Michigan Tech Renovates for Alternative Energy

by Jaime Pfeffer

March 26th, 2008 in Conservation, Energy, Environment, Green, Houghton / Hancock, Upper Peninsula

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We’ve all heard how important the alternative energy sector is to Michigan’s future. By renovating one of its older buildings for new use, Michigan Technological University is showing that it hears this message loud and clear.

In an effort to meet the growing needs of alternative energy researchers at the Houghton- based university, Michigan Tech is currently redeveloping a 4,000 square foot facility on its campus into an alternative energy research hub.

Forecasted for completion this summer, the remodeled building — designed to minimize operating energy and utilize environmentally-friendly materials — will support various research from Michigan Tech’s Advanced Power Systems Research Center, including the development of a rare National Science Foundation-funded optically accessible combustion vessel, and an Xcel Energy-funded project to study the process of producing electricity using a syngas-powered generator. Another project, funded by the Department of Energy, will investigate the effects of freezing temperatures on hydrogen fuel cells using an environmental chamber.

Those projects won’t be the only things happening inside the new building, though; other areas of the facility will include a wind tunnel, a vehicle chassis dynamometer, a biomass gasification facility, a vehicle hoist and an advanced internal combustion engine educational laboratory. The new space will also contain a modern conference room with videoconferencing capabilities and office space for faculty, research staff and graduate students.

The research conducted at the new building will focus on many aspects of alternative energy, including fundamental combustion phenomena, hydrogen fuel cells, internal combustion engines, wind turbines, hybrid powertrains and the process of turning waste biomass like timber scraps into gaseous fuel and electricity.

One of Detroit's biggest cheerleaders, Jaime Pfeffer moved to the Motor City from suburban Detroit five years ago. She started a blog, Girl in the D, in September 2004 to promote the positive aspects of Detroit and hasn't stopped touting Motown's good side since. Jaime left corporate America in 2007 to pursue her first love, writing.