go-sei

Powering Up

admin — Tue, 20 May 2025 16:08:48 +0000

Powering Up admin Tue, 05/20/2025 - 12:08

For 20 years, Georgia Tech’s Strategic Energy Institute (SEI) has brought together campus researchers who collectively develop better ways to meet the energy needs of today and tomorrow.

These days, that amounts to more than 1,000 people. Georgia Tech faculty are creating advanced communications and information systems, sensing and control approaches, and transmission and energy storage technologies that will make the nation’s power distribution systems more efficient and cost-effective. Their research also focuses on integrating renewable energy sources and electric vehicles.

“As the nation’s largest technologically focused university, Georgia Tech is playing an integral role in developing solutions that enable more equitable, lower cost, and cleaner generation, storage, distribution, and utilization of energy,” said Tim Lieuwen, Georgia Tech’s interim executive vice president for research. Lieuwen knows SEI better than anyone: he had been its executive director since 2012 until stepping in this summer as interim leader of Tech’s entire research enterprise.

“Georgia Tech researchers are not just helping to create cleaner, more efficient fuel options or mitigate the environmental impact of conventional energy supplies. They also are creating better performing, more economically viable energy options,” he said.

The work at SEI and across Georgia Tech has helped make the state of Georgia one of the nation’s leaders in clean energy, battery technology, and energy sustainability. It’s attracting numerous companies to invest in research and development in the state, including Hyundai, SK Battery America, and solar panel maker Qcells.

Read Full Article on the College of Engineering Webpage

Subtitle

Our researchers are creating new technologies that pollute less and store more energy — while also ensuring the manufacturing process is clean.

Summary sentence

Our researchers are creating new technologies that pollute less and store more energy — while also ensuring the manufacturing process is clean.

Summary

For 20 years, Georgia Tech’s Strategic Energy Institute (SEI) has brought together campus researchers who collectively develop better ways to meet the energy needs of today and tomorrow.

Dateline

Mon, 12/09/2024 - 12:00

Contact

Jason Maderer (maderer@gatech.edu)
Director of Communications, College of Engineering

Associated importer

Keywords

go-sei

Categories

Energy

Research

Mercury ID

679724

Source updated

Fri, 01/17/2025 - 17:51

Faces of Research - Meet Tim Lieuwen

admin — Tue, 20 May 2025 16:08:48 +0000

Faces of Research - Meet Tim Lieuwen admin Tue, 05/20/2025 - 12:08

Meet Tim Lieuwen, executive director of the Strategic Energy Institute (SEI).

SEI is one of Georgia Tech's 10 interdisciplinary research institutes within the Georgia Tech Research enterprise.

What is your field of expertise and why did you choose it?

I work in fluid mechanics, combustion, and acoustics. These disciplines lie right at the intersection of what makes energy systems work.  I absolutely love doing research and my research areas – making fire, saving the planet, pointing lasers and high-speed cameras at complex facilities, what more could you ask for?

What makes the way in which SEI enables campus energy research unique?

Georgia Tech has over 300 faculty and 1000 researchers working on energy.  The key role of SEI is to promote this work, build communities across campus, and assist in developing greater resources through larger federal and corporate opportunities. One of the things I like most about this job, is that my success is measured by that of the Georgia Tech team as a whole- and it is an extremely high performing team!

What couldn’t have happened without SEI?

Georgia Tech’s energy innovations have had an enormous footprint – solar cells, artificial intelligence for optimizing complex energy systems and energy storage, just to name a few.  SEI works hard to make faculty aware of external opportunities with the government and companies, and to develop and frame issues that we think are important. I personally spend a lot of time working with organizations across campus developing corporate connections, national lab connections and federal connections to help build the success of SEI.

What impact is Georgia Tech energy research having on the world?

Georgia Tech energy research has had a huge impact on virtually every part of the energy ecosystem – both in terms of generation of power, transmitting/moving/storing energy to users, and the consumption of energy.  In addition to technologies and basic science, our systems level perspectives that incorporate policy, economics, and human behavior have been critical in framing national thinking about deployment of renewables.  Our faculty have developed IP, started up nationally leading companies, and have created crucial partnerships in developing and deploying these innovations.

What do you like to do in your spare time when you are not working on your research or teaching?

I enjoy the outdoors and particularly enjoy trail running, rock climbing and gardening. I also love woodworking and spending time with my wife and four daughters.

