| August 21, 2008 | Vol. 2. No. 13 |
IN THIS ISSUE: U-M IN THE NEWS, ENERGY NEWS, FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES and UPCOMING EVENTS
U-M NEWS
U-M Students Plug Into Volt Project
Before their glimpses into the Volt program, none of MMPEI's Fellow Ann Marie Sastry master's students foresaw their personal futures intersecting with GM or Michigan.
But now that they've gotten an inside look at the work GM is doing on the Volt and other advanced-propulsion vehicles, they all said their views have changed. For an additional story on the progress of G-M's Volt, visit here. ....
The Presidential Candidates' Energy Policy
The Detroit News interviews MMPEI Director Gary Was on the presidential candidates' energy policy.
ENERGY NEWS
Turning Waste Material Into Ethanol
Say the word “biofuels” and most people think of grain ethanol and biodiesel. But there’s another, older technology called gasification that’s getting a new look from researchers at the U.S. Department of Energy’s Ames Laboratory and Iowa State University. By combining gasification with high-tech nanoscale porous catalysts, they hope to create ethanol from a wide range of biomass, including distiller’s grain left over from ethanol production, corn stover from the field, grass, wood pulp, animal waste, and garbage.
Flexible Nanoantenna Arrays Capture Solar Energy
Researchers have devised an inexpensive way to produce plastic sheets containing billions of nanoantennas that collect heat energy generated by the sun and other sources. The researchers say that the technology, developed at the U.S. Department of Energy's Idaho National Laboratory (INL), is the first step toward a solar energy collector that could be mass-produced on flexible materials.
Lithium-ion Technology: More Investment Needed
Not surprisingly, speakers during August 15th's Advanced Powertrain session at the Center for Automotive Research’s Management Briefing Seminars in Traverse City were optimistic about the potential for lithium-ion batteries. But they agreed that further investment is needed to improve engineering, manufacturing and design aspects, according to AutoTech Daily.
NPR Podcast on the Issues Surrounding Electric Cars
High gas prices and concerns about emissions have many drivers searching for alternatives – including vehicles powered by electricity. A look at new developments in the effort to mass produce affordable, safe, and easy to charge electric cars. Speakers include Elon Musk, founder and chair, Tesla Motors, John O'Dell, senior editor, Edmunds.com and www.greencaradvisor.com and a representative of A123 Systems Inc. of Watertown, Mass.
Detroit Free Press Op/Ed Articles on Energy
The candidates' positions on energy policy
Advance a renewable fuel plan
Seek an energy policy that goes beyond the campaigns
Wind power is costly, ineffective source of electricity
Tap region's experts for innovative energy policy
Marathon to Fund Detroit Science Center Gallery on Oil, Alternative Fuels
Marathon Oil Corp. has made a $2.4 million grant to the Detroit Science Center to fund a new gallery scheduled to open in 2010.
The 6,000-square-foot, three-story, “Future Fuels Gallery” will be the Midwest’s only public, educational display of petroleum and alternative fuels technology, the science center said in a release.
FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES
Michigan Energy Office: Biomass Energy Grants
This Michigan Biomass Energy Program (MBEP) Request for Proposals (RFP) seeks to obtain proposals for state projects that contribute to the deployment/enhanced performance of fully commercialized biomass energy technologies. Examples of fundable projects could be the following: a product or strategy to improve production efficiency or apply biomass to energy conversion technology in a new or lower-cost manner; a plan to address the management and conversion of agriculture crops/waste, energy crops, animal waste, or organic municipal solid waste to energy at a host site or in cooperation with potential users of the technology; expanding the market for biofuels such as ethanol and biodiesel; advancing the expansion of wood-to-energy use; or developing emission factors for stationary energy units such as corn and wood-fired boilers.
Save Energy Now: State, Regional and Local Delivery
The Department of Energy (DOE) Industrial Technologies Program (DE-PS36-08GO98033) is seeking applications for the development and delivery of Industrial Energy Efficiency programs implemented at the local, state and/or regional level. Successful applications will need to demonstrate a significant contribution to the target of a 2.5 percent annual reduction in industrial energy intensity as outlined in EPACT, Section 106.
Clean Coal Power Initiative, Round 3
This announcement (DE-PS26-08NT43181) is seeking advanced coal-based projects that have progressed beyond the research and development stage to a point of readiness for operation at a scale that, once demonstrated, can be readily replicated and deployed into commercial practice within the electric power industry. This announcement is specifically targeting advanced coal-based systems and subsystems that capture and sequester, or put to beneficial reuse, carbon dioxide emissions.
Visit http://www.mmpei.umich.edu/info/funding.html for additional funding opportunities.
UPCOMING EVENTS
Call for Presenters: NextEnergy AET Connect & Collaborate 2008
When: Friday, October 10, 2008
Where: Detroit, MI
What: Forum for alternative energy researchers to present a brief snapshot of their work to industry representatives who are looking for opportunities to collaborate with university researchers.
Deadline for presenter submission: Friday, September 5, 2008
Carbon Symposium
When: Friday, September 12, 2008
Where: Rackham Graduate School Amphitheatre, 4th Floor, 915 E. Washington Street , Ann Arbor, MI 48109 - Phone: (734) 763-0171
What: The Ross Energy Club’s 1st Annual Carbon Symposium will provide educational and professional insights into the emerging importance of carbon in our economy. Registration Required
Sponsors: Michigan Ross School of Business
The Business of Green/Annual Innovation Awards Featuring Thomas Friedman
When: Wednesday, September 17, 2008, 10:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.
Where: Eastern Michigan University Convocation Center, 799 N. Hewitt Rd., Ypsilanti MI
What: In conjunction with the Washtenaw Economic Club's luncheon, featuring Thomas Friedman, author of "Hot, Flat and Crowded," Innovation will highlight Michigan's alternative energy development.
Sponsors: Michigan Business Review and Washtenaw Economic Club
Michigan Clean Transportation Expo & Awards Gala
When: Wednesday, September 24, 2008
Where: Rock Financial Showplace, Novi, Michigan
What: A Public Expo from 4:00 until 6:00pm featuring presentations from technology innovators, vehicle displays, and other clean transportation exhibitors and Awards Gala, with dinner, from 7 to 9:00pm featuring two keynote speakers: John Hieftje, Mayor of Ann Arbor, who will describe Ann Arbor's efforts to become America's Greenest City. And John Hertel, who will outline in detail Detroit's forthcoming Woodward Light Rail transit system.
Organized By: Clean Energy Coalition, NextEnergy and Greater Lansing Area Clean Cities
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