Tag Energy
Nuclear engineering research and education pioneer Max Carbon dies at 99
As founding chair of the Department of Nuclear Engineering, Carbon authored "Nuclear Power: Villain or Victim? Our Most Misunderstood Source of Electricity."
New condenser makes water from air, even in the hot sun
Unlike other radiative vapor condensers which can only operate at night, the new design works in direct sunlight and requires no energy input.
UW–Madison recognized for its water- and energy-saving initiatives
The heating and cooling plant improvements stem from an upgraded cleaning system for heat exchangers covering over 50,000 tons of the campus’s central plant chillers.
UW researchers’ evaluation puts MGE net-zero carbon goal on path to limit global warming
If actions similar to the Wisconsin utility's plan were also taken around the world, the researchers say, "it would be effective at keeping the planet under 1.5 degrees warming.”
UW–Madison supports largest solar development in Dane County
The university will purchase half of the energy produced by a 20-megawatt solar array that Madison Gas and Electric plans to build south of Madison.
$11.4M Army grant supports aircraft hybrid-electric engine research at UW–Madison
“While there has been a lot of work done on developing hybrid-electric engines for ground vehicles, there hasn’t been much research on using (them) in aircraft,” says David Rothamer, a mechanical engineering professor.
Merging solar cell and liquid battery produces efficient, long-lasting solar storage
While solar flow batteries are years away from commercialization, they offer the potential to provide reliable electricity generation and storage for lighting, cell phones or other fundamental uses for homes in remote areas.
Federally funded upgrade reenergizes fusion experiment
The goal is to help reduce the cost and complexity of fusion reactors, which could potentially provide an abundant source of clean energy by harnessing the process that powers the sun.
Storing carbon dioxide underground may be feasible for helping achieve climate goals
A new study shows that underground reservoirs currently have capacity to store enough atmospheric carbon dioxide to limit planetary warming to under two degrees Celsius (35.6 degrees Fahrenheit) relative to pre-Industrial temperatures by the year 2100.
Physicists to improve plasma fusion mirror devices with $5 million grant
It will serve as a prototype for the next generation of fusion reactors. "It’s a new look at an older concept using new technology,” says researcher Cary Forest.
Fuel cell advance a breath of fresh air for future power alternative
Engineers at UW–Madison have revealed new insights about the chemical reactions that power fuel cells, which could help lead the way toward longer-lived green energy devices.
Turn off a light, save a life, says new UW–Madison study
We all know that turning off lights and buying energy-efficient appliances saves us money. Now, according to a new study by UW–Madison researchers, we know that saving energy also saves lives.
New fuel cell concept brings biological design to better electricity generation
A new approach addresses the high cost of fuel cells, which is one reason that there are only a few thousand vehicles running on hydrogen fuel currently on U.S. roads.
Solar cell, married to liquid battery, achieves record efficiency
The technology Professor Song Jin is advancing – unifying solar electricity generation with storage – could first be used in off-grid, standalone energy systems.
New generation: Unique technology could turbocharge electrical efficiency
Mechanical engineering Professor Sage Kokjohn is developing technology roughly twice as efficient as conventional fossil fuel-based power plants, which would provide more environmentally friendly power.
Chemistry professor awarded prestigious Steenbock Professorship
In addition to advancing fundamental science, Shannon Stahl has been involved in numerous industrial collaborations that have led to practical applications and has been recognized nationally for his contributions to "green chemistry."
Pulling needles out of haystacks: With computation, researchers identify promising solid oxide fuel cell materials
Using advanced computational methods, UW–Madison materials scientists have discovered new materials that could bring widespread commercial use of solid oxide fuel cells closer to reality.
Report: Focusing on advanced energy sensors and controls could mean 44,000 jobs for Wisconsin
With targeted investments and forward-looking policies, Wisconsin could capitalize on its strengths in sensors and controls for the advanced energy industry to drive economic growth and support over 44,000 jobs annually.
Healthy competition makes habit of sustainability
A new analysis shows lasting reductions in electricity use among hundreds of players of the Cool Choices game, which uses friendly competition to get energy-saving habits to sink in.
UW awarded $12.5 million to study astrophysical plasma here on Earth
The new Wisconsin Plasma Physics Laboratory, or WiPPL, will research fundamental properties of plasma in order to better understand our universe, where the hot gas is abundant.