Summary sentence

Meet Tim Lieuwen, executive director of the Strategic Energy Institute (SEI).

Summary

Meet Tim Lieuwen, executive director of the Strategic Energy Institute (SEI).

SEI is one of Georgia Tech's 10 interdisciplinary research institutes within the Georgia Tech Research enterprise.

Dateline

Sat, 08/21/2021 - 12:00

Associated importer

Keywords

go-sei

Categories

Energy

Research

Mercury ID

676594

Source updated

Fri, 09/06/2024 - 14:18

Juan-Pablo Correa-Baena Receives $1M NSF Grant to Study Recycling of Perovskite Solar Cells

admin — Mon, 19 May 2025 13:46:41 +0000

Juan-Pablo Correa-Baena Receives $1M NSF Grant to Study Recycling of Perovskite Solar Cells admin Mon, 05/19/2025 - 09:46

We have a problem with our current solar cells. They were built with very little thought towards end-of-life. Current solar panels tend to last twenty to thirty years. As those solar panels start to age, we are left with the challenge to think about how to recycle them. When the National Science Foundation (NSF) put out an interdisciplinary challenge for clean energy, Dr. Correa-Baena, Dr. Naomi Deneke, and Dr. Ilke Celik partnered to write a proposal to tackle recycling of perovskite solar cells.

Read Full Story on the MSE website.

Summary sentence

When the National Science Foundation (NSF) put out an interdisciplinary challenge for clean energy, Dr. Correa-Baena, Dr. Naomi Deneke, and Dr. Ilke Celik partnered to write a proposal to tackle recycling of perovskite solar cells.

Summary

Dateline

Tue, 08/27/2024 - 12:00

Contact

Caitlin Anderson

Associated importer

Keywords

go-sei

Categories

Energy

Mercury ID

676347

Source updated

Wed, 08/28/2024 - 14:07

The 2025 Southeastern Energy Conference: A Transformative Experience at Georgia Tech

dgivens8 — Wed, 19 Mar 2025 03:37:54 +0000

The 2025 Southeastern Energy Conference: A Transformative Experience at Georgia Tech dgivens8 Tue, 03/18/2025 - 23:37

The 2025 Southeastern Energy Conference, Georgia Tech’s annual student-led energy and sustainability conference, took place from Feb. 28 to March 1, 2025. Organized by the Energy Club at Georgia Tech, the conference welcomed over 100 attendees, including industry leaders, policymakers, researchers, and students, fostering dynamic discussions on the future of energy. The theme for this year’s conference, "Going Global: Energy’s Place on the World Stage," highlighted the international nature of energy challenges and solutions, emphasizing collaboration across borders.

The event kicked off with a keynote address from Hon. John Tien, who provided thought-provoking insights into the evolving energy landscape. Following the keynote, the first panel of the day, "The Ukraine Energy War: Lessons in Energy Security," featured expert analysis from Anna Mikulsa of the IDA Science and Technology Policy Institute and Gabriel Collins of Rice University’s Baker Institute. The session was moderated by Georgia Tech student Grant Espy. This was followed by a discussion on the role of nuclear energy globally, where Seth Grae, president and CEO of Lightbridge Corporation, and CJ Fong, vice president of Regulatory Affairs at Blue Energy, shared their perspectives, moderated by Anna Schafer, a student at Georgia Tech.

Throughout the day, attendees had the opportunity to engage with representatives from 10 local and regional energy companies through the Industry Showcase. Companies such as GE Vernova, Georgia Power, Kimley-Horn, and the Georgia Cleantech Innovation Hub were present, providing valuable networking and career development opportunities for students and professionals alike. The day concluded with an engaging panel on "The Potential of Clean Hydrogen," featuring insights from industry leaders including Comas Haynes of Georgia Tech's Strategic Energy Institute, Hayley Ryan of ExxonMobil, Luis Alcoser of Chevron Technology Ventures, and Scott McWhorter of the Southeast Hydrogen Energy Alliance, moderated by Eli Acree, a student at Georgia Tech.

The second day of the conference opened with a keynote speech from Tim Lieuwen, executive vice president for Research at Georgia Tech, who laid out what a carbon-neutral future could truly look like in energy. The "Cybersecurity for Energy Systems" panel brought together Seymour E. Goodman of Georgia Tech, Jake Braun of the University of Chicago, Juan Villarreal of Villarreal Energy, and Forrest Shriver of Sentinel Devices to discuss the challenges and solutions in securing energy infrastructure. Following that, the "Applications of Solar Microgrids" panel moderated by John Blankenhorn, a Ph.D. candidate at Georgia Tech, featured expert perspectives from Letian Dou of Purdue University, Ben Ollis of Oak Ridge National Laboratory, and Raymond Hill of Emory University’s Goizueta Business School.

