In light of repeating oil supply disruptions and emerging environmental pressures, the international energy industry and scientific community are looking to non-conventional solutions to confront our ongoing energy security concerns. Energy is not just a critical concern to the United States, but also a global one. Among the most important technical challenges facing the world in the 21st century is providing clean, affordable energy, whose supply is sustainable and universally available. A solution to the global energy problem will require revolutionary new technology, as well as conservation and evolutionary improvements in existing technologies.
"Energy and Nanotechnology: Storage and the Grid" explored the state of current and emerging electricity science and technology and investigated the opportunities for nanoscience to contribute revolutionary changes to the current system. The conference was the third major conclave held at Rice University as part of our ongoing series on Energy and Nanotechnology. Topics of lectures during this portion of the workshop included: Superconductors & Innovative Visions for a New Electricity System; Has the Moment Come? When (and Why) the Smart Grid Will Reach the Tipping Point; 3G Systems for the Future; Grid Intelligence, Nanocomputers and Sensors, and Rick Smalley's Vision of Energy Abundance for All.
Event Agenda and Presentations
November 15, 2005
Welcome Remarks
Mrs. Amy Myers Jaffe, Wallace S. Wilson Fellow in Energy Studies, James A. Baker III Institute for Public Policy, Rice University
Morning Session I: Innovative Visions for a New Electricity System
Moderator: Dr. Wade Adams, Director, Center for Nanoscale Science and Technology, Rice University
Memorial: Our Energy Challenge (The Richard Smalley Vision)
"Superconductors for Advanced Grid Solution"
Dr. Greg J. Yurek, President, American Superconductor
Opening Session: Outlining the Possibilities - A Commercial Perspective
"Has the Moment Come? When (and Why) the Smart Grid Will Reach the Tipping Point"
Jesse Berst, Center for Smart Energy
"3G System of the Future"
Mr. Arthur Kressner, Director, Research & Development Con Edison Co. NY
"Computation in the Electric Grid of the Future"
Roger Anderson
Morning Session II: Economics and Public Policy
Mrs. Amy Myers Jaffe, Wallace S. Wilson Fellow in Energy Studies, James A. Baker III Institute for Public Policy, Rice University
What is the right policy to propel innovative solutions?
Dr. Peter Hartley, Rice University
Mr. Jimmy Glotfelty, Vice President and Managing Director, Energy Markets
ICF Consulting
Dr. Michelle Michot Foss, Chief Energy Economist and Head, Center for Energy Economics, Bureau of Economic Geology UT Austin
Lunch
Keynote Speaker
"Assessing the Power Sector: Accomplishments and Future Changes"
Mr. Pat Wood, III, Former Chairman, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC)
Science and Technology: Innovation to Increase Grid Capacity and Efficiency
"Science and Technology: Innovation to Increase Grid Capacity and Efficiency"
Dr. John Stringer, Former Technical Executive, Science and Technology Development Division, Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI)
"Exergy Sustainability"
Dr. Rush Robinett III, Deputy Director, Energy and Transportation Security Center, SANDIA National Laboratories
"Superconductivity, Nanotechnology, and Energy"
Dr. Paul Chu, President, HKUST, University of Houston
"Developing the Quantum Wire"
Dr. Howard Schmidt, Executive Director, Carbon Nanotechnology Laboratory, Rice University
Keynote Addresses: "The Energy Potential of Biomass in the U.S."
"Carbon Nanotube Yarns and Fibers for Energy Generation, Storage, and Transmission"
R.H. Baughman, M. Zhang, S. Fang, A.A. Zakhidov, M. Kozlov, S.B. Lee, A.E. Aliev, C.D. Williams, and K.R. Atkinson
Speech by Dr. Ray Baughman, Robert A. Welch Professor of Chemistry and Director, NanoTech Institute, Univ. of Texas at Dallas
"Nanostructured Carbon: What Roles in Energy Storage?"
