ANZ ecomagination challenge winner set up to develop renewable energy technologies

Cardiff, Wales -- During March, several companies focused on developing low-carbon innovations were announced as winners of GE’s first ever ecomagination Challenge in Australia and New Zealand. The five winners, each awarded a total of AUD$100,000, will develop innovative renewable and smart energy applications in fields as diverse as wave power and engine technology. So, how do the new technologies work? And what are the prospects for future scale-up and commercialisation?

Bombora Wavepower

The first winner, Bombora Wave Power, will continue the development of its wave power technology, consisting of a V-shaped concrete device that can be mounted on the sea bed close to shore in water depths of between four and 15 metres.

As Glen Ryan, Director at Bombora Wavepower, explains, the award will be used to initiate Bombora's next development phase, which will consist of further performance validation and design optimisation. According to Ryan, the company will also be "engaging with GE and exploring an array of technical and commercial options to leverage off their global knowledge and skill base" to enable it to bring the technology to market as quickly as possible.

For brother Shawn Ryan, the main technological challenge lies in "deploying a device in a marine environment, ensuring it operates reliably over the life of the project and that it can be easily maintained." Even though he admits that Bombora are at "a much earlier stage" than other developers, he stresses that the company has spent "considerable time and effort" in ensuring that its device meets these requirements.

"We have a very simple process characterised by minimal moving components and we have minimised their exposure to the sea," he says.

Ultimately, Bombora’s goal is to be cost competitive with onshore wind, but the company will initially focus on deployments that have both a favourable industry incentive and wave resource. Although the highest yielding wave resources are typically in the mid latitudes and on the western facing coasts Ryan says that Bombora’s strategy has focused on developing a device that can also be deployed in lower yielding coastlines.

Following a two year design and engineering phase, Bombora will embark on a three year program to construct, install and test its first commercial demonstrator — with the device becoming operational around half way through the process.

"Bombora has some preliminary sites identified locally in Western Australia and will be working with governments to enable this to happen," says Ryan.

Engineair

Melbourne, Australia-based company Engineair will use its award for the further development of its novel air motor engine technology — based on a unique rotary piston concept. According to Angelo Di Pietro, Managing Director at Engineair, the engine uses compressed air, or any other pressurised medium, as the driving power, does not have a conventional crankshaft and is not subject to reciprocating motion, resulting in no vibration.

"It is clean, non-polluting and [does] not rely on petroleum. It can be charged up from a filling station in a matter of minutes, rather than hours compared to batteries," he says.

The concept, known as a Rotary Air Engine, is based on a simple cylindrical rotary piston, which rolls without any friction, inside a cylindrical stator. Di Pietro says that there is "no technical obstacle" to the scale-up of his technology and, with adequate funding, he believes that filling stations and other operational infrastructure will be relatively easy to establish.

"The technology is ready for manufacturing — with a company such as GE, the product can be sold around the world within a year," he says.

Greensync

Meanwhile, Melbourne-based Greensync will further development of an advanced software tool that enables electricity network planners to find alternatives to capital infrastructure projects. According to Phil Blythe, Managing Director at Greensync, the genesis of the technology — which reduces energy consumption by 3 percent and costs by 10 percent through monitoring and managing loads at peak times — came from working with the Australian electricity utilities on demand side management (DSM) programs.

"Our technology is software, data and highly refined algorithms that runs in the cloud. We use them to model the electricity networks, the load that flows through them, and the costs associated with all aspects of the network, such as starting a diesel generator, connecting solar, switching off large plant loads, and so on. The result is that planners can create a scenario, and forecast how the network will behave with all of these elements present," says Blythe.

The Ecomagination award will be spent on further R&D and testing, with the plan being to test the software on real network elements over 2013 and 2014.

"Big challenges for us are the number of variables involved in network design, and what simplifications we can make to enable us to build a usable tool. If we add too much detail, it will become too cumbersome and expensive, and not meet its original objective of providing planners with tools to help them move off a relatively low base in designing and costing DSM programs," says Blythe.

"Our commercialisation is initially focused on Australia and New Zealand at this point in time, to which we have several utilities with whom we are speaking with for forthcoming trials. Beyond that, we will towards the international markets in U.S. and Europe through partnerships," he adds.

Outpost Central & Hydroxsys

Two more winners, Auckland-based companies Hydroxsys and Outpost Central, will use their awards to further development of their water management technology.

Hydroxsys has designed membrane technology that captures and recycles 90 percent of water and around 85-90 percent of energy from industrial processes to be fed back into the manufacturing process.