One of the standout moments of the conference was the Student Symposium, where seven student researchers had the opportunity to present their work, competing for $500 in prize money. Projects explored topics ranging from photocatalysts to heat-driven desalination to thermal batteries for buildings.

The final panel of the event, "Scaled Sustainable Development," moderated by Conference Chair Sam Woolsey, a student at Georgia Tech, featured Jonathan Elkind of Columbia University’s Center on Global Energy Policy, Miguel Granier of the Cox Cleantech Accelerator, and Hon. Jobeth Lillian Coleby-Davis, Minister of Energy & Transport for the Government of the Bahamas.

Faculty Advisor Dan Molzahn also praised the conference, stating, "I've been incredibly impressed by the student organizers in pulling together such a remarkable and well-executed event. Given all the change occurring in the world today around energy, the students' foresight to focus on this topic by bringing in a broad range of experts was a huge benefit to the Georgia Tech community."

Reflecting on the success of the event, Sam Woolsey shared, "I was honored to serve as Energy Club's 2025 Conference Chair and to see the conference so positively received. It was a pleasure to see the ways this year's conference encouraged Georgia Tech engineers to get out of their comfort zone and discuss the policy and international affairs of energy."

The 11th annual Southeastern Energy Conference set a high standard for future student-led initiatives in energy and sustainability at Georgia Tech, fostering meaningful discussions and connections that will continue shaping the field. With a diverse lineup of experts, engaging panels, and invaluable networking opportunities, this event demonstrated Georgia Tech’s leadership in fostering innovative discussions on global energy challenges. The Energy Club extends its heartfelt thanks to all speakers, panelists, industry representatives, and attendees for making this conference a success. Stay tuned for future events and continued conversations on the evolving energy landscape!

Written by: Energy Conference Committee Members: Braden Queen, Eli Acree, Sam Woolsey, Anna Schafer, Grant Espy, John Blankenhorn

Summary sentence

Organized by the Energy Club at Georgia Tech, the 2025 Southeastern Energy Conference welcomed over 100 attendees, including industry leaders, policymakers, researchers, and students, fostering dynamic discussions on the future of energy.

Summary

Dateline

Tue, 03/18/2025 - 12:00

priya.devarajan@research.gatech.edu

Contact

News Contact: Priya Devarajan || SEI Communications Program Manager

Written by: Energy Conference Committee Members: Braden Queen, Eli Acree, Sam Woolsey, Anna Schafer, Grant Espy, John Blankenhorn

Associated importer

Keywords

go-sei

Categories

Research

Student Honors and Achievements

Student Research

Mercury ID

681217

Source updated

Tue, 03/18/2025 - 23:37

From Ideas to Solutions: Georgia Tech's First Energy and Sustainability Hackathon

dgivens8 — Tue, 28 Jan 2025 21:09:41 +0000

From Ideas to Solutions: Georgia Tech's First Energy and Sustainability Hackathon dgivens8 Tue, 01/28/2025 - 16:09

EnergyHack @GT, Georgia Tech’s inaugural student-run energy and sustainability hackathon, kicked off Jan. 17-19, 2025. Organized by the Energy Club at Georgia Tech, the mission of the hackathon was to unite passionate students to tackle critical challenges in the energy industry while fostering innovation and collaboration.

Over the course of 36 hours, participants collaborated in teams to brainstorm, design, and prototype projects that promote sustainable practices based on diverse problem statements, addressing this year’s tracks: energy storage, energy security, and decarbonization. These themes targeted urgent issues, from balancing renewable energy supply and demand to safeguarding infrastructure against cyber threats and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The projects were evaluated by a panel of judges.

Along with showcasing keynote speeches and educational workshops, the event culminated with the top three teams winning cash prizes. With more than 100 registered participants, 17 project submissions, and leaders from some of the biggest energy and tech companies, EnergyHack @GT successfully fostered collaboration and showcased the potential of student-driven solutions for advancements in energy and sustainability.

