141295.php
Visit http://www.energy.umich.edu/careers/opportunities for information on University of Michigan open faculty positions and opportunites in energy research.
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