Northwestern Energy Technology Group Blog

February 8

2012-02-08T22:23:00.000-06:00

NESC Green Drinks Tomorrow!
Thursday, Feb 9, 9:30pm @ Celtic Knot. Chat with students from NETG, Kellogg Energy Club, ESW, SEED, etc.

Wind Power Engineer Needed!
Someone related to Kellogg is developing a wind project and is seeking engineering expertise. If you have knowledge and experience related to wind power infrastructure and are interested in getting involved with an early-stage venture, please respond to this email. Include a brief description of your knowledge/experience/interests or resume.

NESC Brown Bag Lunch!
Thursday, Feb 16, 12:15-1pm.
Anuj will talk about the Department of Energy Loan Programs Office. He'll speak a bit about the Solyndra case as well.

NESC Brown Bag: Li-ion Batteries for EVs

2012-02-01T11:25:00.000-06:00

Bring your lunch and meet new people from across campus!

Thursday, Feb 2, 12:15-1:00 pm, Norris Center, Wildcat Room (101)

Li-ion batteries are enabling a new era of electric vehicles. Drivers can now choose between hybrid, plug-in hybrid, and all-electric vehicles. Soon, drivers may be able to choose between on-the-go charging, battery-swap stations, and 200 mile battery range.

The session will highlight the differences between high-energy and high-power batteries, and illustrate relationships between automotive design and battery design. We will discuss the strengths and weaknesses of leading Li-ion manufacturers.

NETG Movie Night: The Last Mountain

2012-01-23T20:54:00.000-06:00

Wednesday, Jan 25
Graduate Student Commons
Seabury, 2122 Sheridan Road, Room 250

Pizza at 5:30, Movie at 6:00. RSVP.

The mining and burning of coal is at the epicenter of America’s struggle to balance its energy needs with environmental concerns. Nowhere is that concern greater than in Coal River Valley, West Virginia, where a small but passionate group of ordinary citizens are trying to stop Big Coal corporations, like Massey Energy, from continuing the devastating practice of Mountain Top Removal.

2012-01-17T20:00:00.002-06:00

Hey Guys and Gals,

NETG has teamed up with the Northwestern Energy & Sustainability Consortium for a cross-discplinary Brown Bag Lunch series. This will be an opportunity to chat with students from every corner of campus and learn about cleantech research, business, and policy.

Also, please join NETG for a screening of The Last Mountain on Jan 25.

NESC Brown Bag: Solar Development 101

Thursday, Jan 19, 12:15-1:00 pm, Norris Center Arch Room (206)

This session will take a very simple idea – the notion that we really ought to have more clean renewable power in the US – and demonstrate how to create a real life project. The session will cover the basics of identifying the opportunity as well as spotting and working through technical, political, legal, social, environmental, and financial issues.

Nick Haschka co-founded 532 Solar, a California industrial and utility scale solar PV power plant development company acquired by concentrated photovoltaic (CPV) technology company, Amonix in 2010. At Amonix, one of his roles involved leading development of 14 utility scale solar power plants. He’s currently a 1 year MBA student at Kellogg.

NETG Movie Night: The Last Mountain

Wednesday, Jan 25, 5:30-7:40 pm, 2122 Sheridan Road, Seabury Room 250 (Graduate Student Commons)

Pizza at 5:30, Movie at 6:00. RSVP.

The mining and burning of coal is at the epicenter of America’s struggle to balance its energy needs with environmental concerns. Nowhere is that concern greater than in Coal River Valley, West Virginia, where a small but passionate group of ordinary citizens are trying to stop Big Coal corporations, like Massey Energy, from continuing the devastating practice of Mountain Top Removal.

NESC Brown Bag: Li-ion Batteries

Thursday, Feb 2, 12:15-1:00 pm, Norris Center, Room TBA

Li-ion batteries are enabling a new era of electric vehicles. Drivers can now choose between hybrid, plug-in hybrid, and all-electric vehicles. Soon, drivers may be able to choose between on-the-go charging, battery-swap stations, and 200 mile battery range.

The session will highlight the differences between high-energy and high-power batteries, and illustrate relationships between automotive design and battery design. We will discuss the strengths and weaknesses of leading Li-ion manufacturers.

November NETG Events:

2011-11-04T09:42:00.006-05:00

Revenge of the Electric Car: Chicago Premier: NETG Movie Night

Saturday, November 12, 8:00 – 10:00 pm

Meet us in Chicago’s theatre district to see the story of the GM Volt, the Tesla Roadster, and the Nissan Leaf. Siskel Film Center. 164 N State Street, Chicago, IL. Show at 8:30pm, meet near Box Office at 8:00 pm. Please RSVP. The first 20 students to RSVP will get free tickets. Others will owe $7 with student ID or $11 for general admission. Guests are welcome. Students must bring student IDs to the show.

