Articles tagged with Power Industry
The Precourt Institute and KQED have developed a two-part e-book series on energy, exploring its basics and applications. The interactive Energy iBooks Textbooks aim to promote energy literacy among students aged 8-13.
Researchers at the American Chemical Society have developed a novel compound that reduces the bleaching temperature of cotton fabrics from 200 degrees Fahrenheit to 140 degrees, significantly lowering energy consumption and producing less wastewater. The new method also improves fabric quality and maintains vibrant colors.
The Banking on Solar working group aims to standardize contracts and underwriting processes, educating banks about the risks and rewards of solar assets. This effort has already begun developing standardized loan documents and underwriting criteria in residential and commercial markets.
The Hydrogen Fueling Infrastructure Research and Station Technology (H2FIRST) project aims to reduce the cost and time of fueling station construction, increase station availability, and improve reliability. NREL and Sandia will share their hydrogen research expertise to develop low-cost, high-performance materials and components.
Researchers developed a fiber-like supercapacitor with high volumetric energy density, comparable to thin-film lithium batteries. The device offers fast charging and discharging capabilities, making it suitable for powering wearable medical monitors and communications equipment.
Researchers at Oregon State University have discovered a way to convert cellulose from trees into nitrogen-doped nanoporous carbon membranes, used in high-power energy storage devices called supercapacitors. This single-step reaction could enable mass production of these devices at lower cost.
Javad Lavaei, assistant professor of electrical engineering at Columbia University, has received a $400,000 NSF CAREER Award to develop high-performance optimization methods for power systems. His research aims to improve the design, modernization, and operation of smart grids, reducing electricity costs, power outages, and gas emissions.
Researchers at Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft have developed systems to process large amounts of industrial data, increasing plant availability and reducing energy consumption. By analyzing data in real-time, operators can quickly identify and eliminate disruptions, optimizing production processes.
The Journal of the Energy Institute is now available online, covering topics like combustion engineering, biofuels, and clean coal technology. The partnership aims to make high-quality research accessible to industry professionals and researchers worldwide.
Karl Gschneidner, known as 'Mr. Rare Earth,' has been awarded the Materials and Society Award for his groundbreaking research on rare earths, essential ingredients in clean-energy technologies. His work has led to innovative solutions, including magnetic cooling devices with significant energy and environmental benefits.
A new study by Brigham Young University researcher Peter Madsen finds that emphasizing project significance and safety can increase recognition of near-misses. This approach has been effective at NASA, where it improved safety reporting after the Columbia shuttle tragedy.
Researchers created a model that projects how much energy can be saved with changes to China's building energy codes, which could reduce fossil fuel use and carbon dioxide emissions. The study found that improvements to codes could reduce building energy consumption by up to 22 percent by the end of this century.
The Next Generation Power Electronics Innovation Institute aims to create new jobs and boost the nation's manufacturing industry. ASU researchers will focus on developing gallium nitride-based power electronic devices for energy-efficient power conversion and Silicon Carbide-based materials for medium voltage high power converters.
Researchers found that high-temperature superconductivity in copper oxides forms as material cools from a state where electrons exhibit charge ordering, a phenomenon previously unknown. The study provides a crucial clue to understanding how to enhance superconductivity and potentially increase temperatures.
The University of Houston will be part of a new Ocean Energy Safety Institute that aims to provide reliable knowledge about critical safety issues. The institute will develop programs of research, technical assistance, and education to support ultra-deep exploration and production.
A new international collaboration aims to advance commercial opportunities in next-generation electronic devices by developing more accurate measurements of strain at the nano-scale. The Nanostrain project seeks to drive innovation in areas such as microelectronics, ICT, and sensors industries.
Santiago Grijalva, NREL's new director of the Power Systems Engineering Center, will establish and direct the NREL's grid research portfolio at ESIF. He champions an Internet of the Grid, envisioning millions of decision-makers managing the electric grid.
The US Department of Energy has launched guidelines for home energy professionals, including standard work specifications and professional certifications. The new standards aim to improve the quality of weatherization services and provide better career paths for workers.
Researchers at ETH Zurich developed an internal combustion engine that achieves fuel efficiency of less than 2.4l per 100km while emitting less than half the CO2 compared to traditional engines. The natural gas-diesel hybrid engine uses sophisticated control engineering and innovative electronic combustion control.
Researchers at PNNL have equipped four refrigerated trucks with hydrogen fuel cells to make deliveries in Texas, California, and New York. The project aims to reduce emissions and fuel costs, while creating jobs and increasing fuel cell manufacturing volume.
