The University of Liverpool is to open the first interdisciplinary centre dedicated to energy research in the North West.

The Stephenson Institute for Renewable Energy, named after the nineteenth century engineering pioneers George and Robert Stephenson, will undertake research into renewable energy sources such as fuel cell technology and bio fuels.

As supplies of current fossil-based fuels diminish, the development of new energy sources is one of the defining challenges of the 21st Century.  The Stephenson Institute will bring together energy-related research activities to focus on developing clean and sustainable energy technologies including hydrogen generation and storage, solar harvesting, wind and marine energy and fusion technology.

The Institute is also recruiting 10 world-class scientists to join existing research groups in Chemistry, Physics, Materials Science and Engineering.  The recruitment underlines the University of Liverpool’s priorities for future research and represents a major investment by the institution.

Professor Werner Hofer, the Director of the Institute, said: “The provision of energy is one of the greatest challenges facing the world today and the Stephenson Institute for Renewable Energy will provide a new approach to developing new, cleaner and safer ways to produce energy.  Many of the new technologies that will power our future are still emerging and the creation of the Institute will enhance our ability to help tackle this global challenge.”

In addition to its research programme, the Stephenson Institute will allow students and postgraduates to work on energy-related projects and technologies providing them with relevant skills and knowledge to meet the UK and global demand for graduates in this emerging job market. The Institute will develop expert networks, including policy-makers and management, to highlight global energy and sustainability issues.

Source: University of Liverpool

To lead in the accelerating green economy, America needs millions of new skilled workers for jobs in renewable energy, energy efficiency, green building and sustainability. To meet this demand, America’s community colleges are joining the first nationwide initiative to collaborate on and implement programs to train students with the education and skills needed to succeed.

Launching today, The SEED Center (www.theSEEDcenter.org) is a leadership initiative, free resource center, and online sharing environment for community colleges to dramatically scale up programs to educate America’s 21st century workforce to compete in the green economy. SEED – Sustainability Education and Economy Development – is a landmark effort by the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC) and ecoAmerica to enable the nation’s 1,200 two-year colleges in the critical task of preparing the American workforce with the skills needed to succeed in sustainable, clean tech and other green economy jobs.

More than 300 community college presidents – over one-third of the AACC members – have already signed on to the initiative, far ahead of expectations for this stage of the program’s development. SEED was publicly launched today at a meeting of the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education in Denver.

“Community colleges are uniquely positioned to be leaders of the sustainability movement, focusing on local economic development and partnering with businesses and government to provide access to jobs,” said John J. Sygielski, president of Mt. Hood Community College in Oregon and chair of the AACC Board of Directors. “Community colleges are the backbone of American workforce training, and now is the time for us to step up and help our students and communities restore American prosperity.”

Many community colleges have already built innovative training programs preparing students for long-term careers in the green economy. From The SEED Center’s case studies:

• To meet immediate local industry demand for trained windpower technicians, Columbia Gorge Community College in Oregon initiated a short-term training project that led to a 92% placement rate and graduates earning $20-$24 an hour. The college has now transformed that course into a longer-term program, which forges a career path toward a two-year degree. The program has become a national model.
• Cape Cod Community College in Massachusetts began 10 years ago to train technicians for jobs in the area’s burgeoning number of wind farms. Hundreds of students have earned transfer degrees in coastal management, solar technology, wastewater and other careers, including cleanup of Superfund sites at an abandoned military base.
• Oakland Community College in Michigan has more than 350 students enrolled in its Renewable Energies program and related courses. OCC students gain field experience in the community, refurbishing public buildings with renewable materials, performing energy audits for government and working with small businesses and hospitals to reduce waste and pollution.

“There is a vast amount of information on green jobs training out there, but SEED cuts through the clutter and brings together the best resources, providing them for free to all community colleges,” said Amy Golden, Executive Director at ecoAmerica, a nonprofit organization that partnered with the AACC to create The SEED Center. “Until now there hasn’t been a nationally available network or resources to connect schools with advanced programs with schools still developing their curricula. The SEED Center will fill that important void.”