Cleantech Brown Bag Lunch: Organic Photovoltaics

Monday, November 14, 12:15 – 1:15 pm

Bring your lunch, meet students from other disciplines, and chat about clean energy technologies. Learn from your peers in McCormick/Kellogg/Weinberg/Medill/etc. Stephen Loser, NETG President, will give a ten-minute presentation on organic photovoltaics and then take questions from the audience. RSVP. Norris Student Center, Wildcat Room 101.

Thoughts on Green Homes, Sustainable Communities and Offshore Wind Power

Thursday, November 17, 5 – 6 pm

LEED Architect Nathan Kipnis will present his work on energy efficient buildings. He will also talk about the proposed Evanston offshore wind farm. Ford Design Center. ITW Room (Room 1350). RSVP.

2011 NETG Kick-off

2011-10-14T21:08:00.007-05:00

Thanks to everyone who came to our kick-off meeting on Wednesday!

Our next meeting will be Tuesday, October 25 at 5pm in the Pancoe Einstein Café. Please join us to help with new NETG projects:

-Install energy monitoring systems in laboratories
-Build an EV charging station on campus
-Bring lecturers to campus from industry, government, etc
-Organize a symposium on next generation nuclear reactors
-Embark on field trips to energy sites
-Show movies and eat pizza
-Teach kids about energy issues
-Meet with Kellogg students, talk cleantech, build partnerships

NETG is always looking to expand. If you are interested in assisting with any of these projects, please join the NETG listserv.

NETG/Kellogg Cleantech Club:

NETG is recruiting technical advisers for a multidisciplinary cleantech entrepreneurship club. If you study a clean energy technology and you are interested in entrepreneurship, please sign up! Meetings will begin with brief peer presentations and continue with open discussion. We will encourage applications to the 2012 Clean Energy Challenge and other start-up competitions. To sign up, send us an email with a brief description of your cleantech interests and expertise: netg@u.northwestern.edu, subject "Cleantech Club"

Clean Energy Challenge 2012

2011-10-07T22:12:00.002-05:00

The Clean Energy Trust is soliciting application for their Clean Energy Challenge 2012. Early-stage companies and students will pitch business ideas to compete for $250,000 in total prizes.

Last year's finalists include S2E Solar, a Northwestern Start-up:

"S2E Solar manufactures and sells proprietary components for solar shingles used in rooftop electricity generation. The company’s product is S2E Solar Film, which enables customers to produce high efficiency, durable solar shingles that generate electricity below grid prices and at half the cost of existing solar cells. The company’s foundational IP was developed at Northwestern University.

Jon Servaites is the Founder and CEO of S2E Solar. Mr. Servaites has 13 years of experience in the emerging energy technology industry, including business development, regulatory, manufacturing, and product development roles. He is currently finishing a Ph.D. in materials science and engineering at Northwestern University, where he develops next generation solar energy technologies."

Mr. Servaites is an alumnus of the Tobin Marks group and of NETG.

Clean Energy Trust

Clean Air, Mortality, and Cost: A Thought Exercise

2011-07-07T20:02:00.003-05:00

Imagine if all US traffic deaths could be eliminated for a cost of $2.5 billion annually..

NY Times Green Blog

Impact of Limitations on Access to Oil and Natural Gas Resources in the Federal Outer Continental Shelf

2011-05-04T22:17:00.006-05:00

The US Energy Information Administration has modeled the impact of offshore drilling on gasoline prices. In 2009, the EIA concluded that lifting the 1990 moratorium on offshore drilling would have no measurable impact on gasoline prices by 2020 and would reduce the cost of gasoline by three cents in 2030. (See Table 9 of their report)

"Changes in domestic oil production tend to have only a modest impact on crude oil and petroleum product prices, because any change in domestic oil production is diluted in the world oil market." -EIA Annual Energy Outlook 2011

EIA 2009..

EIA 2011..

Solazyme Files for $100M IPO

2011-04-04T00:25:00.002-05:00

Solazyme is developing algae biofuels. Compared to traditional biofuels, which compete with food crops, algae can utilize marginal land and has a very high theoretical yield per acre. Solazyme has partnerships with Dow Chemical and Chevron. Last year, they delivered 150,000 gallons of jet fuel to the US Navy.

More from sustainablebusiness.com

Picking Green Tech's Winners and Losers

2011-04-04T00:18:00.003-05:00

Stanford Social Innovation Review.

