| May 7 , 2009 | Vol. 3. No.8 |
IN THIS ISSUE: MMPEI NEWS, U-M NEWS, ENERGY NEWS, FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES, UPCOMING EVENTS
MMPEI NEWS
DOE to establish energy frontier research center in solar energy at the University of Michigan
The University of Michigan will be home to an Energy Frontier Research Center that will explore new materials to better convert solar energy to electricity, the White House has announced. The DOE plans to fund this center at a level of about $19.5 million. It is one of 46 centers announced across the nation and one of two in Michigan.
Alternative Energy Technologies for Transportation (AETT)
awards first seed grants, issues second call for proposals
With three winning projects underway, the international university/industry partnership is now gearing up for a second round. A total of $1.2 million has been awarded to research projects on alternative energy technologies for transportation. The Alternative Energy Technologies for Transportation program, a joint initiative by the University of Michigan, Fraunhofer USA, and Fraunhofer Germany, is intended to foster innovative early-stage collaborations between the initiating parties that are likely to secure follow-on external funding or commercialization after the initial project phase.
Our energy future: Wind, Solar, Nuclear, Biofuels and Geothermal
The Michigan Daily takes a looks at energy research on U-M 's campus and in the greater Ann Arbor area. In this five part series, the Daily interviews Phoenix Energy Institute researchers and gets a glimpse of what they are doing to solve America’s energy quagmire.
- Wind: http://www.michigandaily.com/content/evergreen/ann-arbor-wind-power
- Solar: http://www.michigandaily.com/content/2009-04-14/university-invests-solar-energy-works-improve-technology
- Biofuels: http://www.michigandaily.com/content/2009-04-16/our-energy-future-biofuel
- Nuclear: http://www.michigandaily.com/content/2009-04-17/alternative-energy-series-nuclear-power
- Geothermal: http://www.michigandaily.com/content/na/drilling-heat-geothermal-a2
Sectors of Promise for the Michigan Economy
WWJ interviews with University Research Corridor energy and life science experts discuss their research.
The energy institute welcomes new faculty fellow
The Phoenix Energy Institute welcomes Anthony Waas as a new faculty fellow. Waas's research interests include lightweight structures, mechanics of composite structures and composite materials including failure mechanics, wind-energy and nano-scale composite materials.
U-M NEWS
New GM and U-M institute focused on fuel efficiency, reinvention of the automobile
General Motors and the University of Michigan today announced the formation of the GM/U-M Institute of Automotive Research and Education, with a strategic focus on reinventing the automobile and developing the next generation of high-efficiency vehicles powered by diverse energy sources. The institute, which builds on more than 50 years of collaboration between the organizations, supplements GM's ongoing research and development in key areas: advanced batteries, engine systems, smart materials and vehicle manufacturing.
DOE selects Michigan to study new high-pressure lean burn combustion
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced the selection of six cost-shared University Advanced Combustion and Emissions Controls research and development projects totaling up to $13 million in DOE funding, subject to annual appropriations. The University of Michigan has been selected for negotiation of an award for a project to explore new high-pressure lean burn combustion that can enable future gasoline engines to achieve 20-40% improved fuel economy. Research in a combination of lean burn, high-pressure, unthrottled operation using a stratified, highly dilute combustion system is planned. Team members include the University of Michigan (principal investigator), the University of California at Berkeley, and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Fuel efficiency of vehicles on the road: Little progress since the 1920s
Vehicles on America's roads today get only about three miles more per gallon than vehicles back in 1923, University of Michigan researchers say. A new study in the journal Energy Policy by Michael Sivak and Omer Tsimhoni of the U-M Transportation Research Institute shows that overall fuel efficiency for vehicles in the United States was 14 miles per gallon in 1923 and 17.2 mpg in 2006.
ENERGY NEWS
Chu announces nearly $800 million from Recovery Act to accelerate biofuels research and commercialization
As part of the ongoing effort to increase the use of domestic renewable fuels, U.S. Secretary of Energy Steven Chu today announced plans to provide $786.5 million from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to accelerate advanced biofuels research and development and to provide additional funding for commercial-scale biorefinery demonstration projects. “Developing the next generation of biofuels is key to our effort to end our dependence on foreign oil and address the climate crisis -- while creating millions of new jobs that can't be outsourced,” Secretary Chu said. “With American investment and ingenuity -- and resources grown right here at home -- we can lead the way toward a new green energy economy.”
$93 million from recovery act to support wind energy projects
Secretary Chu also announced more than $100 million in funding from the Recovery Act for NREL facility and infrastructure improvements. The funding will leverage the Department of Energy's national laboratories, universities, and the private sector to help improve reliability and overcome key technical challenges for the wind industry.
NPR series - Power hungry: Reinventing the U. S. electric grid
The electricity grid is a marvel of reliability, but, in many ways, a throwback to century-old technology. And for a future with more computers and gizmos of every kind — and more power from renewable sources — the grid is going to need some major work.
FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES
RECOVERY ACT-Advanced Research Projects Agency - Energy(ARPA-E) - Concept paper closing date 06/02/09
Department of Energy - Advanced Research Projects Agency Energy (ARPA-E) is a new organization within the Department of Energy (DOE), created specifically to foster research and development (R D) of transformational energy-related technologies. ARPA-E anticipates that most awards will be for total project costs in the range of $2 million to $5 million. ARPA-E has a strong preference for a period of performance of no more than 24 months. Funding opportunity number: DE-FOA-0000065
Recovery Act - Smart Grid Demonstrations
Smart Grid projects will include regionally unique demonstrations to verify smart grid technology viability, quantify smart grid costs and benefits, and validate new smart grid business models, at a scale that can be readily adapted and replicated around the country. National Energy Technology Laboratory: funding number: DE-FOA-0000036.
Recovery Act: Wind Energy Consortia between Institutions of Higher Learning and Industry
Notice of Intent to Issue Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) No.: DE-FOA-0000090
Recovery Act: Large Wind Turbine Drivetrain Testing Facility
The Department of Energy’s (DOE) Golden Field Office (GO) intends to issue, on behalf of the DOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), Wind and Hydropower Technologies Program (WHTP), a Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) entitled “Recovery Act: Large Wind Turbine Drivetrain Testing Facility.” The funding opportunity number has not yet been issued.
Visit http://www.energy.umich.edu/info/index.html for additional funding opportunities.
UPCOMING EVENTS
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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