For community colleges seeking to develop green jobs courses and programs, the SEED Center offers a broad array of free resources. Content includes curriculum resources, industry and employment information, case studies and other information, with additional support for program implementation, faculty development, and funding.  Initial subject areas include solar, wind, energy efficiency, green building and sustainable education, expertly curated by a Technical Advisory Group of leading academic, government and industry sustainability and clean tech authorities. An online sharing environment, including discussion boards and a wiki, provides the opportunity for faculty to share best practices and learnings, ultimately contributing to the continual growth and refinement of the resources offered.

SEED will reach beyond the campus. Community college presidents who sign on as members pledge not only to foster the center’s programs at their colleges, but also to build bridges to local business, government and nonprofit communities to connect training to jobs.

The SEED Center is being developed by the American Association of Community Colleges and ecoAmerica, with funding from The Kresge Foundation, Surdna Foundation, and Flora Family Foundation.

The American Association of Community Colleges (www.aacc.nche.edu) is a national organization representing the nation’s close to 1,200 community colleges and their more than 12 million students. Community colleges are the largest and fastest growing segment of U.S. higher education.

ecoAmerica (ecoAmerica.org) is a nonprofit that uses consumer research and strategic partnerships to create innovative programs that engage mainstream Americans in climate and environmental solutions.  ecoAmerica develops and launches behavior-changing programs that make environmental solutions personally relevant.  ecoAmerica has created numerous programs including The American College and University Presidents’ Climate Commitment, The Princeton Review Green College Ratings, Nature Rocks and more.

SOURCE ecoAmerica

EnerG2, an innovative seven-year-old company focused on introducing advanced nano-structured materials for next-generation energy storage, today announced the groundbreaking of the world’s first facility dedicated to the commercial-scale production of synthetic high-performance carbon electrode material. This material is the most important ingredient in ultracapacitor energy storage devices, which are used in electric and hybrid vehicles.

The plant, which will create at least 35 new high-quality jobs when fully operational, was made possible by a $21.3 million Federal stimulus grant allocated by the US Department of Energy for makers of advanced automotive batteries and energy storage technologies. In addition to the permanent jobs created by the Federal stimulus funding, an estimated 50 construction jobs will be added to local payrolls. On a national scale, the plant will produce a material that can spur large-scale domestic production of energy storage devices and electric-drive vehicles.

“It’s extremely gratifying to see the U.S. Department of Energy funds supporting new energy-focused materials production,” said Rick Luebbe, CEO of EnerG2, “and it’s a clear reflection of EnerG2′s ability to address the specific needs of energy storage customers and tailor our products for their unique applications.”

EnerG2′s state-of-the-art manufacturing approach revolves around mass customization of electrode materials that enhance energy and power density in ultracapacitors, one of the essential engines of our clean-technology future. In designing and constructing the a manufacturing facility to support this approach, EnerG2 will partner with Albany-based Oregon Freeze Dry, Inc. (OFD), a current manufacturing partner. OFD will help the company design elements of this commercial-scale plant for the production of energy storage materials.

“Albany is very fortunate to have Oregon Freeze Dry as one of our largest employers and strong community advocate for decades. We are excited about their partnering with EnerG2 in the all important area of expanded and innovative energy storage,” said Sharon Konopa, Mayor of the City of Albany. “The green jobs that the facility will create over the next 18 months will certainly help Albany weather the slow economic recovery. We welcome EnerG2 to Albany.”

Ultracapacitors, which are dependent on the performance of their materials, store and release more energy faster than conventional batteries. The size and make-up of the electrodes’ surface area helps ultracapacitors store and supply large bursts of energy; the materials also effectively enable virtually limitless cycle life.

Looking forward, ultracapacitors containing EnerG2 materials will be increasingly embraced by the automotive industry for hybrid electric vehicles, by electronics manufacturers for enhancing the life and usability of consumer goods, and by a variety of industrial customers to deliver an ever-increasing breadth of new ways to improve energy efficiency.

EnerG2 has a strong track record of backing from the public and private sectors. Among the company’s supporters: the University of Washington, the Washington Technology Center, a state-supported economic development agency that finances applications of university research, WRF Capital, the Sustainability Investment Fund, Northwest Energy Angels, the Frontier Angel Fund, OVP Venture Partners, Firelake Capital Management and Yaletown Venture Partners.