"The challenge is not in changing consumer behavior, but in changing the job that consumers are trying to accomplish."

NETG Movie Night: Gasland

2011-01-31T22:26:00.005-06:00

This Thursday, February 3 at 5:30 pm in Cook Hall room 2058, NETG will be showing Gasland. Pizza will be served: RSVP

Gasland documents the watershed impacts of hydraulic fracturing. Natural gas is a clean-burning and low-carbon alternative to coal, but like any energy resource, it presents a unique set of environmental challenges. Please join us to learn one filmmaker's perspective on this important issue:

"The largest domestic natural gas drilling boom in history has swept across the United States. The Halliburton-developed drilling technology of 'fracking' or hydraulic fracturing has unlocked a 'Saudia Arabia of natural gas' just beneath us. But is fracking safe? When filmmaker Josh Fox is asked to lease his land for drilling, he embarks on a cross-country odyssey uncovering a trail of secrets, lies and contamination. A recently drilled nearby Pennsylvania town reports that residents are able to light their drinking water on fire. This is just one of the many absurd and astonishing revelations of a new country called GASLAND. Part verite travelogue, part expose, part mystery, part bluegrass banjo meltdown, part showdown."

We hope you can come and share your expertise and opinions.

Beyond Carbon: Coal Waste

2010-12-23T15:10:00.002-06:00

Scientific American reports on toxic fly ash from coal-fired power plants. 'Clean coal' technologies remove pollutants from our atmosphere, but this may only shift the threat to our drinking water. Each year, the US produces more than 100 million tons of coal waste, laced with cadmium, arsenic, uranium, and other toxic elements. In December 2008, 1.1 billion gallons of coal ash spilled from a containment area in Kingston Tennessee. The cleanup cost nearly $1/gallon, but the area remains uninhabitable. Scientific American Video...

Better Place EV Battery Switching

2010-12-13T23:30:00.005-06:00

A Palo Alto company called Better Place is building networks of EV battery switching stations in Denmark, Israel, and Australia. This should help to alleviate range-anxiety, especially for the smaller countries. Better Place suggests that $8 billion could buy a switching network for the US and reminds us that we spend that much money on gas every week. NPR Audio...

Cancun Conclusions

2010-12-11T12:59:00.002-06:00

In Cancun, climate negotiators have agreed to some small and non-binding measures. A mitigation fund will begin providing aid to developing nations. Pacific Island nations will receive resources to battle erosion and salt-water intrusion into their drinking water (3 mm/yr adds up quickly when you live on a coral lagoon). The meeting also established a standard for reporting emissions, although there is no legal pact or enforcement for emissions cuts. Still, following the disaster of Copenhagen, any good news is welcome. The group will readjourn in Durban in December 2011.

NY Times Report

Global Temperatures and American Skepticism on the Rise

2010-12-10T17:42:00.005-06:00

American belief in global warming is declining. A recent poll by Pew Research shows that just 34% of Americans see solid evidence of anthropogenic warming, down from 50% in 2006. Opinions are largely divided along party lines. Only 16% of Republicans believe in anthropogenic warming.

Much of this skepticism reflects a belief that there is no scientific consensus on climate change. In fact, the IPCC, a panel of the world’s leading climate scientists, found warming to be unequivocal and declared that it was highly probable that humans were responsible. Furthermore, they demonstrated that warming poses a serious risk to standards of living around the world. The science is certainly complex, but error bars should not translate to “erroneous.”

Has scientific illiteracy and media controversy eroded our ability to think critically and act positively? Has the fossil fuel lobby succeeded in its PR campaign? Do these numbers correlate with religious dogma and place the argument outside of the scientific discourse?

Green Tech and our fellow human beings would benefit significantly from a system of inclusive environmental accounting, such as cap-and-trade. A basic prerequisite for climate legislation is public education. Please join the conversation on the new NETG facebook page and everywhere.

Pew Report...

Chu: Will America Miss Its “Sputnik Moment” on Energy?

2010-12-07T21:38:00.001-06:00

Interesting article on the U.S. and new energy technology: "America is at a “Sputnik moment”, Energy Secretary Stephen Chu said today, and the government’s next moves will determine whether the country leads the global cleantech race or loses it to China." More...

High Speed Rail and Intellectual Property in China

2010-11-22T23:39:00.003-06:00

Norihiku Shirouzu reports for the Wall Street Journal on China's nascent yet booming high-speed rail industry. A senior engineer for the leading Chinese state-owned rail manufacturer, CSR, explained, "we attained our achievements in high-speed train technology by standing on the shoulders of past pioneers." As CSR now stands to compete in global markets, many foreign innovators resent this weight on their shoulders but struggle to find legal recourse in the People's Republic.

