research collaboration greenbug energy prof. d. lubitz nserc
TRANSCRIPT
Research Collaboration
Greenbug EnergyProf. D. Lubitz
NSERC
Greenbug Energy
www.greenbugenergy.com
Greenbug Energy
Tony Bouk and Brian Weber Delhi, Ontario Spun out of Bluestreak Equipment Inc. Design, manufacture and install
Archimedes screw hydro generating stations since 2009
Archimedes Screw Generators
The weight of water falling through the screw turns the screw, which turns the generator and produces electricity.
Archimedes Screw Generators Hundreds of European
installations “New” rapidly growing
technology Average efficiency 69%
(Hawle et al., 2012) 34 European sites
Low profile Fish friendly Usually integrated in
existing structures (wiers, abandoned mills)
From: http://rachel122333.files.wordpress.com/2012/02/archimedes-screw.jpg
Archimedes Screws in Ontario
Greenbug Energy (Delhi, Ontario) 7.2 kW Archimedes screw generator
commissioned Sept. 2013 Installed in existing dam and hydro building First commercial system in North America
Technology is financially viable Ontario FIT: 40 year contracts for hydro
Research Partnership w/ Greenbug
Prof. David Lubitz Dynamics of Archimedes
screw generators (2011 - ongoing) Instrumentation of
Greenbug prototypes Testing of small screws in
lab Development of models to
optimize screw design
Funding NSERC: Engage, CRD
Lab Testing
Research Collaboration Funding Spring 2011
Dr. Lubitz introduced to Greenbug Energy by Business Development Office (now Catalyst Centre)
Fall 2011 NSERC Engage project $25k – 6 months
Fall 2012 NSERC CRD project $80k (NSERC 2/3, Greenbug 1/3) – 3 years
Winter 2015 Second NSERC CRD project $120k (NSERC 2/3, Greenbug 1/3) – 4 years
Greenbug NSERC Projects w/ Other Faculty Winter 2015 – CRD w/ Garabaghi Winter 2015 – Engage w/ Taylor
Why CRD Program?
Good leverage of industry money NSERC will fund $2 for every $1 from
company (+ $1 in-kind) No overhead charged Came out better than OCE, MITACs
NSERC programs are stable Success rate relatively high if good
company and research case made.
Benefits of the CRD Program
Good leverage of company contributions
Good support from NSERC staff (during application process, and during grant administration)
NSERC is “name brand” funding
Successful Partnerships Need:
The right collaborator: company must be realistic and invested in R&D
Realistic expectations by company and academics
Time investment Students Practical yet research-driven problems.
NSERC needs to see real research Company needs useful results
W. D. Lubitz, Associate Professor School of Engineering, University of Guelph
Recent Research Pico hydro and Archimedes
screw turbines Wind turbine design and testing Greenhouse microclimate Solar resource models
+1-519-824-4120 x54387