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BP awards UD multimillion-dollar renewable energy research grants The partnership with the University of Delaware includes a BP Solar donation of equipment valued at $1.5 million and a $1.35 million grant to the Institute of Energy Conversion (IEC) in support of its solar energy research program. With the grant, BP Solar and UD commemorate working together on a variety of renewable energy projects spanning 20 years. I have made it one of my goals to make Delaware a center of fuel cell and other clean energy research, knowing that it is an industry poised for tremendous demand and growth in the coming years, Minner said. This investment by BP complements the investments of state funds that I have proposed in fuel cells and moves Delaware closer to the forefront of this vital research. UD President David P. Roselle said the University and BP are working together to deliver a substantial increase in the global share of renewable energy sources in our world. The relationship between BP and UD has been a good and strong one, and we feel confident about the possibilities for the new program supported by BP, which couples the thin-film technology base of our Institute of Energy Conversion with improving BPs current commercial crystalline silicon modules, Roselle said. Roselle said more than 125 students have earned their masters and doctoral degrees at UD, conducting their research projects at the IEC, the only University Center of Excellence supported by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory. DSU President Allen L. Sessoms said the hydrogen storage material project is a good fit for the research capabilities of the DSU Department of Chemistry. I am pleased that DSU is playing such an important role in looking at clean energy sources for the state of Delaware and the nation, Sessoms said. This research program will benefit from the ongoing energy-related research currently being conducted at DSU, all of which are consistent with our institutions position as a major research and economic development asset in the state of Delaware. Andrew Goudy, professor and chair of the chemistry department at Delaware State University, has been involved in such energy-related research for more than 25 years. He said the DSU research would investigate a hydrogen storage alternative that could hold more of the gas than the traditional materials currently in use. Our research will explore how certain complex hydrides known as alanates could be used for lightweight hydrogen storage, Goudy said. Over the next three years, we will research the efficiency of this new prospect, which could result in cleaner and less expensive fuel alternatives. Robert Birkmire, director of UDs Institute of Energy Conversion, said the solar project is aimed at improving the efficiency of solar cells by merging designs. The research program is a strong one primarily because were looking at taking best-in-class technology and going beyond it, he said. Secondly, within 12-18 months, we expect to see some milestones that we can begin integrating into our manufacturing process. And lastly, the research also should show us how to reduce processing steps, while using lower temperatures to do so. All of this adds up to higher efficiency cells and lower costs, and thats a winning combination. UD is one of two U.S. Department of Energy centers of excellence in the area of solar energy. As such, it has a critical mass of equipment, experience and people who have been there for many years. BP Foundation is a global entity funded by gifts from BP p.l.c. These agreements with UD and DSU are the latest in a series of partnerships with universities in the United Kingdom, the United States and China, representing a total commitment of more than $100 million. BP is one of one of the worlds leading energy companies, employing more than 100,000 and operating in 104 countries. BPs Gas, Power and Renewables division was created as part of BPs transformation into one of the worlds largest natural gas producers, in response to the global trend to use cleaner energy sources. The division is also responsible for BPs growing business activities in renewable and alternative energy, hosting one of the worlds largest solar manufacturing and marketing businesses in BP Solar, as well as emerging wind and hydrogen activities. To learn more, visit [www.bpsolar.com]. To learn how to subscribe to UDaily, click here. |