strategic energy initiatives at virginia tech donald j. leo special assistant for energy...
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StrategicEnergy Initiatives at Virginia Tech
Donald J. LeoSpecial Assistant for Energy Initiatives, VP for ResearchAssociate Dean, Research and Graduate Studies, College of EngineeringProfessor, Mechanical Engineering Department
College of Engineering Donald J. Leo, [email protected]@vt.edu
Goals
• Learn the core strengths of Virginia Tech energy research
• Understand our recent initiatives in renewable energy, smart grid technology, and nuclear energy research and education.
• Learn how local businesses can work with VT on energy research
College of Engineering Donald J. Leo, [email protected]@vt.edu
Strategic Plan Focus Areas
Energy, Materials, and the
Environment
Energy, Materials, and the
Environment
InnovativeTechnologies and
Complex Systems
InnovativeTechnologies and
Complex Systems
Health, Food,and
Nutrition
Health, Food,and
Nutrition
Social andIndividual
Transformation
Social andIndividual
Transformation
DiscoveryDomain
College of Engineering Donald J. Leo, [email protected]@vt.edu
Operations/Governance
Virginia Tech has a holistic approach to energy initiatives…
Research
Engagement Education
College of Engineering Donald J. Leo, [email protected]@vt.edu
ResearchDr. Roe-Hoan YoonDirector, CASTNAE MemberAdvanced separation technologies
Dr. John RandolphProfessor and ChairUrban Affairs and PlanningSustainable Construction
Dr. Harold BurkhartUniversity Distinguished ProfessorDepartment of ForestrySustainable Forestry for Bioenergy Production
College of Engineering Donald J. Leo, [email protected]@vt.edu
ResearchDr. Fred LeeUniversity Distinguished ProfessorDirector, Center for Power Electronic SystemsEfficient Power Electronics
Dr. Foster AgblevorBiological Systems EngineeringBiomass Conversion for Energy Production
Dr. Richard Hirsh / Dr. Irene LeechConsortium on Energy Restructuring
College of Engineering Donald J. Leo, [email protected]@vt.edu
Goals
• Learn the core strengths of Virginia Tech energy research
• Understand our recent initiatives in renewable energy, smart grid technology, and nuclear energy research and education.
• Learn how local businesses can work with VT on energy research
College of Engineering Donald J. Leo, [email protected]@vt.edu
Virginia Tech Initiatives• Local
• Regional
• State
• National / International
College of Engineering Donald J. Leo, [email protected]@vt.edu
Local Initiatives
• Virginia Tech has developed a Sustainability Office to coordinate campus sustainability efforts
http://www.facilities.vt.edu/sustainability/http://www.facilities.vt.edu/sustainability/
• The Sustainability Endowments Institute rated Virginia Tech a B- overall in their 2008 survey, an increase in 1 full letter grade from the year before.• “A” in Transportation, Student Involvement, and
Investment• “B” in Food and Recycling and Green Building
College of Engineering Donald J. Leo, [email protected]@vt.edu
Local Initiatives
• Virginia Tech recently released a detailed Climate Action Plan that is currently under consideration by University Administration.
• A synopsis of the plan can be found at• http://www.gsa.uusa.vt.edu/cabinet_reports/Ener
gy_&_Sustainability_Plan.pdf
• The plan calls for an integrated effort to “incorporate sustainability into the fabric of the university”
College of Engineering Donald J. Leo, [email protected]@vt.edu
Local Initiatives
http://www.gsa.uusa.vt.edu/cabinet_reports/Energy_&_Sustainability_Plan.pdf
College of Engineering Donald J. Leo, [email protected]@vt.edu
Local Initiatives• Dr. John Randolph also led the “Sustainable
Blacksburg” effort that quantified energy usage and greenhouse gas emissions in the Town.
College of Engineering Donald J. Leo, [email protected]@vt.edu
Local Initiatives• The VP for Research at Virginia Tech has
funded three local projects to promote community engagement through the Community Action Grant for Energy Research program.
• Members of the Conservation Management Institute (CMI) for a feasibility study on converting the Catawba State Hospital oil-fired furnace to biomass.
• John Randolph for a project to help develop a final Blacksburg climate action plan and pilot residential energy assessment program.
• David Dillard and Cortney Martin for a project to demonstrate the feasibility of micro wind–based net metering for Southwest Virginia.
