NY-BEST Newsletter 2-1-2010

NY-BEST welcomes ten new members since our last update: Cerion Enterprises, Clarkson University, Electrical Power worX Corp, General Motors LLC, KEMA, Sendyne Corp., Syracuse University, University at Buffalo, University of Rochester, and Whiteman Osterman & Hanna LLP. Stay tuned for details on accessing the member portion of the NY-BEST web site which will include a searchable database for testing and characterization capabilities and other features.

NSF recently released its Major Research Instrumentation Program which is described in the funding opportunities section below. We are particularly interested in leveraging this NSF funding to expand research, testing and characterization capabilities for NY-BEST’s members. If you have ideas for a joint NY-BEST / NSF MRI application, please contact jhd@nyserda.org.

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The NY-BEST Organizing Member Meeting to elect the board of directors, adopt bylaws, and discuss future priorities will be held March 9 and 10 at the Hilton Garden Inn in Troy, beginning with a networking reception from 6pm-8pm on March 9 and ending around 3pm on March 10. Rooms can be reserved online at http://troy.HGI.com or by calling (877) STAY-HGI at the discounted rate of $98 using group code “BESG.” Additional meeting details will be sent to all NY-BEST members.

NSF Chemical Structure, Dynamics and Mechanisms
Supports basic, transformative experimental and theoretical research in electronic and molecular structure, structure-activity relationships, dynamic interactions at the molecular level and chemical reaction mechanisms. Two submission windows closing Aug 2, 2010 and Nov 30, 2010.

NSF Mechanics of Materials
Supports fundamental research on solid mechanics including theoretical, analytical, and computational approaches, model-based simulation, and development of constitutive models. Emphasis on fundamental understanding of existing and emerging material and structural systems behavior and techniques that address theoretical basis of multiscale methods. Two submission windows closing Feb 15, 2010 and Oct 1, 2010.

NSF's Major Research Instrumentation Funding
The Major Research Instrumentation Program increases access to shared scientific and engineering instruments for research in institutions of higher education, museums, science centers, and not-for-profit organizations. Up to $4 million can be requested and applications are due April 21, 2010. Ph.D. granting institutions must provide a 30% cost-share.

For more Funding Opportunities click here.

Lithium-Air Batteries and High-Performance Computing

The Department of Energy announced 24 million hours of supercomputing time have been awarded to help develop lithium-air batteries. New York companies and researchers, through NYSTAR, also can gain access to supercomputing time on two of the world’s fastest systems at Brookhaven National Lab/Stony Brook and Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. Visit http://www.nystar.state.ny.us/hpc/About_HPC_Computing_Program.html for assistance.

For more news about New York click here.

20 Battery Startups Hitting the Road With Lithium-ion
A summary of 20 startups working in lithium-ion technology

New Low-Temp Sodium-Sulfur Battery Designed for Residential Power
Ceramatec, in Salt Lake City, has developed a battery based on a solid sodium metal mated to a sulphur compound by a paper-thin ceramic membrane. The company calculates the battery will hold 20 to 40 kWh of energy in a package the size of a refrigerator, operate below 90 degrees C, and deliver a continuous flow of 5 kW of electricity over four hours with a daily charge/discharge cycle and 10-year life.

Digital Quantum Batteries Inspired by Plasma TVs
Plasma TVs are notorious for their excessive use of electricity, but the same principle used to produce high definition pictures in the TVs could result in the development of a new type of battery that would save rather than waste energy.

Global Consultancy Predicts 50% Li-Ion Battery Cost Reduction by 2020
According to the international consultancy firm PRTM, total lithium-ion battery cost reductions could exceed 50% by 2020 and adoption rate for electric vehicle could be 10% of new vehicles sold by 2020. The higher production volume would lead to economies of scale, manufacturing process optimization, and supply chain savings.

Sandia National Lab's Energy Storage Progress Reports
Since the 1970’s, Sandia National Laboratories and the U.S. Department of Energy have been developing energy storage technologies. This link includes a complete listing with abstracts and free download of Sandia’s conference proceedings and technical reports.

ARPA-E Summit, March 1-3, 2010
The US DOE and ARPA-E are hosting an Energy Technology Innovation Showcase highlighting the recent ARPA-E award winners, finalists, and other exciting transformational technologies in Washington on March 1-3. Organizations may submit a Showcase Application to request displaying their technology at the event.

G.M. to Build Its Own Electric Motors for Hybrids
GM will build its own electric drive motors for future hybrid and electric vehicles, making it the first major US automaker to claim in-house design, engineering and manufacturing of this technology. The electric motors will be produced at GM’s transmission plant in White Marsh, Maryland, and would be in the next generation of the Two Mode hybrid system slated for 2013.

House Passes SBIR Continuing Resolution through April 30, 2010
This is the seventh in a series of short-term SBIR continuing resolutions since 2008 and will keep the program running as is through April 30, 2010 as a longer-term SBIR reauthorization agreement is reached. The Department of Defense SBIR program was previously extended separately through September 30, 2010 and is not affected by this CR.

Magna International Seeking Partners for Battery Production
Magna International is looking to strike partnership deals with battery cell manufacturers as it seeks to power a wave of electric vehicles under development with its products. The Canada-based auto supplier is also looking at a number of parts suppliers for potential acquisitions, it reported at the Detroit Auto Show.

For more news from beyond New York State click here.

This news update is provided as a service to members and interested parties of the New York Battery and Energy Storage Technology Consortium. NY-BEST, currently operating under the auspices of NYSERDA, is an industry-led coalition working to build a vibrant, world-class, advanced battery and energy storage sector in New York State.

Your suggestions and comments for future topics are welcome.

Please email suggestions to: info@ny-best.org