What does it really mean to change the game in energy technologies? Not to change a single game – as with a last-second shot at the buzzer, a Hail Mary pass, or a diving catch to close out the inning – but to transform the entire game, with new rules, new technologies, and often-unexpected new results.
In the National Laboratory system, we are working on new energy technologies that could transform the ways we generate, store and use energy, and that could protect our environment while recharging our national economy. But as we tackle the fundamental scientific research we need to discover and develop disruptive new energy technologies, it’s worthwhile to ask: What does game-changing technology look like, and what are currently our best prospects for game changers?
The U.S. Department of Energy (DoE) hosted a renewable energy tax equity seminar recently at the White House. The seminar was designed to promote private sector investment in tax equity partnerships for solar, wind and other renewable energy projects. Since the 2008 economic crisis, financing available for renewable energy projects has been limited as the renewable tax equity markets have been very slow to recover.
World-wide energy consumption is expected to increase by 40% over the next 20 years, and it is not exactly clear where all this additional energy is going to come from. Equally as puzzling is the surprising fact that most of the energy we produce is lost to the atmosphere as waste heat.
So far, there have been very few compelling solutions for capturing this waste heat and turning it back into useable energy.
The accepted proposal for 'Modular Process Equipment for Low Cost Manufacturing of High Capacity Prismatic Li-Ion Cell' Alloy Anodes aims to develop a new class of high-capacity lithium battery anodes based on an innovative micro-cell porous 3D Cu – Li alloy structure. The technology holds great potential to enable the development of advanced manufacturing prototype modules for fabricating high-capacity Li-ion electrodes in large quantities at a lower cost for vehicle lithium ion batteries.
Applied Materials has a history of supporting the U.S. Department of Energy's Solar Decathlon, an award-winning program that challenges 20 collegiate teams to design, build, and operate solar-powered houses that are cost-effective, energy-efficient, and attractive. The winner of the competition is the team that best blends affordability, consumer appeal, and design excellence with optimal energy production and maximum efficiency.
As a leader in scaling green manufacturing, Applied Materials is pleased to sponsor this year's solar decathlon competition in Washington, D.C. and as founding partner to the launch of the first Solar Decathlon in China in 2013.
In recognition of the summer solstice, the day the sun shines in the northern hemisphere for the longest period of time all year, Applied Materials’ president of Solar, Dr. Charlie Gay is hosting an “Ask Me Anything” (AMA) thread on Reddit NOW. Join us.
PBS’ NOVA, the highest rated science series on television and the most watched documentary series on public television, features Applied Materials’ President of Solar, Charlie Gay and the company’s cutting-edge solar technology.
Yesterday I participated on a CIO panel discussion titled, “Cloud Computing… The New Normal?” As part of the Microsoft High Tech Summit 2011, this event gathers luminaries in the high tech industry to discuss the sustained business value realized from innovative IT and business solutions.
A few weeks ago I attended India’s largest solar energy focused business and technology event, SOLARCON India 2010. This was the second year SOLARCON was held in India and I was pleased with the positive energy, momentum and great dialogue around the conference.
From economics and climate change to national security and global politics, energy is the driving force behind most everything on the planet. “Powering the Future,” a four-hour Discovery Channel TV series, premieres this weekend and closely examines where our energy could come from and how we are striving to create a clean, limitless, secure supply of energy.
The Silicon Valley Leadership Group and Stanford’s Precourt Energy Efficiency Center held their annual Energy Summit this past Friday. If I had to characterize the overall sentiment of the Summit, I would say the themes that emerged were: clean energy investment and action are urgently needed; political gridlock is an impediment; and Silicon Valley runs the risk of losing its edge in terms of technological leadership.