research and technology transfer to support a growing alternative energy cluster

Research and Technology Transfer to Support a Growing Alternative Energy Cluster

Frank J. CalzonettiVice President for Research Development

The University of Toledo

SUSTAINABLE ENERGY FORTODAY'S BUSINESS MEETING

March 22, 2007

University of Toledo Alternative Energy Research Projects

• Photovoltaic electricity

• Photovoltaic hydrogen

• Fuel cells – focus on technologies to convert fuel to hydrogen

• Biomass energy

• Energy storage and batteries

• Transportation technologies

Center for Photovoltaics Innovation and Commercialization:An $18.6 million Wright Center of Innovation

• Universities - The University of Toledo (Lead), Bowling Green State University, and OSU

• Industry - Advanced Distributed Generation, Cornerstone Research Group, Decker Homes, DuPont, Innovative Thin Films, LakeShore Cryotronics, Metamateria Partners, Midwest Optoelectronics, NewCyte, Owens Corning, Pilkington, Solar Fields, and SSOE

• Non-profit organizations - Battelle Memorial Institute, Green Energy Ohio, Edison Materials Technology Center, and Honda OSU Partnership

UT’s Flexible Solar Cells

Cadmium telluride Amorphous silicon

UT’s Alternative Energy Incubator• UT Alternative Energy Spin-off

companies– MWOE– Innovative Thin Films

• Other Companies– Advanced Distributed Generation– H2 Systems– Ugly Data

Home to the Wright Center of Innovation—Photovoltaic Innovation and Commercialization

Demonstration of H2 Production from Solar

Location: University of Toledo, R1 Building

H2 filling station: 12 kW solar array, Avalence electrolytic system, high-pressure storage tank

Fuel cell vehicle GEM electric truck, 1.2 kW Ballard Nexa fuel cell, on-board H2 storage at 2500 psi, modified drive system

Fuel cell vehicle

UT-Catacel Partnership for Development of Fuel Reforming• Catacel: commercialization

opportunity.– Flexible fuel reformer is practical

application for catalyst technology– Knowledge of economic drivers and

system advantages• UT: provides technical knowledge for

catalyst development and testing– Fundamental research in catalyst

design– Access to sophisticated test

equipment– Availability of student researchers

Biomass Energy• Production of sugars from biomass for conversion to

ethanol using ionic liquids to produce ethanol from cellulose

Bio-Diesel Project in the UT Intermodal Transportation Institute● Objectives: Support the introduction of bio-diesel (B-20) and evaluate

its impact on operating costs, emissions, engine performance, and engine

life

● Partnership: TARTA, Toledo Public Schools, and The University of Toledo

● Unique aspects of the project:

- Large scale study using more than 50 vehicles

- Collect extensive emission (in-bus and tail pipe), operating, and engine wear

data over three years

- Examine the impact of mixing hydrogen in the combustion air intake

- Estimate the impact of technology advancement and large scale production

on cost and availability

Hydraulic Hybrid Vehicles

• Improve and optimize components of hybrid hydraulic systems to maximize fuel economy and minimize pollutant emissions

• EPA funded