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In This Issue
The Foresight Science & Technology Energy
Newsletter
A
Note From Foresight
Economies of
Nano-Scale
“Powering the World with Sunlight” – A White Paper Detailing
the 1st Annual Chemical Sciences and Society Symposium (CS3)
“National Nanotechnology Initiative (NNI) FY2009 Budget
& Highlights.”
“NASA, MSGI Partner for Solar Energy and Nanotechnology.”
“Nanotechnology Safety Research Funding on the Up.”
“Venture Capital Funding Quarterly: Alternative Energy •
Clean Technology • Energy • Environmental, 2nd Quarter, 2009.”
www.ForesightST.com
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http://doecapreg.foresightst.com
Register for the DOE SBIR TAP Portal!
www.T2Plus2.com
Site of Foresight’s unique, comprehensive
web-based technology commercialization service, T2+2™.
http://batteries.foresightst.com
Foresight’s portal dedicated to advanced
batteries and ultracapacitors, sponsored by the Department of Energy.
http://www.ForesightST.com
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A Note From Foresight Science & Technology
Nanotechnology
is hot, there is no doubt about it. But for many of us, it is still just a
concept- very small stuff that can do a lot of big things. Until recently,
this vague understanding was enough, because nanotechnology had yet to
transition from the lab to the commercial markets in a significant way.
Today, however, the applications for nanotechnology are mushrooming, and the
energy industry is beginning to benefit greatly from the improvements that
are possible with this very small stuff. Below you will find an introduction
to some of the ways that nanotechnology is being used in the energy industry,
as well as some of the concerns raised by its use.
And
please remember, as a registered user of the DOE SBIR TAP portal, you have
access to market research, training and tools available nowhere else that
will be extremely helpful to you in writing SBIR proposals and
commercializing technologies. To access the portal, all you have to do is go
to www.T2Plus2.com.
If you have forgotten your username and/or password, please contact me
directly at matt.wool@foresightst.com.
Enjoy
the newsletter!
Matt
Wool
VP,
Software & Internet Products
Foresight
Science & Technology
Economies of Nano-Scale
A Look into the Role of Nanotechnology in the Energy
Industry
The
creation of nano-engineered materials that are strong, lightweight, and boast
environmentally resistant properties promises to greatly improve how energy
is stored and utilized. Nanotechnology is not only helping to facilitate the
creation of stronger and lighter structural components, but is also aiding in
the development of lightweight fuel cells, nanoporous filters, improved
coatings for corrosion and thermal protection, and extended battery
lifecycles and discharge rates. From renewables to transportation to oil and
gas exploration to coal-fired power plants, nanotechnology has the potential
to greatly enhance efficacy and efficiency across the energy sector.
In
renewable energy, nanomaterials are being sought to improve the
cost-to-performance ratio of alternative energy generation in the long term.
As a result, further nanotechnology development is expected to be a key
driver in the renewable energy marketplace. For instance, the use of
nano-composites will allow for the creation of lighter and more robust
turbine blades that increase operational lifetime, suffer less fatigue
failure, and ultimately lower the cost of energy generation. Nanotechnology
may also play an important role in the development of geothermal energy
systems, as it has the potential to enhance thermal conductivity and create
noncorrosive materials, increasing the energy efficiency and reliability of
geothermal energy production.
While
there is certainly much hype surrounding nanotechnology in the renewables
arena, it also holds great promise for enhancing traditional fossil-fuel
based power sources such as coal-fired power plants. For instance,
development is underway to create stronger coatings for ultra-supercritical
boilers in coal-fired power plants, enabling them to operate at temperatures
close to 1,400°F, which can lead to efficiency gains of 8% to 10% and result
in an almost 30% reduction in greenhouse gases. Applications are also being
found in the oil and gas industry, where vital equipment can utilize
nano-coatings to improve surface hardness and reduce friction, thus reducing
the need for regular maintenance or replacement.
Despite
these positive developments, challenges remain for the successful
proliferation of nanotechnology in the energy sector. For example, there are
uncertainties regarding the potential health and environmental effects of
exposure to nano-engineered materials. These concerns are exacerbated by the
lack of a strong fundamental understanding of the nature and behavior of
these materials. Furthermore, nanotechnology requires robust capital
investment in order to bring production to commercial or industrial scale
and, as of today, only a few nanotechnology companies have actually turned a
profit. This may change, however, thanks to recent developments in
manufacturing techniques, which have led to a decline in the price of
single-walled carbon nanotubes. These nanotubes, which cost around
$1,000/gram a few years ago, now run about $100/gram. Further economies of
scale are likely as companies such as Bayer Materials ramp up carbon nanotube
production. Bayer is set to increase manufacture from 60 tons of carbon
nanotubes in 2007 to 3,000 tons in 2012.
With
increasing public and governmental demand for greater energy efficiency and
environmentally friendly solutions to energy problems, and with worldwide
energy use estimated to grow 50% by 2030, the ongoing development of
nano-based energy solutions couldn’t have come at a more opportune time.
Although the market is still in an emerging phase, increased public and
private R&D activity will likely help to continue transitioning nanotechnology
out of the lab and into commercial and industrial energy applications as
firms such as Industrial Nanotech, NanoDynamics, Nanosys, and Nanosteel,
among others, vie for increased return on investment and market share.
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