“The inaugural student-led EnergyHack was a tremendous success, and I am incredibly proud of the committee members for turning this brilliant idea into an outstanding event,” Dan Molzahn, assistant professor in the School of Electrical and Computer Engineering and faculty advisor for the Energy Club, said. “Their dedication and hard work truly brought this vision to life, fostering innovation and collaboration within the vibrant Georgia Tech student community.”

The event kicked off with an engaging opening ceremony featuring inspiring keynote speeches that set the tone for the hackathon’s ambitious objectives. Jessica Roberts, assistant professor in the School of Interactive Computing, shared insights into models used to track coal pollution sources and their dispersion across the United States. Steve Hummel, senior vice president at Chart Industries, discussed how artificial intelligence (AI) is reshaping demand projections and driving diversification in generation portfolios. Following the presentations, participants joined a dynamic team mixer to form diverse, multidisciplinary teams and networked with professionals from Kimley-Horn in a dedicated session.

Throughout the hackathon, participants had access to expert-led workshops and mentorship. A session on "Machine Learning (ML) and AI for Materials Screening and Discovery" by Victor Fung, assistant professor in the School of Computational Science and Engineering, explored the role of AI in advancing sustainable materials. A meet and greet with keynote speakers allowed participants to engage in thought-provoking discussions on energy and sustainability issues.

The energy and creativity peaked during the Project Expo, where 17 innovative solutions were showcased. Representatives from NVIDIA, GE Vernova, and other industry leaders reviewed projects, offering insights and feedback.

The closing ceremony celebrated the participants’ achievements and the event highlights, featuring a keynote by Priya Donti, assistant professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology's Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science and Laboratory for Information and Decision Systems, and founder of Climate Change AI, on using AI to combat climate change and to build sustainability solutions.

EnergyHack @GT served as a platform for innovation and learning, showcasing the potential of student-led initiatives in shaping the future of energy and sustainability. Awards were presented to the top three projects that stood out for their creativity and impact:

Best Overall Hack: Watts The Power, a project that predicts the energy and environmental impact of training ML models, earned the team a $250 cash prize.
Second Place: EcoTokens, a Chrome extension designed to reduce token usage in AI tools to save energy, won a $150 prize.
Third Place: Eco Charge, an electric vehicle charging optimizer designed to minimize CO₂ emissions, secured a $100 prize.

Summary sentence

EnergyHack @GT, Georgia Tech’s inaugural student-run energy and sustainability hackathon, kicked off Jan. 17-19, 2025.

Summary

EnergyHack @GT, Georgia Tech’s inaugural student-run energy and sustainability hackathon, kicked off Jan. 17-19, 2025. Organized by the Energy Club at Georgia Tech, the mission of the hackathon was to unite passionate students to tackle critical challenges in the energy industry while fostering innovation and collaboration.

Dateline

Tue, 01/28/2025 - 12:00

priya.devarajan@research.gatech.edu

Contact

News Contact: Priya Devarajan || SEI Communications Program Manager

Written By: Braden Queen, Tejaswi Manoj, May Ming
Acknowledgments/Contributions by: Victoria Pozzi, Max Zhang, Eli Acree, Radhika Sharma

Associated importer

Keywords

go-sei

Categories

Research

Special Events and Guest Speakers

Student and Faculty

Student Competition WInners (academic, innovation, and research)

Mercury ID

680032

Source updated

Tue, 01/28/2025 - 16:09

Regents’ Professor Tim Lieuwen to Serve as Georgia Tech’s Interim EVPR

admin — Tue, 30 Jul 2024 13:30:49 +0000

Regents’ Professor Tim Lieuwen to Serve as Georgia Tech’s Interim EVPR admin Tue, 07/30/2024 - 09:30

Timothy Lieuwen has been appointed interim executive vice president for Research (EVPR) by Georgia Tech President Ángel Cabrera, effective September 10.

Lieuwen is a Regents’ Professor, the David S. Lewis, Jr. Chair in the Daniel Guggenheim School of Aerospace Engineering, and executive director of the Strategic Energy Institute. His research interests range from clean energy and propulsion systems to energy policy, national security, and regional economic development. He works closely with industry and government to address fundamental problems and identify solutions in the development of clean energy systems and alternative fuels.

A proud Georgia Tech alumnus, Lieuwen (M.S. ME 1997, Ph.D. ME 1999) has had a remarkable academic career. He is a member of the National Academy of Engineering and is a fellow of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, the American Physical Society, the Combustion Institute, and the Indian National Academy of Engineering (foreign fellow). He has received numerous awards, including the ASME George Westinghouse Gold Medal and the AIAA Pendray Award. He serves on governing or advisory boards of three Department of Energy national labs: Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory and was appointed by the U.S. Secretary of Energy to the National Petroleum Council.