College of Engineering Donald J. Leo, [email protected]@vt.edu
Local Initiatives
• Virginia Tech is also investigating the development of a local ‘pilot plant’ facility to transition research-scale bioenergy technologies to pilot demonstrations.
College of Engineering Donald J. Leo, [email protected]@vt.edu
Regional Initiatives
• Virginia Tech has significant investment in Southside, VA to promote transformative economic development opportunities
Martinsville Bulletin
Jobless rate tops 20% in Martinsville
Thursday, April 2, 2009 By MICKEY POWELL - Bulletin Staff Writer
More than one-fifth of Martinsville’s labor force is unemployed as the city’s jobless rate reached a record 20.2 percent in February, Virginia Employment Commission (VEC) figures released Wednesday show.
College of Engineering Donald J. Leo, [email protected]@vt.edu
Regional Initiatives
• The Institute for Advanced Learning and Research located in Danville is providing a link between Virginia Tech and the Southside region.
College of Engineering Donald J. Leo, [email protected]@vt.edu
Regional Initiatives
• The Tobacco Commission has invested > $30M in the development of 5 regional centers for energy R and D
Wise & AbingdonFossil Fuels
Wise & AbingdonFossil Fuels
DanvilleBiofuels
DanvilleBiofuels
HalifaxWind
HalifaxWind
BedfordNuclear
BedfordNuclear
College of Engineering Donald J. Leo, [email protected]@vt.edu
Regional Initiatives
• Working closely with all of the Tobacco Commission R and D centers.
• The Tobacco Commission has dedicated ~$100M for energy related R and D in the coming years.
College of Engineering Donald J. Leo, [email protected]@vt.edu
Regional Initiatives
• Virginia Tech is also working closely with the Chesapeake Crescent Initiative in the areas of green jobs initiatives and grid technology.
• Virginia Tech researchers in the National Capital Region are working on urban sustainability initiatives and renewable energy initiatives through the Virginia Coastal Energy Research Consortium.
College of Engineering Donald J. Leo, [email protected]@vt.edu
National Initiatives
• Preparing to bid on a large project to manage a government energy lab.
• Responding to the significant increased in DOE initiatives related to federal stimulus funds.
College of Engineering Donald J. Leo, [email protected]@vt.edu
National Initiatives
• In the past three months the VP for Research Office has initiated focus projects in three technology areas:• Smart Grid Technology• Nuclear Energy• Renewable Energy
College of Engineering Donald J. Leo, [email protected]@vt.edu
National Initiatives• We are currently using a federal solicitation
from the National Science Foundation as a means of promoting an integrated strategy for energy research in these areas:
Energy Systems for a Sustainable FutureTo sustain the U.S. economy and the environment, an ERC funded in this area would focus on providing transformational engineered systems that would enable households, communities, and/or regions to function more effectively with a combination of renewable and non-renewable energy sources that are used to conserve energy and reduce the impact on the environment.
Energy Systems for a Sustainable FutureTo sustain the U.S. economy and the environment, an ERC funded in this area would focus on providing transformational engineered systems that would enable households, communities, and/or regions to function more effectively with a combination of renewable and non-renewable energy sources that are used to conserve energy and reduce the impact on the environment.
College of Engineering Donald J. Leo, [email protected]@vt.edu
International Reach…
• April 13, 2009, Blacksburg, VA An engineering student design team at Virginia Tech is creating a photovoltaic system to provide a medical clinic in Kenya with a desperately needed source of power.
• Center for Advanced Separation Technologies is working with the State Dept to develop advanced energy technologies in India.
• In 2009 Virginia Tech will participate in the international Solar Decathlon event.
College of Engineering Donald J. Leo, [email protected]@vt.edu
Goals
• Learn the core strengths of Virginia Tech energy research
• Understand our recent initiatives in renewable energy, smart grid technology, and nuclear energy research and education.
• Learn how local businesses can work with VT on energy research
College of Engineering Donald J. Leo, [email protected]@vt.edu
How can we work together?
• Local / Regional Initiatives
• Opportunities related to our national initiatives in smart grid, nuclear, and renewable energy technologies.
College of Engineering Donald J. Leo, [email protected]@vt.edu
Point of Contact
Don Leo
540-231-9171
Energy @ VThttp://www.research.vt.edu/energy/