IEE News

IEE to coordinate research that impacts OSU energy grid

The IEE has been asked to serve as a clearinghouse and connector to Facilities and Development for any researcher’s interest in projects that would connect to the energy grid at Ohio State.  If you are working on a research project that could impact any campus energy infrastructure, please contact us for information about proper protocol.

OSU gets a B for campus sustainability efforts

The College Sustainability Report Card recently recognized our improvements in campus sustainability by increasing OSU’s grade from a “C” to a “B.” A significant factor in our increased recognition is the fact that President Gordon Gee signed the American College and University President’s Climate Commitment.

Ohio Research Scholars Proposal Awards

The Third Frontier Commission recommended $10.5 million in funding for the Advanced Energy via Green Industrialization Ohio Research Scholars proposal coordinated by the IEE. This state funding will support the clean coal positions proposed for Ohio State and Ohio University. Support from this proposal will enable the College of Math and Physical Science to hire a world class researcher focused on carbon sequestration and to strengthen its existing partnership with Ohio University in clean coal related activity. In addition, the IEE will coordinate a portion of funding from this proposal for clean coal related capital needs across the campus of Ohio State.

Hybrid Electric Vehicles (PHEV)

The Center for Automotive Research at The Ohio State University has launched a new program focused on Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles (PHEVs), Electric Vehicles (EVs) and intelligent charging.  On July 23, Dr. Giorgio Rizzoni presented “ Personal Mobility in 2027 ” at the Columbus Metropolitan Club that highlighted the visions and goals for this new PHEV program.  Dr. Rizzoni was featured as part of the CMC’s three year forum on energy: “Fueling Ohio’s Future.”  The IEE is a partner in this series.

Third Frontier Proposals Release

The Ohio Department of Development (ODOD) released the Ohio Third Frontier Requests for Proposals for the FY 2009 Wright Project Program. Wright Projects (WP) provides grants to support specifically defined near term commercialization projects requiring major capital acquisitions and improvements at Ohio higher education institutions and non-profit research organizations. Projects must involve one or more Ohio companies and be in the areas of Advanced/Alternative Energy; Advanced Materials; Advanced Propulsion; Biomedical; and Instruments, Controls and Electronics. Letters of intent for Wright Projects are due by 2:00 p.m. Full proposals are due on January 9th.

New Center for Energy Bioscience

Bhavik Bakshi, Co-Director of the Center for Resilience, has formed a partnership with the University Institute of Chemical Technology (UICT) in Mumbai, India to help launch a new Center for Energy Bioscience. UICT and its partners, including OSU and Purdue, have received a grant of approximately $6 million from the Indian government to establish the Center, whose mission is to find new bio-based technologies for reducing India’s growing dependence on petroleum fuels and cut down emission of greenhouse gases.

IEE hosts students from the Ohio Energy Project

Students from West Clermont Local high schools toured the Byrd Polar Research Center, the OSU Nuclear Reactor Laboratory, and received a presentation and hands on look at "The Pod" a senior capstone project to build an entirely solar powered home. The Ohio Energy Project is collaboration of industry, government, and academia dedicated to promote an energy-educated society.

10 Award Recipients of the 2008 IEE Enhancement Grant Program
The IEE is pleased to announce 10 award recipients of the 2008 IEE Enhancement Grant Program. In this year’s competition we received 28 grant proposals requesting a total of $725,000. This level of interest certainly affirms the wealth of talent and knowledge at Ohio State in energy, related environmental research and campus sustainability. Read more >

Energy Frontier
On April 4, the U.S. Department of Energy announced their new “Energy Frontier Research Centers" (EFRCs) funding opportunity to accelerate the rate of scientific breakthroughs needed to create advanced energy technologies for the 21st century. The IEE will be working with the Institute for Materials Research (IMR) at OSU to help organize OSU’s response to this exciting new grant opportunity.

Green Energy Roundtable Discussion
On Monday, April 14, IEE Director Greg Washington, Associate Director Kate Bartter and Vice President and Executive Dean Bobby Moser participated in a green energy roundtable discussion with U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown at the Edison Welding Institute. Senator Brown intends to use the information he received in this roundtable to draft legislation to support green industry development in Ohio. Read more >

Students Compete to Advance Solar Living
The OSU Solar Decathlon Team is part of the Ohio State University Sustainability Team. OSU students and faculty will be one of twenty teams competing to build solar-powered, grid-tied, high performance homes in the 2009 Solar Decathlon. Read more >

OSU and IEE Participate in Statewide Conferences
On April 24, experts from The Ohio State University participated in two statewide conferences related to energy and sustainability. Over 40 OSU faculty, staff and students participated in the “Green Industrialization” workshop sponsored by the University Clean Energy Alliance of Ohio.  IEE Associate Director Kate Bartter, Dr. Fred Michel (FAES) and Solar Decathlon student team leader Lucas Dixon also gave presentations at the 2nd Annual Renewable Energy showcase sponsored by Green Energy Ohio.