Lieuwen has authored or edited four books on combustion and over 400 scientific publications. He also holds nine patents, several of which are licensed to industry, and is founder of an energy analytics company, Turbine Logic, where he acts as chief technology officer.

In Lieuwen’s appointment announcement, President Cabrera said, “Tim’s extensive experience and knowledge of Georgia Tech makes him uniquely suited to lead our research enterprise as we search for a permanent EVPR. I am grateful for his willingness to serve the Institute during this period of remarkable growth, and I look forward to working with him and the rest of the team.”

Summary sentence

Lieuwen will begin his term as interim EVPR on September 10, 2024.

Summary

Lieuwen will begin his term as interim EVPR on September 10, 2024.

Dateline

Tue, 07/30/2024 - 12:00

shelley.wunder-smith@research.gatech.edu

Contact

Shelley Wunder-Smith
Director of Research Communications

Associated importer

Keywords

go-researchnews

go-sei

go-COE

News room topics

Campus and Community

Categories

Aerospace

Energy

Institute Leadership

Research

Mercury ID

675680

Source updated

Tue, 07/30/2024 - 09:30

Georgia Tech EVPR Chaouki Abdallah Named President of Lebanese American University

admin — Tue, 25 Jun 2024 19:45:41 +0000

Georgia Tech EVPR Chaouki Abdallah Named President of Lebanese American University admin Tue, 06/25/2024 - 15:45

Chaouki Abdallah, Georgia Tech’s executive vice president for Research (EVPR), has been named the new president of the Lebanese American University in Beirut.

Abdallah, MSECE 1982, Ph.D. ECE 1988, has served as EVPR since 2018; in this role, he led extraordinary growth in Georgia Tech’s research enterprise. Through the work of the Georgia Tech Research Institute, 10 interdisciplinary research institutes (IRIs) and a broad portfolio of faculty research, Georgia Tech now stands at No. 17 in the nation in research expenditures — and No. 1 among institutions without a medical school.

Additionally, Abdallah has also overseen Tech’s economic development activities through the Enterprise Innovation Institute and such groundbreaking entrepreneurship programs as CREATE-X, VentureLab, and the Advanced Technology Development Center.

Under Abdallah's strategic, thoughtful leadership, Georgia Tech strengthened its research partnerships with historically Black colleges and universities, launched the New York Climate Exchange with a focus on accelerating climate change solutions, established an AI Hub to boost research and commercialization in artificial intelligence, advanced biomedical research (including three research awards from ARPA-H), and elevated the Institute’s annual impact on Georgia’s economy to a record $4.5 billion.

Prior to Georgia Tech, Abdallah served as the 22nd president of the University of New Mexico (UNM), where he also had been provost, executive vice president of academic affairs, and chair of the electrical and computer engineering department. At UNM, he oversaw long-range academic planning, student success initiatives, and improvements in retention and graduation rates.

A national search will be conducted for Abdallah’s replacement. In the coming weeks, President Ángel Cabrera will name an interim EVPR.

Summary sentence

Abdallah will serve as LAU's 10th president.

Summary

Abdallah will serve as LAU's 10th president.

Dateline

Tue, 06/25/2024 - 12:00

Contact

Shelley Wunder-Smith

Associated importer

Keywords

go-researchnews

go-ien

go-imat

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go-rbi

go-bbiss

go-ipat

go-bio

go-irim

go-ideas

go-gtmi

go-ai

News room topics

Campus and Community

Categories

Institute and Campus

Institute Leadership

Research

Mercury ID

675234

Source updated

Tue, 06/25/2024 - 15:44

SEI and EPICenter Announce James G. Campbell Fellowship and Spark Awards Recipients

dgivens8 — Fri, 22 Mar 2024 14:56:41 +0000

SEI and EPICenter Announce James G. Campbell Fellowship and Spark Awards Recipients dgivens8 Fri, 03/22/2024 - 10:56

The Strategic Energy Institute (SEI) of Georgia Tech is excited to announce that Bettina Arkhurst is the 2023 recipient of the James G. Campbell Fellowship Award. Arkhurst’s commitment to academics, research, and community service has been recognized by the award committee. She is a Ph.D. candidate advised by Katherine Fu, professor in the George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering.

