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