Energy Frontier Research Center Workshops at Northwestern

2010-11-20T21:20:00.003-06:00

Monday, November 22

Center for Electrical Energy Storage, Institute for Atom-Efficient Chemical Transformations

Open to Faculty, Post-Docs, and Graduate Students

In 2009, the Department of Energy established 46 Energy Frontier Research Centers (EFRCs), funded at an average of $17 million over five years. Northwestern researchers participate in eight of these centers. The Center for Electrical Energy Storage (CEES) seeks breakthroughs in lithium battery technology. The Institute for Atom-Efficient Chemical Transformations (IACT) seeks efficient production of fuels from coal and biomass. The CEES workshop will run 8:30 – 12:45, and the IACT workshop will run 1:30 – 5:00. Navigate the acronyms and find yourself at the cutting-edge of energy research.

More information: isen.northwestern.edu

G-20 Energy Commitments and US Tax Breaks

2010-11-18T13:09:00.002-06:00

Global Solutions and Domestic Problems

Last year in Pittsburg, the Group of Twenty Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors declared the financial markets stabilized and among other economic priorities, moved to address Energy Security and Climate Change. The group committed, “To phase out and rationalize over the medium term inefficient fossil fuel subsidies while providing targeted support for the poorest.” This movement to address energy market volatility, climate change, and biodiversity loss was reaffirmed in Seoul last week.

However, the member nations are clearly having some difficultly withdrawing these multi-billion dollars subsidies. In the US, consider the CBO numbers for effective tax rates on capital income. The tax rate for petroleum and natural gas structures is 9.2%. Compare this with the 28.4% rate for Hospitals or Educational Buildings. These subsidies have helped to create a dominant fossil fuel sector with over $30 trillion in infrastructure. Even with a ballooning deficit and a squeezed middle class, Congress fears to confront this entrenched giant.

Climate Change: The Current State of the US Law, and Where Are We Going From Here?

2010-11-10T17:06:00.001-06:00

A talk by James Cahan of Sidley Austin LLP.

Thursday, November 11 @ 4 pm.

Ryan Hall (Nano Bldg), Room 4003.

Every year, our global economy emits more than 8 billion metric tons of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. This is a major problem. As researchers, businesses, and consumers move towards low-carbon technologies, legal and political forces will shape our energy future. Join us to examine the current state of US law and regulation, future proposals, and global outlook.

Our speaker, James Cahan, is a partner in Sidley Austin LLP’s Chicago office and is a founding member of the firm’s national Environmental Practice group. His practice focuses on air pollution, climate change, environmental aspects of bankruptcies and transactions, environmental permitting, and environmental management. Currently, Jim is an Adjunct Professor at Northwestern’s School of Engineering, participating in the ISEN graduate course ‘NUvention-Energy’ which focuses on entrepreneurship in clean and sustainable energy.

Come with questions, enjoy some snacks and coffee, and ask more questions.

Chevy Volt: Fact and fiction

2010-10-16T11:56:00.009-05:00

This timely article discusses in some detail the capabilities and limitations of the new Chevrolet Volt, which seems to defy categorization as a purely electric car, or as a hybrid. It's worth a read, in advance of the talk next week by GM's Paul Pebbles. The information for that talk is below, and also on the NETG calendar (link in the left banner).

Who: GM's Paul Pebbles, OnStar Manager of Chevrolet Volt Services
What: A discussion on innovation at GM, and the Volt technology
When: Thursday, October 21
Where: (talk): Tech auditorium
Where: (Chevy Volt on dislpay): Tech courtyard

Charm City Chills

2010-09-29T11:50:00.004-05:00

Find out what Baltimore is doing to squeeze more efficiency out of the grid; essentially load-leveling by storing energy in the latent heat of fusion of ice. Neat stuff!

Green Marines: Camp Lejeune Buys Into Solar Power

2010-06-21T20:41:00.003-05:00

FLS Energy has outfitted many of the homes at the Camp Lejeune Marine Corps base in North Carolina with assemblies to produce solar-heated water. Hopefully this is part of a larger trend on the part of the Pentagon, the world's single largest energy consumer, of embracing efficient and renewable energy.

NU in the American Solar Challenge

2010-06-08T07:30:00.005-05:00

Check out this article about Northwestern's entry in the American Solar Challenge, a 1200 mile long race from Tulsa, OK to Naperville, IL. Also, mark your calendars for a celebration at Chicago's Museum of Science and Industry June 27th.