Arkhurst holds a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from Massachusetts Institute of Technology and a master’s degree in mechanical engineering from Georgia Tech. Her research seeks to understand how concepts of energy justice can be applied to renewable energy technology design to better consider marginalized and vulnerable populations. She strives to create frameworks and tools for mechanical engineers to apply as they design energy technologies for all communities.

As an energy equity intern at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Arkhurst has worked with colleagues to better understand the role of researchers and engineers in the pursuit of a more just clean energy transition. She is also a leader in the Woodruff School’s graduate student mental health committee, which seeks to improve the culture around graduate student mental health and well-being. Additionally, Arkhurst is working with the Georgia Tech Center for Sustainable Communities Research and Education (SCoRE) to develop a course on community engagement and engineering that will launch in Spring 2024.

The Energy, Policy, and Innovation Center (EPICenter) and the Strategic Energy Institute are proud to announce the 2023 Spark Award recipients: Jake Churchill, Jordan R. Hale, Andrew G. Hill, Henry J. Kantrow, Emily Marshall, and Jacob W Tjards. The award honors outstanding leadership in advancing student engagement in energy research.

Churchill is a master’s student in mechanical engineering advised by Akanksha Menon, assistant professor in the Woodruff School. Working with Menon in the Water-Energy Research Lab, his research focuses on coupling reverse osmosis desalination with renewable energy and storage technologies to provide clean, sustainable, and affordable water in the face of growing global water stress. Churchill has led the Georgia Tech Energy Club’s Solar District Cup team for three years, guiding students interested in solar energy careers. He has also been involved with several SEI initiatives, including EPICenter’s high school summer camp, Energy Unplugged. He is currently facilitating a student-led study to quantify the benefits of cleaning photovoltaic panels using the rooftop array at the Carbon Neutral Energy Solutions Lab.

Hale is pursuing a Ph.D. in chemistry, specializing in theoretical and computational chemistry under Joshua Kretchmer, assistant professor in the School of Chemistry and Biochemistry. His current research focus is utilizing various quantum dynamics formalisms and unique computational techniques to identify the microscopic mechanisms of electron transport in perovskite solar cells. Hale has mentored high school students, teaching them the fundamentals of computational chemistry and various programming skills. Additionally, he has been actively engaged with undergraduate students from other universities both in and out of Georgia through the Summer Theoretical and Computational Chemistry workshop.

Hill is a Ph.D. candidate in the Soper Lab in the School of Chemistry and Biochemistry. His research is focused on the activation of strong chemical bonds using Earth-abundant metals for energy conversion and storage. He has taken an active leadership role on campus, in part through service as the president of the Georgia Tech Chemistry Graduate Student Forum.

Marshall is a second-year graduate student working for Alan Doolittle, professor in the School of Electrical and Computer Engineering. She uses specialized molecular beam epitaxy techniques to grow high-quality III-nitride materials for next-generation power, radio frequency, and optoelectronic devices. Her current research focuses on improving the fundamental understanding of the scandium catalytic effect to optimize the growth of scandium aluminum nitride, a material that shows great promise for applications in future power grids. In addition to her research, Marshall is committed to teaching, having volunteered for five semesters serving her fellow students as a peer instructor at the Hive Makerspace and currently training junior members of her lab to grow semiconductors via molecular beam epitaxy. After earning her master’s and Ph.D., she hopes to continue teaching, mentoring, and connecting others across the world in an effort to bring about a brighter future.

Kantrow is a Ph.D. candidate in the School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, co-advised by Natalie Stingelin and Carlos Silva. His research seeks to understand the photo physics of semiconducting polymers operating in dynamic dielectric environments and to provide material design guidelines for solar fuel technologies. He is an active student leader in the Center for Soft Photo-Electrochemical Systems, where he also serves on the energy justice committee. He served as the secretary of the Association for Chemical Engineering Graduate Students (AChEGS) in 2022 and continues to mentor first-year graduate students in AChEGS and through the Pride Peers Program at Georgia Tech.

Tjards is a graduate research assistant at Georgia Tech’s Sustainable Thermal Systems Laboratory. He graduated with a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from Georgia Tech in 2021 before beginning his Ph.D. program, where he is studying energy systems. Tjards’ research is focused on modeling new manufacturing processes of drywall and aluminum to reduce water consumption during production. Additionally, he is working on a new technique for water purification. While in school, he has been a teaching assistant and instructor for the undergraduate mechanical engineering course on energy systems analysis and design (ME 4315). In his free time, Tjards enjoys Formula 1 racing, Georgia Tech baseball games, and woodworking.

