Wave Energy Technology to be Tested in Hampton Roads as Virginia Tech Scientist Earns $2 Million DOE Award

Posted 4.18.16 by Carol Brighton

With momentum to develop clean energy building, there's been a recent surge in interest to harness the dense power contained in the coastal waters close to major population centers. While a team from Virginia Tech was recently eliminated from the Department of Energy's Wave Energy Prize competition, another technology under investigation at the university has caught the agency's eye.

With a small proof of concept device that was tested off of Long Island, DOE awarded $2 million in funding for Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering Lei Zuo to pursue the construction and testing of a prototype 500-watt wave energy conversion unit. The technology uses a multi-directional system to gather energy as waves move back and forth. “Our expectation is that by summer we’ll have tested the components of the smaller device in lab, and we will then put the 500W wave energy converter in the water off Hampton Roads, Virginia, by November,” Zuo said. “The data we collect there will help us make improvements to the larger unit which will be tested, probably in Hawaii at the Navy’s Wave Energy Test Site, in 2017.”

“The study of ocean wave energy harvesting isn’t new — the first patent for a device dates to 1799,” claims Zuo. “Despite this, the field isn’t mature either. Wave energy technology is really still in its infancy worldwide, and that opens up an immense area of research that is really exciting to be a part of.”

Columbia Power Technologies based in Charlottesville, also a recipient of DOE funds, is likewise working to commercialize wave energy conversion with its StingRAY prototype. Read more here.

New Solar Tech Going Online at the University of Richmond

Posted 4.18.16 by Carol Brighton

According to Rob Andrejewski, the Director of Sustainibility at the University of Richmond, the school has "committed to carbon neutrality by 2050." One way to achieve this goal is through on-site renewable energy production. By entering into a power purchase agreement with Secure Futures of Staunton, VA, the University was able to avoid high up-front costs and install a 205 kW solar system atop of the the LEED-Gold-certified Weinstein Center for Recreation and Wellness. The owners of the system, Secure Futures and Solar World, can pass on tax related savings not available to the University as a tax exempt entity.

In addition to standard monofacial photovoltaic panels, a new more efficient panel technology is being put to work. The project represents the first commercial installation in the country of the state of the art BiSUN bifacial panels fresh off Solar World's US assembly line. Bisun technology generates electricity both from direct exposure to solar radiation on the front side as well as reflected sunlight on the backside to produce 25% more power than a similar wattage standard panels. Over three-quarters of the 749 panel array are of the more efficient bifacial variety.

With different technologies being deployed, a real world research opportunity is being created on the university rooftop. Hugh Stoll of Secure Futures notes that the panels are also being mounted on two kinds of roof profiles: a highly reflective white surface and a gravel surface. Two separate inverter set ups are also being explored. He explains, "part of the system is on microinverters, which is one inverter per panel and part of the system is on string inverters which is actually 60 panels per inverter." While providing a learning experience, the array will allow the university to generate about 226,000 kilowatt-hours of electricity per year or the annual electricity needs for one campus residence hall. This translates into offsetting 344,000 pounds of carbon dioxide emissions which contributes to meeting the university sustainibility goals.

A ribbon cutting ceremony on the Governor's schedule is set for April 19. Check out this awesome view of the entire installation posted on Facebook by Bernie Stanley.