In addition to the federal stimulus funding, EnerG2 since inception has raised over $14.5 million in equity financing. Institutional investors OVP and Firelake led a Series A financing and additional strategic investors added new equity funding in April of this year.

Source: EnerG2 Press Release

Moving the global economy towards environmentally-friendly, clean technologies will increasingly hinge on rapid improvements in the recycling rates of so called “high-tech” specialty metals like lithium, neodymium and gallium.Such metals, needed to make key components for wind turbines and photovoltaics to the battery packs of hybrid cars, fuel cells and energy efficient lighting systems, exist in nature in relatively small supplies or in discreet geographical locations.

Yet despite concern among the clean tech industry over scarcity and high prices, only around one per cent of these crucial high-tech metals are recycled, with the rest discarded and thrown away at the end of a product’s life.

Unless future end-of-life recycling rates are dramatically stepped up these critical, specialty and rare earth metals could become “essentially unavailable for use in modern technology”, warn experts.

These are among the preliminary findings of a new report entitled Metals Recycling Rates to be issued by the International Panel for Sustainable Resource Management hosted by the UN Environment Programme (UNEP).

The report, the final version of which is to be published later in the year, also underlines the big energy and climate change gains that could be achieved if greater end-of-life recycling rates of more commonly known metals were achieved.

Metals such as iron and steel, copper, aluminum, lead and tin enjoy recycling rates of between 25 per cent and 75 per cent globally, with much lower rates in some developing economies.

Boosting those further through better collection systems and recycling infrastructure, especially in developing countries, could save millions if not billions of tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions while also generating potentially significant numbers of green jobs.

This is because recycling metals is between two and ten times more energy efficient than smelting the metals from virgin ores, says the report.

Achim Steiner, UN Under-Secretary-General and UNEP Executive Director, said: “Urgent action is now clearly needed to sustainably manage the supplies and flows of these specialty metals given their crucial role in the future health, penetration and competitiveness of a modern high-tech, resource-efficient Green Economy”.

“Boosting end-of-life recycling rates not only offers a path to enhancing those supplies and keeping metal prices down, but can also generate new kinds of employment while ensuring the longevity of the mines and the stocks found in nature,” he added.

“Meanwhile, improving the recycling rates of common, mass-produced metals such as copper and steel could also play an important part in meeting climate change targets and keeping the global temperature rise below 2 degrees C by 2050. There is currently a gap between the ambition of nations and the science amounting to several gigatonnes of CO2. Metals recycling could play a part in helping to bridge that gap,” said Mr Steiner.

Also launched today was another final report called Metals in Society. The two reports, presented during a meeting of the UN’s Commission on Sustainable Development in New York, are part of six being prepared on metals by the Panel.

The Panel is co-chaired by Drs Ashok Kosla from India and Ernst von Weizsacker of Germany and its Working Group on metals is chaired by Thomas Graedel, professor of Industrial Ecology at Yale University.

Professor Graedel said: “One of the phenomena of our modern, industrial age is that increasingly metal stocks are “above ground” in structures such as buildings and ships and products from cell phones to personal computers.”

“For example around 240 kg of copper per person in the United States is now “above ground” and the global total could increase three to nine fold over the coming years given anticipated development patterns,” he said.

“Yet these above ground supplies of both common and specialty metals represent an extraordinary resource for sustainable development not only in terms of supplies but also the opportunity for reducing energy demand while curbing pollution, including rising greenhouse gas emissions,” he added.

Key Findings from Metals in Society and Preliminary Ones from Metals Recycling

• The amount of steel per person in the United States is now 11 to 12 tonnes and in China it is 1.5 tonnes
• World-wide stocks of metals in society have grown such that there is enough copper “above ground” equal to 50 kg per person.
• Since 1932, the amount of copper per person in the United States has grown from 73 kg to close to 240 kg now.
• If this pattern is followed by all countries, the amount of copper and other metals in structures and products would be three to nine times today’s levels.
• The lifetime of copper in buildings is 25 to 40 years whereas in PCs and mobile phones, the in-service lifetime of the metal is less than five years
• For many technology or specialist metals like indium and rhodium, more than 80 per cent of all such metals ever extracted from natural resources have been mined in just the past three decades
• Global demand for metals like copper and aluminum has doubled in the past 20 years
• Lack of adequate recycling infrastructure for WEEE (Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment) in most parts of the world causes total losses of copper and other valuable metals like gold, silver and palladium.