The Journal of Modern Power Systems and Clean Energy presents top-level academic achievements by international researchers and engineers. The partnership aims to improve communication among power systems researchers and bring their important topics to an international audience.
The University of Nottingham has established a leading £18 million national power electronics research centre to develop the next generation of power electronics components and devices. The centre will bring together academics and industry partners to create an environment for innovation and knowledge transfer.
The Energy Systems Integration Facility (ESIF) is a new research center that aims to boost clean energy technologies on a smarter grid. The facility will house experimental laboratories and outdoor test beds, including a petascale supercomputer, to support large-scale modeling and simulation. Advanced Energy Industries has already sign...
The E2e Project, a joint initiative of the Energy Institute at Haas and MIT's Center for Energy and Environmental Policy Research, aims to evaluate and improve energy-efficiency policies and technologies. The project seeks to provide valuable guidance to government and industry leaders, as well as consumers, on how to make smart choices.
The EROI study reveals a range of 64:1 to 112:1, similar to coal, suggesting shale gas is a viable energy source. However, environmental concerns and varying estimates of available gas remain.
The collaboration aims to develop capabilities for integrated cyber and physical security systems to protect critical infrastructure in the oil and gas industry. The program will focus on complex system integration, convergence of cyber and physical security technologies, and field demonstrations with key partners.
The Center for Advanced Research in Drying (CARD) aims to develop products, processes, and strategies to reduce energy usage and cost in various industries. CARD will focus on developing sustainable practices and improving product quality, with funding from the National Science Foundation.
Researchers at Northwestern University have identified conditions for a self-healing power grid, which can synchronize spontaneously and recover from failures in real-time. By applying these guidelines, power companies can reduce the frequency of blackouts and improve the reliability of renewable energy sources.
NREL Engineer Ian Metzger named ASHRAE's New Face of Engineering, recognized for increasing energy efficiency and renewable energy deployment. The Research Support Facility in Golden, Colorado, also won an ASHRAE Technology Award for its net-zero design, using 50% less energy than traditional commercial buildings.
Scientists have identified a challenging parasite that impacts algae biofuel production, highlighting the need for innovative management strategies. The study provides a comprehensive understanding of the parasite's morphology, ultrastructure, and life history, laying the groundwork for sustainable solutions.
The U.S. Department of Energy's NREL has created the Buildings, Industry, Transportation, Electricity, and Transportation Scenarios (BITES) tool to help users understand the complex issues surrounding cleaner energy. Users can adjust inputs to explore 'what-if' scenarios and compare outcomes to baseline cases.
A team led by Ames Laboratory will develop solutions to domestic shortages of rare earth metals and other critical materials for U.S. energy security. The Critical Materials Institute will bring together top researchers from academia, national labs, and the private sector to find innovative technology solutions.
A team of three from Case Western Reserve University will demonstrate their 'Budget It Yourself' app, which tracks home electricity use and costs, at the Department of Energy's Energy Datapalooza. The app, developed with Android devices in mind, aims to help users budget their power consumption and costs via a smartphone.
The Idaho National Laboratory has demonstrated a suite of cybersecurity tools that provides situational awareness of networks and control systems. The Sophia software tool passively observes network communications, providing real-time and historical records of those communications.
Virginia Tech engineers have developed an optimization algorithm to integrate solar technologies into smart grids, allowing for efficient energy storage and usage. The system uses real-time electricity prices and load profiles to control distributed photovoltaic power adoption, maximizing revenue for customers and utility companies.
The US Navy recently defended its use of renewable fuels, citing a 50% biofuels blend during the RIMPAC 2012 exercises. The Navy believes that these resources are crucial for enhancing national security and energy independence.
A group of KIT researchers has been granted €4.25 million to enhance the efficiency of organic solar cells to over 10% using tandem architectures and novel materials. The new generation of solar cells is light, flexible, semi-transparent, and can be produced at low cost.
Researchers at the University of Washington have developed a plasma-based technology that produces high-energy light, which can be used to etch next-generation microchips with 13.5-nanometer wavelengths. This breakthrough has the potential to overcome the industry's current limitations and enable further miniaturization of electronics.
Researchers at Brookhaven National Laboratory have identified key elements in the biochemical mechanism plants use to limit fatty acid production. They found that a specific intermediate inhibits oil synthesis, leading them to discover an enzyme that regulates this process.
A Concordia research team, led by Pragasen Pillay, is working on a two-year project to reduce the need for permanent magnets in electric vehicle motors. They aim to cut costs and improve performance using existing manufacturing facilities.
