Wednesday, February 21, 2007

Clean Energy, Pt. 1

One of the areas that my consulting firm has expertise in is clean energy systems, especially where nanotechnologies are incorporated. As such, one of the things I will do in this blog is keep you updated on what’s happening in this area.

The following is a snapshot of news for the period January 13 - 26, 2007.

Researchers at MIT have developed a lithium battery that can charge or discharge in about 10 minutes. (RR: this is actually “old news” in that the announcement was first made in February 2006. It has, however, been getting a lot of press lately, due in my opinion to the real potential of their discovery)

See http://web.mit.edu/newsoffice/2006/battery-hybrid.html for more.


The EU announced £36 billion for R&D into “areas ranging from information and communication technology to energy and space research.” Specifically, £2.3bn to nanotechnology and £1.5bn energy.

See http://education.guardian.co.uk/higher/research/notes/story/0,,1990832,00.html for more.


EPSRC awarded University of East Anglia £208,000 “to improve hydrogen storage in solid form using nanotechnology.”

See http://www.e4engineering.com/Articles/297749/Power+pack.htm for more.


“Industrial Nanotech, Inc. (Pink Sheets:INTK), a Company that specializes in nanotechnology innovation and product development, today announced that, at the request of the U.S. Government's Center For Integrated Nanotechnologies (CINT), the Company has agreed to expand the capabilities of its planned manufacturing facility in Albuquerque, New Mexico, to include the production of specialty advanced materials for certain undisclosed US Government agencies.”

See http://www.nanotech-now.com/news.cgi?story_id=19722 for more.


“GE Global Research, the centralized research organization of the General Electric Company (NYSE: GE), today announced a promising breakthrough in nanotechnology that provides a direct pathway to making nanoceramic materials from polymeric precursors. Developing processes and a greater understanding of nano-engineered ceramics could lead to future applications in aviation and energy, where products such as aircraft engines and gas turbines could one day achieve new levels of efficiency, reliability and environmental performance.”

See http://www.nanotech-now.com/news.cgi?story_id=19724 for more.


“A joint Japanese research group from the Central Research Institute of Electric Power Industry and the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology has developed a solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) that can operate with high efficiency at relatively low temperatures of around 500-650 C.”

See http://www.fuelcellsworks.com/Supppage6749.html for more.


Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger announced $30 million for the Helios Project, “a $120 million research facility where experts in genetics, nanomaterials and other fields design new photovoltaic cells and harness the methods that nature uses in plants, insects and microbes to turn sunlight into energy.”

See http://www.santacruzsentinel.com/archive/2007/January/18/local/stories/04local.htm for more.


Advanced Diamond Technologies, Inc. (ADT) received $500,000 Phase IIB SBIR from the NSF for the continued development of diamond-enhanced mechanical seals for pumping applications. DOE estimates trillions of BTUs saved annually if the technology plays out.

See http://www.nanotech-now.com/news.cgi?story_id=19822 for more.


Luna Innovations Incorporated was awarded $4 million by the USAF for R&D, including next-generation solar cells.

See http://www.nanotech-now.com/news.cgi?story_id=19827 for more.


Oak Ridge National Laboratory is working to transform fuel for engines. They will study highly reactive metal nanoparticles. “With a modified engine and a tankful of metal, they predict that an average saloon car could travel three times as far as the equivalent petrol-powered vehicle.”

See http://www.centralchronicle.com/20070123/2301302.htm for more.


Plextronics, Inc., recieved $750,000 from the Sustainable Energy Fund (SEF) of Central Eastern Pennsylvania. Funds to go towards R&D on Organic solar cells.

See http://www.nanotech-now.com/news.cgi?story_id=19864 for more.


“The University of South Carolina will launch its 7-week long Citizens’ School of Fuel Cell and Hydrogen Technology (CSFC&HT) on Feb. 5.”

See http://www.techjournalsouth.com/news/article.html?item_id=2570 for more.


University of Minnesota Prof. Eray Aydil and his team are working on solar cells.

See http://www.twincities.com/mld/twincities/news/breaking_news/16545780.htm for more.


DayStar Technologies Inc., received $5 million. Daystar is a solar cell manufacturer. Investors include Michael Dura of Guilderland/PreX Capital Partners LLC, Millennium Partners LP, and others not announced.

See http://timesunion.com/AspStories/story.asp?storyID=557415&category=BUSINESS&BCCode=HOME&newsdate=1/26/2007 for more.


Industrial Nanotech announced order for Nansulate by JatroDiesel to insulate refineries.

See http://www.nanotech-now.com/news.cgi?story_id=19984 for more.


Please contact me at rocky at bir-consulting.com for detailed reports on this or any other "nanotech" area, including advanced materials, nanomedicine, energy, etc.

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