Producing metals from recycled sources has multiple Green Economy benefits when compared with producing and using primary metals from mines.

These include reduced impacts on the environment including water resources and biodiversity, reduced energy requirements and hence cuts in greenhouse gas emissions, and an opportunity to create new jobs and livelihoods.

Other considerations concern the fact that some of these metals deposits and active mines are confined to certain geographical locations. For example lithium in South America and rare earth metals in China.

Other Key Facts

• Current global steel production uses 1.3 billion tonnes of steel annually, which cause 2.2 billion tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions.
• “Secondary”, reclaimed steel causes 75 per cent less greenhouse gas emissions.
• Emissions from recycled aluminum are about 12 times lower that primary aluminum production.
• Currently only a few metals, such as iron and platinum, have end-of-life recycling rates of 50 per cent or above.
• For each 100 million tonnes of primary steel substituted by secondary or recycled steel, a saving of around 150 million tonnes of CO2 is possible.

The reports cites palladium as an example of the around eight precious metals studied including gold and silver.

Palladium is used in car catalysts, industrial catalysts, and areas such as dentistry and jewelry.

• Currently recycling rates can be as high as up to 90 per cent in industrial applications, with more moderate rates in automotive uses where rates are around 50 to 55 per cent.
• However, in electronic applications recycling rates are just between five and ten per cent, in part because less than 10 per cent of consumer cell phones are recycled properly.

The researchers cite indium as one of close to 40 specialty metals, including rare earth metals, studied.Indium is used in semiconductors, energy efficient light emitting diodes (LEDs), advanced medical imaging and photovoltaics. The report underlines that such metals are crucial for sustainable, clean technologies like renewable energy and advanced batteries.

• Indium is a metal found in low concentrations in nature and as a by-product of zinc ores.
• Strong growth in gross demand is predicted for indium: from around 1,200 tonnes (2010) to around 2,600 tonnes (2020).
• Current recycling rates are thought to be below one per cent, with a similar story for other specialty metals.
• Other specialty metals include tellurium and selenium for high efficiency solar cells, neodymium and dysprosium for wind turbine magnets, lanthanum for hybrid vehicle batteries and gallium for LEDs.

San Diego will be the place to be this summer for an estimated 10,000 of the nation’s top professionals in the energy, water, transportation and environmental industries. EngEx 2010, taking place at the San Diego Convention Center from July 29 – 31, will make America’s Finest City home to some of the top technologists, researchers, policy makers, governmental agencies and investors all looking to collaborate together under one roof.

“We are looking forward to having a great conference that really creates some strong business and innovation opportunities for our nation’s future,” said Kris Ellis with EngEx 2010. “The plan is to evolve some big ideas into action from this conference.”
EngEx will be three days of innovation, creativity, business negotiation, planning, contract development and plenty of networking for some of the most talented individuals working on the next stage in the nation’s green movement. The conference will also provide keynote addresses by national green technology leaders, information on grant opportunities and a career and internship fair.

“There will be plenty of decision makers at this conference that will be able to develop and implement that next generation of green engineering businesses,” Ellis said. “Investors will really want to check out this conference to get some great business development collaboration ideas. In fact, more than thirty different disciplines of engineering will be represented at this ground-breaking conference.”

Among the topics planned for the conference are renewable energy; the electric grid; desalination; wastewater treatment; fuel infrastructure; sustainable planning; carbon storage and even carbon reuse technologies.

“EngEx 2010 will be a showcase of the latest research and development of green technologies,” Ellis said. “However it will also be an opportunity for corporations and government agencies to present their technologies, policies and strategies to a large public audience.”

Registration for EngEx 2010 begins on February 8; however advance registration is now available with special exclusive benefits. Among the special perks are a preferred notification the day registration goes on sale; discounted early bird pricing and an extra special hotel accommodation offer. To get on the advance registration list, please visit www.engexpo.com.

More than 250 exhibitors are also expected at the event.  To find out more information on the event, please visit www.engexpo.com.