Meanwhile, Outpost Central has developed a small battery-powered device to connect water meters and sensors to the cloud to provide detailed information on water consumption and efficiency. Current customers include water utilities, farmers, mining companies and large industrial users of water.

"The Outpost web platform transforms them from being blind to their water consumption to having rich information on their usage patterns. One customer identified 290 million liters per year of water savings by identifying leaks, faulty equipment and improved irrigation efficiency within a few months of deploying the Outpost system," says James Riddell, Director at Outpost Central.

"The cash prize has been fantastic, but even more important to us has been the recognition of our efforts and vision by GE — a global leader in innovation and sustainability," he adds.

Although it was 'relatively easy' to get the first systems up and running, Riddell explains that the real technological and operational challenges come from scaling the technology and the business processes as the company grows.

"There are so many processes and developments that go on behind the scenes in a growing technology company. Manufacturing in volume, automated test systems, billing systems, support systems, reducing the cost to allow margin for distribution channels, scaling the databases and software, finding good people to join the team. Creating a prototype is the easy part!" he says.

"The advantage of our architecture is that we have full visibility of every device we ever sell as they are all connected to our cloud platform. This gives us vital feedback for support and the continuous improvement of the technology," he adds.

The product is already commercialised, with customers in Australia, New Zealand, Africa, Asia and Europe — with a long-term aim being to find the right partners to "begin a push into Europe and the U.S."

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The need for clean technologies underscore the recent blackouts in India

Have not only forced the recent failures of India's electricity network, more than 600 million people without survive power - have proved they, that the need for massive public and private investment of India in clean technologies and infrastructure.

While international audiences about India's problems with its electricity grid for the first time hear can be, those of us know living in India only too well of our country fight our rapidly growing population and supply power to the economy. In fact Indians was long ago acclimated to parallel power outages and numerous shops and apartments installed generators have backup to deal with them. In an attempt to increase the amount of current available India recently brought several new coal-fired power plants on line. A combination of the inadequate power grid infrastructure and a lack of available coal was limited however by the effectiveness of these plants.

The most recent, massive power outages show that the time for such emergency has passed measures. India's economic growth and ecological future depends on how quickly the nation from a power supply based on fossil fuels to a clean technology can move. Even before the power failure was India's outdated power supply violate its economy. India's Planning Commission estimated that outdated power grid of the country has significantly reduced the international competitiveness of companies of India and India's growth of 1.2% reduces.

India needs with environmental concerns new coal mines in areas already polluted and energy policies driven by political current procedure requires new sources of energy, the power of the next generation of its entrepreneurs rather than limit practicality.

Fortunately-based and foreign companies are well positioned the clean technology and renewable energy that you so desperately needs the some India to India. Companies such as me, Flareum technologies, produce already products such as solar powered water pumping, ATM, domestic community cooking systems, and domestic and industrial size air conditioners. Other companies, such as BrightSource and General Electric, provide the large solar and wind power plants and have the know-how upgrade India's ageing power grid to meet them. Still others create the green building technologies and transport systems India need to move and House its growing population, especially the booming middle class. Explore these solutions must be as India's energy and power problems at present enormous obstacles to continued growth of the nation. In addition, we must seek innovative solutions to solve our infrastructure problems really, from the United States and elsewhere.

India has the resources - wind, Sun and above all people - a powerhouse of tomorrow's clean technology industry. Without proactive decisions of his officials and Government but forward growth lags other Nations during India afterwards. It is vital for India's Central, State and local governments to promote the development of clean technology solutions, additional economic incentives for transitions to create path from fossil fuels and driven to India on the way to a future of sustainable energy.

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Department of energy award of $43 million for energy storage technologies

The U.S. Department of energy announced on 2 August 19 new projects total $43 million of advanced research projects Agency energy (ARPA-E) received breakthrough energy storage technologies development. The projects focus on innovations in the battery management and storage for electric vehicles (EV) technologies advance, increase the efficiency and reliability of the electrical network and deliver important energy security benefits for US forces. They are supported by two new ARPA-E programs: Advanced management and protection of energy storage devices (AMPED) and small business innovation research (SBIR).

Twelve research projects get $30 million in funding in the context of the AMPING programme, which aims, develop advanced and control techniques could significantly improve grid scale and vehicle batteries sensors. In contrast to other energy Department efforts, the limits of the battery chemistry of push AMPED focuses on maximizing the potential of the existing battery chemistry. These innovations will help to reduce costs and the performance of the next generation of storage technologies that both plug - in can be applied and hybrid EVs. Such as the Battelle Memorial Institute in Columbus, Ohio, an optical sensor to monitor the internal environment of a lithium-ion battery in developing real time.