The US approach to clean energy needs a reality check, according to Stanford researchers. Drs. Jeffrey Ball and Kassia Yanosek recommend driving down costs of key technologies and speeding up deployment to make renewable power economically viable. This will require targeted government policy and private sector investment.
A study analyzing data from 30 Chinese provinces found that energy consumption has a greater impact on output than labor, while pollution has little effect. China must implement effective environmental regulations to reduce pollution and energy consumption and bind economic growth with environmental protection.
Scientists have visualized the transformation of powder mixtures into molten glass using X-ray microtomography. The study revealed that contact between grains determines whether a mixture turns into liquid glass, and that sodium carbonate plays a key role in initiating chemical reactions.
DuPont has joined the Global Climate and Energy Project (GCEP) at Stanford University, investing in research on solar and bio-energy technologies. The project's corporate sponsors have invested $113 million in 93 research programs since 2002, focusing on reducing costs and improving efficiencies of batteries and solar cells.
Researchers at the University of Toronto have developed a microfluidic chip process for analyzing bitumen-gas interaction in heavy oil reservoirs. This method reduces analysis time and costs, using small samples and high pressure CO2 injection, and has potential applications for carbon sequestration.
The Public University of Navarre and CENER have developed two electricity microgrids to enhance energy efficiency, reduce contaminant emissions, and increase safety in supply. The microgrids feature a combination of renewable energy sources and storage systems, enabling efficient operation in both grid-connected and isolated modes.
A new tool developed by Sandia National Laboratories helps the nation's real estate industry with standardized appraisals of homes and businesses equipped with PV installations. The tool, PV ValueTM, uses real-time lending information and market fluctuations to determine the worth of a PV system.
Nanyang Technological University (NTU) hosted a chip design competition to encourage energy-efficient innovation. The winning team, from Institute of Microelectronics, developed an ultra-low-power wireless implantable blood flow sensing microsystem for vascular graft applications.
The ASME Petroleum Division has donated $1.25 million to the University of Houston to establish an endowed chair in subsea engineering and support a petroleum technology program. The endowment will help recruit world-class leaders, advance research, and increase community outreach efforts.
Research on tunnel-FET technology, which exploits the quantum tunnel effect, promises to reduce power consumption of transistors and microprocessors. This breakthrough could lead to ultra-miniaturized, zero-power electronic devices.
The NSF-funded I/UCRC E3S center aims to develop holistic approaches to energy efficiency in data centers, potentially saving millions of dollars. The collaboration between universities and industry leaders will focus on finding ways to monitor and self-regulate electronic systems' energy usage.
The Open Networking Summit brought together over 400 attendees from across the country to discuss Software-Defined Networking (SDN) and its potential to transform the industry. Key findings included the potential for SDN to reduce capital and operating expenses, increase revenues, and enable more innovation in networking.
The University of Miami Industrial Assessment Center has received a $1 million grant from the US Department of Energy to conduct industrial assessments and provide training to engineering students. The program aims to help small and medium-sized manufacturers reduce their energy consumption, save money, and increase productivity.
A WSU study suggests chain hotels are more likely to adopt energy-efficient light bulbs, train staff to reduce waste, and educate guests on water conservation. This trend may give independents a competitive disadvantage in attracting customers. Hotels can save up to $6.75 per day by implementing greener practices.
Researchers at the University of Washington and Kettering University have developed a tool to optimize grocery store display case designs, reducing energy consumption by up to 15%. The team tested various air curtain speeds, angles, and factors to minimize warm air infiltration into chilled compartments.
Genencor calls for industry, science, and policy collaboration to develop a biobased economy driving renewable energy, fuels, and chemicals production. Key components include cultivating feedstock, developing infrastructure, and building sustainable biorefineries.
University of Utah chemists created a new method to identify optimal catalysts using data analysis and principles of chemistry. The technique reveals the link between size and electronic properties of catalysts in determining their effectiveness.
The University of Missouri Industrial Assessment Center (MoIAC) helps regional companies save $80,000 annually through free energy assessments and training. The center's new grant will educate over 400 students in energy conservation and efficiency, preparing them for leadership roles.
A team of professors has received $1.5 million to study a groundbreaking idea that could revolutionize the electronics industry by reducing power consumption and increasing computing speed. The approach involves encoding information using collective states formed by charge-density waves, which can help reduce energy needs per computation.
The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, has been awarded a five-year, $18 million grant to lead the development of ultra-wide-area resilient electric energy transmission networks. The center aims to create a smart grid system that operates efficiently and reliably over long distances.