NY-BEST Newsletter 4-19-2010

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U.S.-China Clean Energy Research Center DE-FOA-0000324
This funding will support joint research and development of clean energy by teams of scientists and engineers from the U.S. and China, as well as a clearing house to help researchers in each country. Priority research topics include: 1) building energy efficiency; 2) clean coal including carbon capture and storage; and 3) clean vehicles including battery storage. One award of $2.5 million/year for five years is anticipated for each topic.

Procurement for Ignition Units, High-Voltage Capacitor Discharge (SPM7L510R0060)
Pre-solicitation for high voltage capacitors; solicitation will be available on April 23

Procurement for VRLA Automatic Battery Monitoring Systems (N0016410RGS56)
Government requests up to 24 battery monitoring systems for lead acid batteries

For more Funding Opportunities click here.

2010 Conference Proceedings Available/a>
Information from the March 9 & 10, 2010 NY-BEST First Annual Meeting & Conference is now available.

First Quarter Tech Valley Patenting Sky Rockets with National Quarterly Record
NY-BEST member Hoffman Warnick's Patent Index released for first quarter of 2010.

Market Studies Commissioned
NY-BEST has commissioned three competitive market analyses in grid-side energy storage, distributed generation storage, and medium/heavy-duty transportation storage. The studies will be completed in May. Each team includes university MBA and technical students as well as technical and industry advisers. These analyses will be available free of charge for all NY-BEST members on the Market Studies page. 

For more news about NY-BEST and NY-BEST Members click here.

THINK to begin selling city electric car in New York
THINK’s CEO ranked New York City third worldwide on their EV-Ready Cities Index based on the great fit of EVs to city driving and the strength of state and local government support. The lithium-ion battery system is made by Ener1, Inc., headquartered in New York.

ESA study shows 114,000 new jobs possible for Energy Storage with proposed Federal ITC Legislation
NY-BEST member Kema and ESA release new report on industry growth. The current DOE Energy Storage Stimulus Plan is investing $185M to add 535 megawatts of additional storage in the grid from all sources ranging from Compressed Air Energy Storage to flywheels and batteries.

Clarkson University Electric Snowmobile Competes in Clean Snowmobile Competition in Greenland
The snowmobile was one of the top-two zero-emissions winners last month at the 2010 SAE Clean Snowmobile Challenge. As a result, Clarkson has been invited to bring the snowmobile to the Summit Station in Greenland, where the National Science Foundation is conducting atmospheric research. The NSF uses electric snowmobiles while conducting research in pristine arctic locations.

NYSERDA Entrepreneurs-In-Residence Program
NYSERDA has developed a roster of Entrepreneurs-in-Residence, individuals with C-level experience in technology-based companies who have agreed to work with the management teams of NYSERDA-related early-stage companies to help identify business objectives and advise in their pursuit. This resource is available to NYSERDA-related companies, and is managed by High Tech Rochester.

Warwick, New York, Getting Charged Up
Two electric car charging stations will be installed in Warwick, one in the town and the other at the village's South Street municipal parking lot. Officials expect to break ground next month and complete work by early summer. Manufactured by Coulomb Technologies in Campbell, Calif., these stations are networked, so drivers with smart phones can check which chargers are unoccupied and receive text messages or e-mails when charging is complete.

For more news about New York's Battery & Energy Storage Industry click here.

New Fluorinated Electrolyte Enhances Voltage, Safety of Li-ion Batteries
Daikin Industries Ltd and Kansai University developed a fluorinated electrolyte that can realize a Li-ion rechargeable battery with a high voltage and safety. It is possible to stably charge and discharge the battery at a voltage as high as 4.7V (tested for 30 cycles).

BOB, America’s Biggest Sodium Sulfur Battery, Powers a Texas Town
Photos and details on Texas town's $25 million backup battery system.

Japan's Lithium-Ion Battery Sector Set for Profit
Japan's lithium-ion battery sector has limited competition, lack of market alternatives and growing demand which could drive hefty gains for the next 10+ years.

MIT Researchers Claim Significant Advance in Lithium-Air Batteries
Gold and platinum substituted for carbon electrodes could make Li-air batteries closer to reality. The team is exploring developing better electrodes that are cheaper alloys of platinum or gold or cheaper metal oxides.

Lithium-Ion Everywhere … A Prospective on Other Technologies
A prospective on the Li-ion sector and other alternatives.

Manganese In New Battery Technology
Hitachi experiments with Manganese in Li-ion systems, increasing life and output.

Chrysler and NASA Join Forces on Technology
Auto maker and NASA share experience in variety of fields they have in common including materials engineering, robotics, radar, battery systems and other energy storage mediums.

General Motors Preps for Volt Launch and Discusses Battery Supply Chain
Notes from a recent conference call as GM prepares for Volt production.

Charged2020: The Global Energy Storage Forum
A global conference on energy storage technologies, June 30 to July 1, 2010, at the University of San Diego.

For 28 more news articles from beyond New York State posted since the last NY-BEST newsletter 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