Newswise: Doe Science News Source

QD Tech Wins UMass Amherst's Innovation Challenge Grand Prize

QD Tech has won the $35,000 grand prize in the University of Massachusetts Amherst's Innovation Challenge Final Business Plan Competition. The winning team plans to produce quantum-dot"based materials designed to improve solar cells.

U.Va. to Lead New $11 Million Center to Make Methane Economically Feasible Fuel

A new center to develop technologies for converting methane gas and other hydrocarbon and fossil resources into readily transportable and higher-value liquid fuels is being established at the University of Virginia under a new $11 million grant from the U.S. Department of Energy.

Regional Partnership to Develop Algal Biofuels Gets Backing of San Diego Leaders

San Diego Mayor Jerry Sanders today joined UC San Diego Chancellor Marye Anne Fox, local scientists and industry leaders to announce their support for a regional partnership designed to develop innovative ways to turn algae into biofuels.

Northeastern University Center for Renewable Energy Technology Hosts Symposium on "Energy Challenges for the New Millennium"

April 27-29, Northeastern will host a renewable energy technology symposium that will feature forums, scientific sessions and educational outreach programs. The event will draw expert speakers, including the Honorable Dr. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam, former president of India, Dr. John P. Holdren, science adviser to U.S. president Barack Obama, and senior leaders from a variety of energy companies and government agencies.

Wind Energy Leader Vestas Forges Partnership with UW College of Engineering

Vestas, the world's leading producer of wind power technology, has entered into a long-term partnership with the University of Wisconsin-Madison College of Engineering that promises to propel wind-energy research, provide student learning opportunities and give the company a long-term presence in Madison.

Faster, Cheaper Fuel Cells: New $1.6 Million DoE Grant Supports Fuel Cell Manufacturing Innovations

Researchers at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute have won a $1.6 million DoE grant to develop new methods for manufacturing a key fuel cell component. The multi-year grant aims to create new technology and processes for faster, more cost-effective manufacturing of fuel cell membrane electrode assemblies (MEAs). Comprised of a PEM, catalyst, and electrodes, MEAs are the core of a fuel cell.

Three Sites Identified for Planned Coal Gasification Research Facility

Three sites are being reviewed for a proposed coal gasification facility in Wyoming, a joint venture of the University of Wyoming and GE Energy. The cost of the project is between $100 million and $120 million and will be split by the developers.

Iowa Power Fund Advances Researcher's Long Quest for Efficient Solar Power

Vikram Dalal and a team of Iowa State University researchers are trying to improve thin film solar cells. A $1.69 million grant from the Iowa Power Fund is allowing the researchers to look for efficiencies in new materials, new structures and organic semiconductors.

Bioenergy Scientists to Discuss Latest Innovations at Conference in Washington, D.C., March 10-13

Scientists from all over the United States "" who study how to make sustainable bioenergy products "" will meet at the Sun Grant Initiative Energy Conference, March 10-12, in Washington, D.C. The meeting is hosted by Northeast Sun Grant Center at Cornell University and organized by Larry Walker, Cornell professor of biological and environmental engineering.

Hydrogen-Powered Transit and Commuter Rail Featured at Fifth International Hydrail Conference in Charlotte

Innovative hydrogen technology for streetcar and commuter rail applications will be featured at the fifth International Hydrail Conference June 11-12 in Charlotte, N.C.

Argonne's Modeling and Simulation Expertise to Explore Alternative Sustainable Sources of Energy

Two computational scientists in the Mathematics and Computer Science Division at Argonne National Laboratory have been awarded a total of 37,500,000 hours of computing time on the Argonne Leadership Computing Facility (ALCF) to investigate safe and cost effective methods for developing nuclear energy.

Researchers to Develop National Energy/Transportation Model and Plan

James McCalley, an Iowa State University professor in electrical and computer engineering, is leading a research team that's developing new and better infrastructure designs for the country's energy and transportation systems. The research team will consider all of America's energy options, including biofuels, wind, hydro, tidal, geothermal, nuclear, coal, hydrogen, solar, biomass, natural gas and petroleum, together with new and old freight and passenger transportation technologies.

The George Washington University Establishes New Institute for the Analysis of Solar Energy

The George Washington University announced today the establishment of the Institute for the Analysis of Solar Energy, which will employ a multi-disciplinary approach to conducting research on the economic, technical, and public policy issues associated with developing and deploying solar power.

FSU Joins Coalition Working to Improve Nation's Power Grid

Florida State University's Center for Advanced Power Systems (CAPS) has joined a prominent national coalition that seeks to transform the nation's electric power systems. CAPs is now a member of the GridWise Alliance, a group of 69 leading companies and academic institutions whose goal is to combine their knowledge and innovation in an effort to increase the safety, reliability and capacity of the U.S. power grid.

Researchers Win R&D 100 Award for Ethanol Project

A research team led by Hans van Leeuwen, an Iowa State University professor of civil, construction and environmental engineering, has been awarded a 2008 R&D 100 Award from R&D Magazine. The researchers are using fungi to clean up and improve the dry-grind ethanol production process. This is the 30th R&D 100 Award presented to researchers affiliated with Iowa State.

Virginia Tech Biofuel Processes to be Developed by French Company

BiomA(c)thodes, a French biotechnology company in Evry, has signed an exclusive and worldwide option-to-license agreement with Virginia Tech Intellectual Properties Inc. (VTIP) for multiple technologies for converting biomass to bioethanol and biohydrogen.

Iowa State, ConocoPhillips and National Renewable Energy Lab to Cooperate on Biofuels Research

Iowa State University, ConocoPhillips and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory have agreed to cooperate on research projects designed to advance the conversion of cellulosic biomass into biofuels. The collaboration is expected to produce an initial report by next January.

Maize Genetics Conference: Genome to be Unveiled and Biofuel Improvements Discussed

The 50th Annual Maize Genetics Conference will be held at the Marriott Wardman Park in Washington, D.C., from Feb. 27 to March 2, 2008. Highlights of the conference include announcing the draft sequence of the maize genome, progress on improving maize as a bioenergy crop, and the development of biofortified, nutritionally enhanced corn.

International Biofuels Effort Seeks Less Barriers, More Trade

Led by the three major biofuels producers (the U.S., Brazil and the European Union), an international effort seeks harmonized standards for bioethanol and biodiesel, two key renewable energy sources and global commodities. A report identifying standards differences is step one. Next: national measurement labs (NIST in this country) will work to bridge the gaps.

Biofuels Symposium Explores Biology and Business of Green Energy

"The Biology and Business of Biofuels," a three-day meeting on the latest science, business and policy issues about biofuels, will be held Monday, Jan. 28, through Wednesday, Jan. 30, in the Hoffmann Auditorium of The Salk Institute on Torrey Pines Road in La Jolla.