Dr. Edward McRae, Director of Research, Centre National de la recherche Scientifique and Deputy Director, Laboratoire de Chimie du Solide Mineral, University of Nancy, France
Discussion Session
Wednesday, November 16, 2005
Morning Session: Science and Policy: Nanoscience and Storage
Welcome remarks by Dr. Walter Chapman, Director Energy and Environmental Systems Institute, Rice University
Morning Session I: Time Sensitive Pricing and Other Market Promoting Mechanisms
Moderator: Dr. Peter Hartley, Professor of Economics, Rice University
"The Benefits of Load as a Strategic Resource in Wholesale Electricity Markets"
Dr. Frank A. Wolak, Professor of Economics, Stanford University
"Demand Response: The Role for Policy, Pricing and Technology"
Mr. Roger Levy, President, Levy Associates
Break
Morning Session II: Energy Storage Technology
Moderator: Dr. Matteo Pasquali, Associate Professor in Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Rice University
"Energy Storage Systems"
Dr. Greg Bothun, Professor of Physics and Environmental Science, U. of Oregan
"Solar Power Tower Technology: Large Scale Storage and Dispatchable Solar Energy"
Mr. Michael W. McDowell, Program Manager, Solar Power System, Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne
"Moving Knowledge to Action to Improve Human Well-Bing and Protect the Environment"
Dr. Karl Rabago, Group Director, Clean and Renewable Energy, Houston Advanced Research Center
"Storage & Transportation of Solar Energy"
Dr. Jacob Karni, Professor, Environmental Science and Energy Research Department, and Head of The Energy Center, The Wiezmann Institute of Science, Israel
Lunch
Afternoon Session II: More Energy Storage Technology
Moderator: Dr. Howard K. Schmidt, Executive Director, Carbon Nanotechnology Laboratory, Rice University
"Current Tidal Power"
Dr. Ian Bryden, Associate Dean, Design and Technology and Dean, Postgraduate Studies, Robert Gordon University, UK
"Nanomaterials for Battery Applications"
Dr. Arnold Stux, Materials Research Engineer, Naval Research Laboratory
"Nanoscale Electrode Materials for Advanced Energy Storage Devices"
Dr. Amit Singhal, Chief Scientist, NEI Corporation
"High Performance Flywheels - a New Spin on Space Based Energy Storage"
Dr. Raymond F. Beach, Lead Systems Engineer, Advanced Electrical Systems Branch,
Glenn Research Center, NASA
"Kinetic Energy Storage and Power Generation"
Dr. Richard Thompson, Research Associate, Center for ElectroMechanics, UT Austin
Afternoon Session III: Technology Innovations and the Implications for Distributed Energy
Moderator: Mr. Jimmy Glotfelty, Vice President and Managing Director, Energy Markets, ICF Consulting
"Using Electric Vehicles for Grid-Connected Storage"
Dr. Jasna Tomic, Postdoctoral Fellow, University of Delaware
"Plug-in Hybrid Vehicles: The Alternative to the Alternative"
Dr. Gal Luft, Executive Director, Institute for the Analysis of Global Security (IAGS)
Afternoon Session III: Closing Keynote
Moderator: Mrs. Amy Myers Jaffe, Wallace S. Wilson Fellow in Energy Studies, James A. Baker III Institute for Public Policy, Rice University
"Solving the Climate and Energy Problem: Available Technologies and Policy Frameworks"
Dr. Stephen Pacala, Princeton University
Closing Remarks
Dr. Wade Adams, Director, Center for Nanoscale Science and Technology, Rice University
"Has the Moment Come? When (and Why) the Smart Grid Will Reach the Tipping Point"
Jesse Berst
"Superconductors for Advanced Grid Solutions"
Dr. Greg J. Yurek
Watch video of the entire conference:
- Day 1 Morning 1
- Day 1 Morning 2
- Day 1 Morning 3
- Day 1 Afternoon 1
- Day 1 Afternoon 2
- Day 1 Afternoon 3
- Day 2 Morning 1
- Day 2 Morning 2
- Day 2 Afternoon 1
- Day 2 Afternoon 2
- Day 2 Afternoon 3
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