Subtitle

The 2023 recipients of James G. Campbell Fellowship and Spark Awards are announced.

Summary sentence

SEI and EPICenter Announce 2023 James G. Campbell Fellowship and Spark Awards Recipients

Summary

Dateline

Thu, 11/30/2023 - 12:00

priya.devarajan@research.gatech.edu

Contact

Priya Devarajan | Research Communications Program Manager, SEI

Associated importer

Keywords

go-sei

Categories

Energy

Research

Student and Faculty

Student Honors and Achievements

Student Research

Mercury ID

671313

Source updated

Fri, 03/22/2024 - 09:58

Energy Materials: Driving the Clean Energy Transition

admin — Wed, 20 Mar 2024 16:04:01 +0000

Energy Materials: Driving the Clean Energy Transition admin Wed, 03/20/2024 - 12:04

Energy is everywhere, affecting everything, all the time. And it can be manipulated and converted into the kind of energy that we depend on as a civilization. But transforming this ambient energy (the result of gyrating atoms and molecules) into something we can plug into and use when we need it requires specific materials.

These energy materials — some natural, some manufactured, some a combination — facilitate the conversion or transmission of energy. They also play an essential role in how we store energy, how we reduce power consumption, and how we develop cleaner, efficient energy solutions.

“Advanced materials and clean energy technologies are tightly connected, and at Georgia Tech we’ve been making major investments in people and facilities in batteries, solar energy, and hydrogen, for several decades,” said Tim Lieuwen, the David S. Lewis Jr. Chair and professor of aerospace engineering, and executive director of Georgia Tech’s Strategic Energy Institute (SEI).

That research synergy is the underpinning of Georgia Tech Energy Materials Day (March 27), a gathering of people from academia, government, and industry, co-hosted by SEI, the Institute for Materials (IMat), and the Georgia Tech Advanced Battery Center. This event aims to build on the momentum created by Georgia Tech Battery Day, held in March 2023, which drew more than 230 energy researchers and industry representatives.

“We thought it would be a good idea to expand on the Battery Day idea and showcase a wide range of research and expertise in other areas, such as solar energy and clean fuels, in addition to what we’re doing in batteries and energy storage,” said Matt McDowell, associate professor in the George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering and the School of Materials Science and Engineering (MSE), and co-director, with Gleb Yushin, of the Advanced Battery Center.

Energy Materials Day will bring together experts from academia, government, and industry to discuss and accelerate research in three key areas: battery materials and technologies, photovoltaics and the grid, and materials for carbon-neutral fuel production, “all of which are crucial for driving the clean energy transition,” noted Eric Vogel, executive director of IMat and the Hightower Professor of Materials Science and Engineering.

“Georgia Tech is leading the charge in research in these three areas,” he said. “And we’re excited to unite so many experts to spark the important discussions that will help us advance our nation’s path to net-zero emissions.”

Building an Energy Hub

Energy Materials Day is part of an ongoing, long-range effort to position Georgia Tech, and Georgia, as a go-to location for modern energy companies. So far, the message seems to be landing. Georgia has had more than $28 billion invested or announced in electric vehicle-related projects since 2020. And Georgia Tech was recently ranked by U.S. News & World Report as the top public university for energy research.

Georgia has become a major player in solar energy, also, with the announcement last year of a $2.5 billion plant being developed by Korean solar company Hanwha Qcells, taking advantage of President Biden’s climate policies. Qcells’ global chief technology officer, Danielle Merfeld, a member of SEI’s External Advisory Board, will be the keynote speaker for Energy Materials Day.

“Growing these industry relationships, building trust through collaborations with industry — these have been strong motivations in our efforts to create a hub here in Atlanta,” said Yushin, professor in MSE and co-founder of Sila Nanotechnologies, a battery materials startup valued at more than $3 billion.

McDowell and Yushin are leading the battery initiative for Energy Materials Day and they’ll be among 12 experts making presentations on battery materials and technologies, including six from Georgia Tech and four from industry. In addition to the formal sessions and presentations, there will also be an opportunity for networking.

“I think Georgia Tech has a responsibility to help grow a manufacturing ecosystem,” McDowell said. “We have the research and educational experience and expertise that companies need, and we’re working to coordinate our efforts with industry.”