ARPA-E grants also $13 million in seven enterprising small businesses, the innovative energy storage developments for stationary and electric vehicles track. These companies are new battery chemistry and battery models as part of the larger Department-wide small business innovative research (SBIR) / small business technology transfer (STTR) program develop. Z. B. energy storage systems, Inc., in Portland, Oregon, is a flow battery for grid scale storage with an enlarged cell design construct and electrolyte materials of low-cost iron. See Energy Department press release.

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Guidelines Revised for U.S. Wave Energy, Ocean Current Technologies

The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) on July 19 announced revised guidelines for developers pursuing technology testing and commercial development on the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS). The revisions further clarify the regulatory process and help streamline the process for authorizing research and testing of marine hydrokinetics—energy developed from waves and ocean currents.

The revised guidelines replace 2009 guidelines; they also provide information about agency responsibilities and how best to navigate the process for obtaining a marine hydrokinetic lease and license on the OCS. They cover topics such as provisions for obtaining leases and licenses, fee structures, and hybrid (e.g., wind and marine hydrokinetic) project considerations. The guidelines were developed as part of a Memorandum of Understanding between the Department of the Interior and FERC. Under the Memorandum, BOEM and FERC will coordinate to ensure that marine hydrokinetic projects address public interest, including the adequate protection of fish, wildlife, and marine resources and other beneficial public uses. See the BOEM press release and the complete guidelines.

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New ARPA-E Projects to Boost Natural Gas Vehicle Technologies

A refuse truck powered by compressed natural gas in Washington state.
Credit: Western Washington Clean Cities

The Energy Department on July 12 announced $30 million in funding for 13 research projects designed to find new ways of harnessing natural gas supplies for cars and trucks. Researchers in California, Colorado, Connecticut, Illinois, Michigan, New York, Texas, Washington, and Wisconsin will work on the initiative. The grants are made through the Energy Department's Advanced Research Projects Agency – Energy (ARPA-E). The projects are part of Methane Opportunities for Vehicular Energy, which aims to engineer lightweight, affordable natural gas tanks for vehicles and develop natural gas compressors that efficiently fuel a natural gas vehicle at home.

Today's natural gas vehicle technologies require tanks that can withstand high pressures. They are often cumbersome, and are either too large or too expensive to be suitable for smaller passenger vehicles. ARPA-E's new projects are focused on removing these barriers, which will help encourage the widespread use of natural gas cars and trucks. For example, REL, Inc. in Calumet, Michigan, will receive $3 million to develop an internal "foam core" for natural gas tanks that allows tanks to be formed into any shape. This will enable higher storage capacity than current carbon fiber tanks at one-third the cost.

The projects will also focus on developing natural gas compressors that make it easier for consumers to re-fuel at home. The Center for Electromechanics at the University of Texas at Austin will use $4 million to develop an at-home natural gas re-fueling system that compresses gas with a single piston. Unlike current four-piston compressors, these highly integrated single-piston systems will use fewer moving parts, leading to a more reliable, lighter, and cost-effective compressor. See the Energy Department press release and the complete list of projects .

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Energy Department Invests in Innovative Manufacturing Technologies

The Energy Department announced on June 12 it has awarded more than $54 million for 13 projects across the country to advance transformational technologies and materials. These projects, which are leveraging approximately an additional $17 million in cost share from the private sector, can help U.S. manufacturers increase the energy efficiency of their operations and reduce costs. The projects will be in California, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Utah, and will develop cutting-edge manufacturing tools, techniques, and processes that will be able to save companies money by reducing the energy needed to power their facilities.

From improving manufacturing processes that reduce the energy needed to make components for aircraft and vehicles, to lowering the production costs of carbon fiber for a wide range of clean energy products, these projects represent a major investment in the solutions that will transform energy-intensive manufacturing technologies and materials used by industry in the United States. The results of these projects could produce large improvements in energy productivity, reduce pollution, and boost product output, while creating jobs and helping American companies expand export opportunities globally. Each project will advance technologies early enough in their development cycles to permit the full scope of their technical benefits to be shared across a broad cross-section of the domestic economy. Collectively, these projects are part of the Obama Administration’s effort to support the creation of good jobs by helping U.S. manufacturers reduce costs, improve quality, and accelerate product development. See the DOE press release and the project descriptions.

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ARPA-E Issues Call for Transformational Energy Technologies

AppId is over the quota
AppId is over the quota

This is an excerpt from EERE Network News, a weekly electronic newsletter.