Marta Hatzell, associate professor of mechanical engineering and chemical and biomolecular engineering, is leading the carbon-neutral fuel production portion of the event, while Juan-Pablo Correa-Baena, assistant professor in MSE, is leading the photovoltaics initiative.

They’ll be joined by a host of experts from Georgia Tech and institutes across the country, “some of the top thought leaders in their fields,” said Correa-Baena, whose lab has spent years optimizing a semiconductor material for solar energy conversion.

“Over the past decade, we have been working to achieve high efficiencies in solar panels based on a new, low-cost material called halide perovskites,” he said. His lab recently discovered how to prevent the chemical interactions that can degrade it. “It’s kind of a miracle material, and we want to increase its lifespan, make it more robust and commercially relevant.”

While Correa-Baena is working to revolutionize solar energy, Hatzell’s lab is designing materials to clean up the manufacturing of clean fuels.

“We’re interested in decarbonizing the industrial sector, through the production of carbon-neutral fuels,” said Hatzell, whose lab is designing new materials to make clean ammonia and hydrogen, both of which have the potential to play a major role in a carbon-free fuel system, without using fossil fuels as the feedstock. “We’re also working on a collaborative project focusing on assessing the economics of clean ammonia on a larger, global scale.”

The hope for Energy Materials Day is that other collaborations will be fostered as industry’s needs and the research enterprise collide in one place — Georgia Tech’s Exhibition Hall — over one day. The event is part of what Yushin called “the snowball effect.”

“You attract a new company to the region, and then another,” he said. “If we want to boost domestic production and supply chains, we must roll like a snowball gathering momentum. Education is a significant part of that effect. To build this new technology and new facilities for a new industry, you need trained, talented engineers. And we’ve got plenty of those. Georgia Tech can become the single point of contact, helping companies solve the technical challenges in a new age of clean energy.”

Summary sentence

Energy materials facilitate the conversion or transmission of energy. They also play an essential role in how we store energy, reduce power consumption, and develop cleaner, efficient energy solutions.

Summary

Dateline

Wed, 02/21/2024 - 12:00

Contact

Jerry Grillo

Associated importer

Keywords

go-researchnews

go-sei

go-ien

cos-research

cos-quantum

News room topics

Earth and Environment

Science and Technology

Categories

Energy

Engineering

Environment

Nanotechnology and Nanoscience

Research

Mercury ID

673098

Source updated

Wed, 03/20/2024 - 12:03

Inside-Out Heating and Ambient Wind Could Make Direct Air Capture Cheaper and More Efficient

admin — Thu, 15 Jun 2023 07:57:57 +0000

Inside-Out Heating and Ambient Wind Could Make Direct Air Capture Cheaper and More Efficient admin Thu, 06/15/2023 - 03:57

What started as a simple errand to deposit a check at a bank drive-through became the kind of “aha” moment found mostly in books and movies.

Georgia Tech researchers had been working on an idea to simplify traditional direct air capture (DAC) systems. Their approach used ambient wind flow to draw air across a new kind of coated carbon fiber to grab CO2. That would eliminate the loud fans used in many systems. And the carbon fiber strands could be quickly heated to release the captured carbon dioxide with minimal heat loss, boosting efficiency.

But they were struggling with how to deploy these new sorbent-coated carbon fibers for maximum effect.

“I had to go deposit a check at the bank, and I went through the drive-through. They had the old pneumatic tubes that come down to transport documents,” said Ryan Lively, Thomas C. DeLoach Professor in Georgia Tech’s School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering (ChBE). “There are not many times you have a light bulb moment in your career, but I saw the tubes and I realized, we could put the fibers in something like a bank teller tube canister.

“That’s pretty much what we did, and it worked.”

Read the full story on the College of Engineering website.

Subtitle

Summary sentence

Chemical engineers use coated carbon fibers and eliminate steam-based heating in their simpler design, which also can be powered by wind energy.

Summary

Chemical engineers use coated carbon fibers and eliminate steam-based heating in their simpler design, which also can be powered by wind energy.

Dateline

Mon, 06/12/2023 - 12:00

jstewart@gatech.edu

Contact

Joshua Stewart
College of Engineering

Associated importer

Keywords

Direct air capture

direct air capture technology

carbon fiber

Ryan Lively

Christopher Jones

Matthew Realff

chemical and biomolecular engineering

go-sei

go-researchnews

News room topics

Earth and Environment

Mercury ID

668077

Source updated

Wed, 06/14/2023 - 14:53