DOE's Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E) issued a $150 million funding opportunity on March 2 that is open to all transformational energy technologies. This Open Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) is a call to scientists, engineers, and entrepreneurs to propose early-stage research projects that would not otherwise be able to attract private investment. Such projects could lead to breakthrough energy technologies. This is the second Open FOA released under ARPA-E.

The open call includes electricity generation by renewable means; electricity transmission, storage, and distribution; energy efficiency for buildings, manufacturing and commerce, and personal use; and all aspects of transportation, including the production and distribution of renewable fuels, electrification, and energy efficiency in transportation. Individual awards under the Open FOA will range between $250,000 and $10 million. See the DOE press release and the FOA announcement on the Funding Opportunity Exchange website.

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DOE launches new research programme to advance the solar technologies

Concentration of solar energy, as this system, as also photovoltaic systems, received a boost from DOE's bridge financing.
Credit card: DOI

DOE announced on 23 February that $3 million this year is to support research, significantly reduce the cost of solar energy. Bridging Research interactions through cooperative development grants in funding (energy bridge) enable collaborative research teams from industry, universities and national laboratories of DOE research centres work together. The research teams support the goal of the DOE's SunShot initiative solar energy costs until the end of the decade with other forms of energy competitive make.

The BRIDGE financing allows researchers the tools to use and expertise of scientists on the DOE research facilities so that fundamental scientific discoveries to existing product lines and projects can be converted quickly. The BRIDGE program is the first, engineers and scientists to develop photovoltaic and solar power technologies with the tools and know-how of the DOE research facilities focus offer. These include important equipment for X-ray and Neutron scattering, interdisciplinary nanoscale science, advanced Microcharacterization, molecular life sciences and advanced scientific account. This cooperative approach accelerates innovation to reduce the cost of photovoltaics and solar energy concentrating technologies. Full applications are due May 21, 2012. See DOE Office of energy efficiency and renewable energy progress warning, funding opportunity Exchange Web page for details and the SunShot initiative Web site.

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DOE Awards 7 million for storage technologies in fuel cell vehicles

This is an excerpt from EERE network news, a weekly electronic newsletter.

DOE on 12 December more than 7 million $ within four projects in California, Oregon and Washington, the hydrogen storage technologies for use in electric fuel-cell vehicles develop. The 3-year projects will help, cost and improve the performance of hydrogen storage systems through the development of innovative materials and advanced containers. DOE is committed to help advanced fuel cell technology research, bringing domestic automakers more electric fuel cell vehicles on the market.

The selected organizations provide close to $2 million in costs for storage systems to reduce the cost of compressed hydrogen leading projects, and develop materials for hydrogen storage advanced. Compressed hydrogen storage provides a short-term way to commercialization and lower costs for compressed tank systems availability and adoption speed up their market. Advanced materials-based storage hydrogen technologies enable more efficient memory on lower prints current compressed hydrogen tanks allow.

Among the projects DOE's Pacific Northwest used national laboratory a coordinated approach to reduce the costs associated with compressed hydrogen storage systems by focusing on the improvement of the carbon fiber composite materials and the development and production of hydrogen storage tanks. HRL laboratories, LLC, Malibu, California, explores an innovative approach to the hydrogen storage with altered fluids to absorb efficiently and can release hydrogen gas. DOE's Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and partners will use a theory guided approach to synthesize new materials with high hydrogen adsorption capacity. And a tied under the direction of the University of Oregon, including the DOE's Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, develop and test promising new materials for hydrogen storage. The proposed chemical hydrogen storage materials could liquid fuel and regeneration of hydrogen storage material, temperature and pressure ranges for both onboard mobile and stationary fuel cell applications suitable activate. See the DOE press release (copyright) and the fuel cell technologies program Web site.

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Innovative energy storage technologies enable more renewable energy

This is an excerpt from EERE network news, a weekly electronic newsletter.

Solar and wind power provide for America the opportunity to strengthen the security of energy supply, jobs in the growing markets and improve the environment. Thanks to breakthroughs in the energy storage systems including the first grid tied solar and storage facility which is closer to potential to reality. The combination of energy storage systems with smart grid technology, utilities can output of power automatically "smooth". This enables intermittent energy sources be available even if the Sun is not or is not the wind is blowing.

In the United States, the American reinvestment Recovery Act is the financing so that 32 demonstration projects, including the large energy storage, smart meters, distribution and transmission system monitoring devices and a range of other intelligent technologies to explore the provision of integrated smart grid systems widely.

Recently, three of these projects for their progress recorded in the development and implementation of energy storage systems. How to extend the worldwide market for clean energy, such projects are continuing the tradition of American leadership in the development of next-generation technologies. See energy blog-post.

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